South Carolina's elder Senator, Ernest "Fritz" Hollings was the lone naysayer this week in a 98-1 vote by the U.S. Senate supporting our troops in the War on Terror. Hollings is getting loonier and more embarrassing to S.C. as he edges closer to retirement.
Part of the Amendment text he could not support:
Recognizing and commending the members of the United States Armed Forces and their leaders, and the allies of the United States and their armed forces, who participated in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and recognizing the continuing dedication of military families and employers and defense civilians and contractors and the countless communities and patriotic organizations that lent their support to the Armed Forces during those operations.Roll call vote via the U.S. Senate
Bill text via THOMAS
Freshman congressman Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) called Hollings to task on it, but to no avail.
One of South Carolina's junior congressman demanded an apology Friday from the state's senior senator, arguing U.S. Sen. Ernest Hollings' vote against a resolution supporting American troops' efforts in Iraq was an "outrage." Hollings, a Charleston Democrat serving his seventh and final term in office, was the only senator to vote Thursday against the resolution, which was attached to an emergency spending bill for Iraq operations.Posted by Alan at October 3, 2003 11:40 PMThe 81-year-old Hollings was traveling and unavailable for comment Friday, Andy Davis, Hollings' spokesman, said. Davis said the senator voted against the measure because he thought it was political grandstanding and a waste of the Senate's time.
U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, a Lexington County Republican sent to Congress two years ago, said Hollings should "reflect on what he said and then apologize to our troops and their families."
Wilson said he is publicly criticizing Hollings because he wants the rest of the nation to know Hollings' comments are not representative of what South Carolinians believe.
via the Greenville News