WASHINGTON — Republicans failed in an effort Tuesday to have the House censure Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., who said in a speech last week that U.S. troops are being sent to Iraq “to get their heads blown off for the president’s amusement.”
Without debate, the House voted 196-173 to kill the proposal to censure Stark for “his despicable conduct.” The vote was mostly along party lines, with all 168 Republicans on hand and five Democrats supporting the measure.
Stark, 75, stirred cries of protest Thursday during a debate over President Bush’s veto of an increase to a children’s health insurance program.
“You don’t have money” for children, Stark said on the House floor. “But you’re going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to send to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president’s amusement.”
Moments after Tuesday’s vote, Stark apologized to his colleagues, “the president and his family,” and troops offended by his remarks.
White House press secretary Dana Perino later said, “If it’s true that he’s apologized, I think that’s appropriate.”
The Associated Press
