http://www.chron.com/commons/persona.html?newspaperUserId=eljefebob&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckUserId=eljefebob&plckPostId=Blog%3AeljefebobPost%3A64acc361-1fe4-4ef4-a27d-8dd50f7c89d3&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDestAs reported by Dana Milbank of the Washington Post, Republican representatives voted against H 1113, the annual resolution in support of Mother's Day this week. After being passed unanimously, Todd Tiehart from Kansas and Kathy Castor from Florida protested the vote and demanded a revote. That was done and 178 Republicans, a majority, voted against Mother's Day.
What's going on here? Well. The Republicans, now in the minority after the 2006 election, have been engaging in all kinds of shenanigans to bring the House to a standstill by demanding revotes, points of order, blah blah. This one backfired, though, because all of a sudden Republicans are publicly against motherhood and apple pie. Not very attractive going into a tough race this year.
Meanwhile, back at the voting booth, the GOP also lost in a special election for a House seat. In Louisiana, Don Cazayoux, won an upset victory for the seat vacated by Richard Baker, and held by Republicans since 1974. Another seat in Mississippi is up on Tuesday in a "safe" district, and polls have the candidates neck and neck.
This happened as news got out that David Vitter, also of Louisiana, was acquitted by the Sentate Ethics committee for his involvement with a Washington prostitution ring because he was actually in the House when he did it. To top it off, Vitter's tell all madam committed suicide last Thursday by hanging herself.