ENDA Impeachment & Failures of Congress

Significant things are happening in Congress, but they are not the kind of significance I want to see. First was the pathetic squashing of Kucinich’s resolution to impeach Dick Cheney. Kucinich showed he has the pulse of the American people and introduced a resolution that clearly outlines Cheney’s crimes and at the very least would put on official record the lies and deceptions that Dick Cheney has pushed to the American people.

Because of a gutless showing by Democrats and a sneaky and very predictable tactic by the Republicans the measure has “gone to committee”, or in plain English, “shit canned”. Face it, the Republicans still control the House. They can successfully intimidate the Democrats and get their way even though they are in the minority.

The second significant thing was the passage of ENDA. I agree it is a landmark that such a bill that bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is not only needed, but long overdue. The problem is it will be a hollow gesture and end up vetoed by Bush. The second problem is that it was done at the expense of gender identity. That part of the legislation was stripped out partly at the suggestion of the White House which will not sign the bill in the first place, so why is it gone? Imagine a Civil Rights Bill for Hispanics and Asians only. Would that be hailed as a great advancement?

So yes I am glad they passed ENDA even without the Baldwin Amendment, but it is a hollow victory. So pardon me if I don’t dance in the street. We still are not protected under federal law and until a bill is passed that actually gets signed into law, I will differ my celebration.