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Posted: Thursday, 18 October 2007 6:31PM
Stark Stands Behind GOP Accusations
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 SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- Bay Area Representative Pete Stark told KCBS he refuses to apologize to Republicans after accusing them of sending troops to Iraq “to get their heads blown off for the president's amusement” during a debate over a children’s health bill.
 Listen to the full interview with Stark
During his outburst, the Fremont lawmaker said “you don't have money to fund the war, or children, but you're going to spend it to blow up innocent people if we can get enough kids to grow old enough for you to sent to Iraq to get their heads blown off for the president's amusement.”
He went on to say, "in his previous job as an actor, our governor used to play make believe and blow things up. Well, the president and the Republicans in Congress are playing make believe today with children's lives. The truth is that Bush just likes to blow things up, in Iraq, in the United States, and in Congress.”
The scathing comments drew immediate condemnation from Republicans, who demanded he retract it. "Congressman Stark's statement dishonors not only the commander in chief, but the thousands of courageous men and women of America's armed forces who believe in their mission and are putting their lives on the line for our freedom and security,'' said House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.
When asked if he would take back any of his statements, Stark told KCBS “Absolutely not. I may have dishonored the commander in chief, but I think he’s done pretty well to dishonor himself without any help from me.”
He added the real dishonor is that Republicans refuse to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. “The fact is that I do support the troops in Iraq. They’re there fighting to protect our children here,” said Stark. “I think (Republicans) owe the troops in Iraq an apology for not protecting the children that those troops left behind.”
The House failed Thursday to override President Bush's veto of legislation to expand the popular State Children's Health Insurance Program by a 273-156 vote.
(RdD)
(photo courtesy of huffingtonpost.com)
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