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GOP showed courage in impeachment vote

December 22, 1998

In the aftermath of the House impeachment vote, I am pleased with the actions of the House Republicans on this matter. In the face of opinion polls saying the majority of Americans oppose impeachment, the House Republicans found the courage to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law. The GOP knows this vote may cost them control of the House of Representatives in 2000, yet they showed great political courage and voted to impeach President Clinton. The House GOP decided to do right and risk the consequences.

The vote by the House GOP has upheld the principle that we are a nation of laws, not men. The House Republicans realized that as a constitutional republic, we cannot always follow public opinion on such important matters. Public opinion is important, and must be considered when implementing policy. However, when it comes to criminal activity by the nation's highest elected official, we must follow the rule of law, not public opinion.

And while the House Republicans have faced a great deal of criticism and allegations of partisanship, it is the House Democrats who have been the most partisan during the impeachment debate. The House Democrats, especially the Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, have shown that they are willing to ignore perjury, subornation of perjury, obstruction of justice and abuse of power in their zeal to protect one of their own. For the Democrats to accuse the Republicans of "partisanship" in the impeachment debate is the pinnacle of hypocrisy.

As the impeachment process moves into the next phase, I hope the members of the Senate will also stand for the rule of law and the principles established by the Constitution, and not allow the polls to distract them from their constitutional duty.

Scott Tibbs.