Bob Menendez: “today's vote is set upon an unfair, false choice. This historic decision should be a moment above all political…”

“today's vote is set upon an unfair, false choice. This historic decision should be a moment above all political maneuvering. Instead, it is riddled with unfairness, sloppy procedure, and mean-spirited partisanship. From the 4-year, $40 million investigation which could only turn up a private, consensual affair, the airing and publishing of the tawdry Starr report and Lewinsky tapes where all of our children could hear and read every sexual detail, the failure of the President's accusers to spell out which of his words were allegedly perjurious, the unfair denial of the censure option here today, to trying to impeach the Commander in Chief with troops in harm's way, this process is a travesty. Where is their sense of fairness? Somewhere along the way, some in this House forgot that Bill Clinton is our President, not their personal enemy. The Constitution is not a license to destroy a president because one does not like him. I believe the President's actions were reprehensible and worthy of condemnation, but the clearest, most appropriate way to send a message about this President's behavior is censure. That is what our best legal scholars say, that is what the American public says. If the Republican leadership would allow us the freedom to vote our conscience, that would be the option. A censure would put an indelible scar upon the President's place in history, something we all know this President cares about deeply.”