Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Congressman Tim Roemer is standing behind the U.S. troops in the current Iraqi conflict. And he's standing behind the president in the political conflict at home.
"I strongly support our troops and hope that they are successful and come home safely," he said. "I support the action in removing the weapons of mass destruction that Saddam Hussein has stockpiled."
Based briefings from the Pentagon, Roemer added the current air strikes will be relied upon to diminish Iraq's ability to produce biological and chemical weapons and militarily threaten its neighbors.
"They (the strikes) will be powerful and it will be sustained," he said.
Roemer also said he is convinced the timing of the attacks has absolutely nothing to do with the scheduled floor debate Thursday on the four articles of impeachment of President Clinton. The House was scheduled to take up those articles today.
"I specifically asked about the timing, and the military leaders were adamant about the need to do this now," he said. "There was a small window of opportunity between Tuesday night when the chief inspector pulled out of Iraq and the beginning of Ramadan. The military was in strong support of the action now."
Roemer said the comments he's received on the articles of impeachment haven't been dominated by those for or against the measure.
"We've had a wide diversity of opinions, which is representative of what we see from all over the country, " he said. "I was home last weekend taking people's phone calls and doing some door-to-door; people were stopping me at the mall. I heard strong, heart-felt opinions on both sides.
"Public opinion is very important to me, but I also think we need to consider what the Constitution has to say on this," he added. " I voted for a tough, thorough and bipartisan review of the matter. Upon a thorough review of the facts, what the president did was repulsive, reprehensible and something for which he deserves to be punished."
Roemer said he thinks that punishment should come in the form of a censure that would include a substantial fine in addition to a public rebuke by Congress.
"Censure is absolutely constitutional," he said. "There is nothing in the Constitution that would impede a censure."
Roemer said he doesn't know what the final tally will be on the articles of impeachment, but he will vote against them.
"I really don't have a feel for what the outcome will be," he said. "But I don't feel any of the allegations rise to the level of impeachable offenses."
