Hon. Cynthia McKinney / House of Representatives – 2006-12-09 23:30:23
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/16230
Rep. McKinney’s Floor Statement on the
Impeachment of George W. Bush
Hon. Cynthia McKinney / House of Representatives
WASHINGTON (December 8, 2006) — Mr. Speaker: I come before this body today as a proud American and as a servant of the American people, sworn to uphold the Constitution of the United States.
Throughout my tenure, I’ve always tried to speak the truth. It’s that commitment that brings me here today.
We have a President who has misgoverned and a Congress that has refused to hold him accountable. It is a grave situation and I believe the stakes for our country are high.
No American is above the law, and if we allow a President to violate, at the most basic and fundamental level, the trust of the people and then continue to govern, without a process for holding him accountabl — what does that say about our commitment to the truth? To the Constitution? To our democracy?
The trust of the American people has been broken. And a process must be undertaken to repair this trust. This process must begin with honesty and accountability.
Leading up to our invasion of Iraq, the American people supported this Administration’s actions because they believed in our President. They believed he was acting in good faith. They believed that American laws and American values would be respected. That in the weightiness of everything being considered, two values were rock solid — trust and truth.
From mushroom clouds to African yellow cake to aluminum tubes, the American people and this Congress were not presented the facts, but rather were presented a string of untruths, to justify the invasion of Iraq.
President Bush, along with Vice President Cheney and then-National Security Advisor Rice, portrayed to the Congress and to the American people that Iraq represented an imminent threat, culminating with President Bush’s claim that Iraq was six months away from developing a nuclear weapon. Having used false fear to buy consent — the President then took our country to war.
This has grave consequences for the health of our democracy, for our standing with our allies, and most of all, for the lives of our men and women in the military and their families —who have been asked to make sacrifices — including the ultimate sacrifice — to keep us safe.
Just as we expect our leaders to be truthful, we expect them to abide by the law and respect our courts and judges. Here again, the President failed the American people.
When President Bush signed an executive order authorizing unlawful spying on American citizens, he circumvented the courts, the law, and he violated the separation of powers provided by the Constitution. Once the program was revealed, he then tried to hide the scope of his offense from the American people by making contradictory, untrue statements.
President George W. Bush has failed to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States; he has failed to ensure that senior members of his administration do the same; and he has betrayed the trust of the American people.
With a heavy heart and in the deepest spirit of patriotism, I exercise my duty and responsibility to speak truthfully about what is before us. To shy away from this responsibility would be easier. But I have not been one to travel the easy road. I believe in this country, and in the power of our democracy. I feel the steely conviction of one who will not let the country I love descend into shame; for the fabric of our democracy is at stake.
Some will call this a partisan vendetta, others will say this is an unimportant distraction to the plans of the incoming Congress. But this is not about political gamesmanship.
I am not willing to put any political party before my principles.
This, instead, is about beginning the long road back to regaining the high standards of truth and democracy upon which our great country was founded.
Mr. Speaker:
Under the standards set by the United States Constitution, President Bush — along with Vice President Cheney, and Secretary of State Rice — should be subject to the process of impeachment, and I have filed H. Res. in the House of Representatives.
To my fellow Americans, as I leave this Congress, it is in your hands—to hold your representatives accountable, and to show those with the courage to stand for what is right, that they do not stand alone.
Thank you.
Comments
Thank you, Sister McKinney
Submitted by stcyrlyMe
(December 9, 2006) — It would take this great Black Woman to stand up where no others will do what is right for this country . They all know without a doubt that Bush, Chaney and Condi need to be Impeached and now they want to act like it is too much work to do.
A great thanks go out to Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney for standing up in defense of the constitution as she has always done.
If you all recall, Cynthia McKinney was the first one to come out on Bushs illegal conduct into the invasion of Iraq. Had we paid attention to her in the first place we would still have our children alive and the people of Iraq would not be in the terrible shape they now find themselves in.
Say what ever you like about this woman she understands that you have to step on feet to get the point and message out clearly, but she also understands that there is a price to pay for doing just that.
She is absolutely right about George W Bush and if the powers that be would in fact do there jobs, it would be without question of weather or not he should be Impeached, as he has a track record of very questionable conduct along with VP Chaney and Ms. Condelessa Rice.
They have all willfully lied and distorted the facts that lead us into this illegal war.
I would and I am going further in that I believe they should all stand trial for various constitutional violations after the investigations that are sure to provide even more evidence of wrong doing.
These people are just like anyone else that have violated the laws in this country and if the truth be known they are worst because they are people all Americans should be looking up too and following the example of, people we put our trust and faith in that have been seriously violated.
I have the perfect remedy for all of those with a problem with there constitutional duties . Pretend that Bush, Chaney and Condi were all Black, and have done what they have done to this country.
That should make the work real easy for all concerned to do there jobs and move the hell on.
I thank God everyday for the Cynthia McKinney’s of the world because these people know that there is a price to pay to call it like it is and are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice
I really hope that she again will overcome the roadblocks in her path so she is able to continue the work she does so well.
Good but not enough
Submitted by emess
(December 9, 2006) — Cyntha McKinney’s statement may be considered by many people as courageous. Yet it is hardly the minimum one would expect from a person who swears on trust and truth as she does.
This remarkable person does not mention even in one word the determination of the Bush administration to prevent a criminal investigation and an independent official inquiry of the greatest mass murder in US history, that of 11 September 2001. She does not mention that the US administration has bombed Afghanistan and killed over 3,000 innocent Afghanis on flimsy grounds.
The FBI admitted in June 2006 to possess no “hard evidence” linking Osama bin Laden to the events of 9/11. There are many reasons to suspect the US administration for having facilitated or orchestrated the crime of 9/11. And even if George W. Bush had not personally participated in these crimes, he has wilfully covered-up the truth and shielded the criminals from impeachment and prosecution.
For the above reasons, I see no reason to jubilate or applaud her trust. Cynthia McKinney’s impeachment statement her come late, is inadequate and is misleading through its serious omissions. The future of America lies with you.
Thank you,…
Submitted by Anonymous
(December 9, 2006) — …Rep. Cynthia McKinney. You can leave that Congress with your head held high.
