| Washington D.C.- Congressman Jeb Hensarling, Chairman of the Republican Study Committee called on Democrat Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the entire Democrat leadership to condemn a statement made on the House floor by Congressman Fortney Pete Stark in which referred to the “President’s amusement” in seeing American servicemen “get their heads blown off” while serving in Iraq. In addition, Hensarling called on Congressman Stark to apologize immediately for his hateful comments or resign from office.
Early today, during House consideration of a bill on children’s healthcare, Stark made the following comments (viewed here):
“I yield myself two minutes. Madam speaker, I, first of all, I’m just amazed that they can't figure out -- the Republicans are worried that they can't pay for insuring an additional 10 million children. They sure don't care about finding $200 billion to fight the illegal war in Iraq. Where are you going to get that money? Are you going to tell us lies like you're telling us today? Is that how you're going to fund the war? You don't have money to fund the war or children. But you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people if he 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.”
RSC Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) issued the following statement:
“Congressman Stark’s comments were hateful and wrong, and should be labeled as such by House Democrat Leadership. No matter your political position on the war in Iraq or any other issue, it shows a complete disregard for the men and women who have volunteered for military service and the Office of the Presidency to make such an outlandish and asinine statement.
“Congressman Stark’s comments are completely inappropriate for an elected official. He should offer an immediate apology, or he should resign from the office in which he has been entrusted to serve. He owes that to the men and women who have so courageously put their life on the line to serve their country and the families that support them.”
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