LAS VEGAS - The Democratic Party platform committee opened its deliberations Friday with a bang by calling for impeachment of President George Bush.
The call was raised by state Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, who charged that Bush lied about the reasons for invading Iraq. He cited a lack of evidence of weapons of mass destruction among other allegations about the president's focus on Iraq after 9/11.
"We have been lied to and Congress has been lied to," Coffin told the committee. "We need to get to the bottom of this, and the way to do that is for Congress to investigate what appear to be lies by the president."
He said President Bill Clinton was brought before the House in impeachment proceedings for lying "but nobody died because of it."
"In Iraq, 700 have died," he said.
Only one delegate in the room opposed the motion, saying the party should focus on getting John Kerry elected and not divide its energies. Coffin responded, "If we don't have the energy for this, then we don't have the energy to elect Kerry."
The platform committee voted to include the call for impeachment in its recommendations to the convention's general floor session on a voice vote with no audible opposition.
"I've been thinking about this for weeks," said Coffin afterward. "It appears we've been lied to and the best way to find out is to have an impeachment trial."
He said a trial would air all the allegations and give the president and his administration a chance to defend their conduct.
Coffin said he would attend the convention today to back his proposal if it is challenged. He said he doesn't see it as part of the party platform but a separate resolution that would be forwarded to members of Congress, including Nevada's delegation.
Contact Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or at 687-8750.
