Dem hopefuls skipping votes

The Boston Herald ^ | 5/10/03 | Noelle Straub

[Gothmog]

Presidential campaigns conflicting with day jobs

WASHINGTON - Two congressional Democrats running for president have missed nearly every House and Senate vote in the past two weeks, choosing the campaign trail over their day job.

U.S. Rep. Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) have only cast one vote each since Congress returned from its spring recess April 28.

Gephardt skipped 36 of 37 roll calls in the House. Lieberman missed 11 of 12 Senate votes.

At the same time, Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kerry skipped half the Senate votes. And Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.) skipped three-quarters of the Senate votes.

By contrast, U.S. Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) had a perfect record. But, unlike the other candidates, Edwards is up for re-election to his Senate seat next year.

Kerry missed two votes Thursday while in Massachusetts speaking at the anniversary dinner of a hospice that cared for his mother before she passed away in November. He was in Minneapolis and Indiana meeting with Democrats for three other missed votes, and visiting an Alabama church and speaking to state Democrats during another vote.

``John Kerry has cancelled campaign trips to return to the Senate for close votes,'' said Kerry spokesman David Wade. ``But the unfortunate reality is that, when you are running for president, you are going to miss votes.''

Most of the Senate roll calls confirmed or blocked some of President Bush's judicial nominees, although the missed votes would not have changed the outcome.

Besides votes on judicial nominees, the Senate also ratified the admission of seven eastern European nations to NATO and passed a measure allowing law enforcement officers to wiretap non-Americans suspected of planning terrorist attacks.

``You certainly don't want to miss votes, but, unfortunately, running an aggressive effort to win the party's nomination, you have to miss some votes,'' said Gephardt spokesman Erik Smith.

``Sen. Lieberman obviously takes his responsibility to represent the people of Connecticut very seriously, but running for president is also a full-time job,'' said Lieberman spokesman Jano Cabrera.

Kerry also learned yesterday he won't be invited to speak at South Carolina's Bob Jones University, despite his interest in appearing at the controversial school.

A Kerry spokesman said he wanted to ``challenge the university on some of its views.'' A Bob Jones spokesman yesterday said an invitation wouldn't be forthcoming. ``Is he crazy?'' Jonathan Pait asked.

[LADY J]

"Maybe there should be a job description on file...miss more than 20% of any roll call and it's a recall and dismissal for the congress critter. Seems fair enough?"

That sounds logical. They make the rules and salary raises for themselves. There should be voter input due to conflict of interest.

There should be an intelligence test required in order to run for office in the first place!

[Cameron1]

I wish we could change the system of campaigning and holding office. An office holder shoul have to resign to run for another office. Imagine if I told my boss that I was job hunting and would be back to work in six months if I was unsuccessful, but in the mean time keep all of my salary and benefits going.

This is an outrage!! All parties included.

[OldFriend]

Best part of this all is the new rules put in place by Newt. He made sure the only way a person could vote was IN PERSON.

Newt put a lot of good changes in place. Not the least of which was ending funding for the Black Congressional Caucus!!

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

Democrat Presidential Hopefuls Absent From Key Congressional Votes