The Congressional Black Caucus and the 2000 election -- IMPORTANT QUESTION

[chimpy the poopthrower]

If you have seen F-9/11, you probably remember the part at the beginning where members of the CBC wanted to have a floor debate regarding certifying the results of the election. But they couldn't get a single senator to sign their request (I don't know the proper term) and so, according to the rules, could not get the floor debate they wanted. (Correct me if any of this is not right.) I remember very well when that happened and have basically been depressed about it for four years.

I just read in another post that Kerry said he was never asked by the CBC to sign their request. Can that be true? I had assumed that the CBC asked every Democratic senator. In fact, I had assumed that all the Democratic senators must have got together and decided as a group to not sign the CBC document. Is it possible the CBC deliberately refrained from asking the most vulnerable senators? Or is it possible the CBC simply didn't have an opportunity to ask everyone because of the chaos?

I know a lot of people will dismiss this as ancient history, but it's very important to me. If some senators, including Kerry, were never asked to sign, that would completely change my perceptions. Even though I'm already a Kerry supporter, I'd like to have more reason to believe in him. His failure to sign the CBC document has always been a black mark against him in my book.

[rock]

1. We probably will never know the truth

in what I call "the silence of the sheep".

Fact: no senator was willing to back the CBCs petition

Fact: the following week the majority party (the Repukes - it was 50/50 with the new VP, Dickless Cheney, as the tie-breaker) offered to share the power with the Dems.

Draw your own conclusion.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

2. Consider that Wellstone, Kennedy, Byrd, Feingold, et al

were eligible to sign and I believe one must conclude that they didn't have a legal case to challenge it. Even Gore gave up the fight and later certfified the vote.

[ClassWarrior]

3. I intend to ask Feingold this very question if I get a chance.

n/t

[HamdenRice]

4. Gore's role ...

One thing that needs to be clarified about Gore's role -- I don't think that he was eligible to sign. He was not a member of the Senate, but as Vice President he "presides" over it and has the right to cast tie breaking votes.

Nevertheless, I have no doubt that all the Dem leadership was on board to not press the issue and let the country "get on with" its business.

Four catastrophic years and two wars later, I wonder what the party leadership thinks about that decision.

[chimpy the poopthrower]

5. Thanks for pointing that out (regarding Gore's role).

I'd still like to see Kerry's actual comments on this. It was a DU poster who said Kerry claimed to have not been asked to sign, but I'd like to see Kerry's exact words for myself. If anyone knows where that quote is, please provide a link. Thanks!