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Wednesday, June 17, 2008

Sullivan Supports Wexler / Kucinich on Impeachment, New York, NY (June 17, 2008)

On June 12, 2008, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel published an editorial lambasting Rep. Robert Wexler's enthusiastic support for immediately holding impeachment hearings for President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. Numerous letters to the editor also criticized Wexler's support for this movement. In a letter to his supporters, Wexler vowed "not to back down from this fight – no matter the consequences or political cost. The only thing that matters is that we deliver accountability for the Bush Cheney Administration and defend our government and our constitution."

Joining Wexler with a letter of support, was Adam Sullivan, Democratic candidate in New York's 8th Congressional District, who is challenging incumbent Jerrold Nadler for not initiating impeachment hearings despite the sustained urging of his constituents. Sullivan's response follows.

To the Editors of the Sun-Sentinel,

Re: “Impeachment not worth another minute of anyone’s time,” the Sun-Sentinel is wrong, and doing a grave disservice to its readership, to the people of the United States, and to the Constitution.

Each member of Congress swears an Oath of Office, the first part of which is to “protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic.” The current occupants of the White House, Bush and Cheney, have proven to be the greatest domestic enemies that the Constitution has faced since its original signing.

The framers, aware and alert to the possibility of runaway Executive power, placed in the hands of the House of Representatives the power to impeach. Impeachment is mentioned six times in the Constitution.

The Sun-Sentinel says that Congress should not “even bother with the ridiculous idea of impeachment,” which is apparently, “the wrong choice of remedy.” I would like very much for the Editors to have to face Jefferson, Adams, Madison and Franklin, and to tell them that their preferred choice of remedy is the wrong one.

I write this from New York City, where my congressman has forsaken his sworn duty to protect and defend the Constitution. I am currently challenging him in the Democratic primary in our district, because I believe that the powers of the Executive must be held in check, and because we deserve principled representation in Congress.

Principled representation means that a sworn oath is fulfilled in every action, not when it is politically convenient. Reps. Wexler and Kucinich (and, by the way, some two dozen others who co-sponsored the articles of impeachment against Cheney) are examples of truly principled representatives. Had I such a congressman as one of these, I would not likely have entered the political arena.

Ironically, if Congress does not impeach, its own power dwindles. Those in the House who think they have something better to do (or that impeachment cannot be pursued at the same time as other goals) may soon find that the next occupant of the White House will give them nothing to do at all.

My thanks and congratulations to Congressman Robert Wexler and Congressman Dennis Kucinich, and to all co-sponsors of articles of impeachment currently before the House.

Respectfully,

Adam Sullivan
New York, NY
SullivanforCongress.net