Republican Leaders Are Incapable of Respecting the Rights of the Minority

Pelosi: 'Republican Leaders Are Incapable of Respecting the Rights of the Minority'

Washington, D.C.-House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement this afternoon on the series of protest votes that Democrats called today on the floor of the House of Representatives:

"Just when we thought the Republican leadership could not be any less democratic, they outdo themselves. In a stunning display of iron-fisted arrogance, Republican leaders today tried to employ a rarely used parliamentary procedure to stop debate on their actions yesterday, when they undermined democracy so that the Bush Administration can continue to threaten our civil liberties.

"Since Republican leaders are incapable of respecting the rights of the minority, Democrats are staging a floor protest today to bring attention to their continued abuse of power.

"Last month, I proposed a Minority Bill of Rights to provide for the full, fair, and open consideration of legislation that the American people expect and deserve. It specifically says that 'no vote shall be held open in order to manipulate the outcome.' When Republicans do just that, they thwart the will of a majority in the House and the millions of Americans they represent.

"In defense of their egregious behavior, a Republican leader suggested that their arm-twisting on the floor yesterday was merely offering their Members the opportunity to change their votes. As Congressman Barney Frank said, 'Republicans can't distinguish between an offer to change their vote and an offer they can't refuse.'"