Republican Responses to Robert Livingston's
Resignation, 19 December 1998

    Democratic Responses

Tom Campbell
(R-CA, 15th District)
  
1
 Mr. Speaker, the example that the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Bob Livingston) has set for us has completely changed what I was going to say. Let me offer these words instead. He has shown us the importance of trust. If we cannot trust our leaders, they cannot govern. The gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Bob Livingston) has led by example.  
2
 Our Constitution was amended in 1967 to allow removal for incapacitation. Prior to that, the only way to remove a person who was physically incapacitated was impeachment . Today we deal with incapacitation of a different kind; a person who, by his conduct under oath in a Federal criminal grand jury, demonstrated that he would not tell the truth if it was in his interest not to tell the truth. He has incapacitated himself from being president.  
J. C. Watts
(R-OK, 4th District)
  
1
 Mr. Speaker, there is no joy sometimes in upholding the law. It is so unpleasant sometimes that we hire other people to do it for us. Ask the police or judges. It is
tiring and thankless. But we know it must be done, because if we do not point at lawlessness, our children cannot see it. If we do not label lawlessness, our children cannot recognize it. And if we do not punish lawlessness, our children will not
believe it.		  
2
 So if someone were to ask me, `J.C., why did you vote for the articles of impeachment ?' I would say I did it for our children. How can we tell our children that honesty is the best policy if we do not demand honesty as a policy? How can we expect a Boy Scout to honor his oath if elected officials do not honor theirs? How can we expect a business executive to honor a promise when the chief executive abandons his or hers?  
3
 Whether it is a promise or a truth or a vow or an oath, a person's word is the firm footing our society stands upon, and the average kid understands that. They do not need a grand jury to enforce it. They say `cross your heart, hope to die'; `pinkie promise'; `king's X'; `blood brother.' These are the childhood instincts that seek to draw a line between the honest and the dishonest, between the principled and the unprincipled.  
4
 Ask the children. The kid who lies does not last and they do not bicker over what is and what is not a lie. They know. So do I. So do the American people.  
5
 Time and again, we wanted the essence of truth and we got the edges of the truth. We hear, `Let's get on with the business of our country.' What business is more important than teaching our children right from wrong? Some say it is all about politics and party lines. If that were true, I would have given in to popular opinion. But what is popular is not always what is right.  
6
 Some say polls are against this. Polls measure changing feelings, not steadfast principle. Polls would have rejected the Ten Commandments. Polls would have embraced slavery and ridiculed women's rights. Some say we must draw this to a close. I say we must draw a line between right and wrong; not with a tiny fine line of an executive fountain pen, but with the big, thick lead of a Number 2 pencil. We must do it so every kid in America can see it.  
7
 The point is not whether the President can prevail, but whether truth can prevail. We need to cease the cannibalizing of Members of Congress. We need to cease the attacks on the President and his family because, friends, this is not about the President of the United States. He is not the injured party. Our country is.  
8
 In this moment, our children's future is more important than our future. If our country looks the other way, our country will lose its way.  
Tom DeLay
R-TX, 22d District
1
 Mr. Speaker, I do not know if I can make this speech, but I am going to try.  
2
 Believe it or not, I have been very depressed about this whole proceeding. When I came to work yesterday, it really hit me what we were about to do. But after this morning, it made me realize even more what this is all about. I feel great about it, because no matter how low we think we are or depressed we are, this country shows us time and time again how great it is.  
3
 There is no greater American in my mind, at least today, than the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Bob Livingston) because he understood what this debate was all about. It was about honor and decency and integrity and the truth, everything that we honor in this country. It was also a debate about relativisim versus absolute truth.  
4
 The President's defenders have said that the President is morally reprehensible, that he is reckless, that he has violated the trust of the American people, lessened their esteem for the office of President and dishonored the office which they have entrusted him, but that it does not rise to the level of impeachment .  
5
 What the defenders want to do is lower the standards by which we hold this President and lower the standards for our society by doing so.  
6
 I cannot in good conscience, after watching Newt Gingrich put the country, his caucus, his House above himself and resign, and I cannot stand before you watching Bob Livingston put his family, and I hope you will think about his family, his friends, his House and his country above any ambitions that he may have. He thought he could do a good job as Speaker. I think he would have. But for some it is no longer good enough to make a mistake, confess that mistake and accept the consequences of that mistake and change the way you live your life and keep moving and make a contribution to this country. I think you ought to think about that, both sides.  
7
 So, Mr. Speaker, we will proceed. We will elect another Speaker. This country will be better for it. I cannot say this strong enough: This is God's country, and I know He will bless America.