McDermott joins call for Cheney's removal

Excerpts from his blog, Postman on Politics

In a speech on the House floor Thursday, Rep. Jim McDermott said Vice President Dick Cheney should resign or face impeachment.

McDermott had not been among members of Congress calling for impeachment of Cheney or President Bush. He said he will now sign on as a co-sponsor to H.R. 333, Rep. Dennis Kucinich's resolution — introduced in April — calling for Cheney's impeachment.

"For months I have believed that impeachment was a dire course of action," McDermott said. "Over these same months, I have seen the vice president repeatedly drive our nation into increasingly dire situations, in Iraq, in Iran, and within our own country as he tramples over the Constitution like it is a doormat."

McDermott said he is now convinced that impeachment is necessary because, he said, Cheney has repeatedly held himself above the law.

"Since the president permits this flagrant disregard for the Constitution, it is up to the Congress to act and defend the American people," he said.

McDermott had advice for Cheney, too, if the vice president wants to resign:

"Call it a medical condition. Call it a political condition. Call it what it is — the departure of a person who forgot that he works for the American people."

This material has been edited for print publication.

David Postman is The Seattle Times' chief political reporter. Reach him at 360-236-8267 or at dpostman@seattletimes.com