Democrats introduce resolution to censure Trump over Charlottesville remarks [full text]

A group of House Democrats, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi, introduced on Friday a resolution to censure President Donald Trump for failing to quickly condemn specific white nationalist groups after the violence in Charlottesville, Va.

The resolution specifically calls out Trump saying that there was blame on “many sides” for the violence.

President Donald Trump’s immediate public comments rebuked “many sides” for the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, and failed to specifically condemn the ‘Unite the Right’ rally or cite the white supremacist, neo-Nazi gathering as responsible for actions of domestic terrorism.

Censure is a formal declaration of disapproval of something or someone and nothing more. Basically, the Democrats have formalized a harshly worded letter, hope to push it to a vote, and then gloat. It will be interesting to see how Republicans respond to what will certainly be a lot of pressure.

As a side note, since specific and formal condemnation is supposed to come immediately, according to the media, why did it take Democrats almost a week to get this introduced? Why wait? The censure is because the left feels that Trump didn’t condemn specific groups fast enough – but if they take a week to do it.. that’s ok.

Full Text of Democrat Resolution to Censure Trump for Charlottesville Comments

A RESOLUTION

Censuring and condemning President Donald Trump.

Whereas on August 11, 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia, a gathering of white supremacists, including neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan (KKK) members, and other white nationalist groups, marched through the streets with torches as part of a coordinated ‘Unite the Right’ rally spewing racism, anti-Semitism, bigotry, and hatred;

Whereas on August 12, 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia, a car driven by James Alex Fields, Jr. rammed into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing Heather Heyer and injuring 20 others;

Whereas President Donald Trump’s immediate public comments rebuked “many sides” for the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, and failed to specifically condemn the ‘Unite the Right’ rally or cite the white supremacist, neo-Nazi gathering as responsible for actions of domestic terrorism;

Whereas on August 15, 2017, President Donald Trump held a press conference at Trump Tower where he re-asserted that “both sides” were to blame for the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, and attempted to create a moral equivalency between white supremacist, KKK, neo-Nazi groups and those counter-protesting the ‘Unite the Right’ rally;

Whereas President Donald Trump has surrounded himself with and cultivated the influence of, senior advisors and spokespeople who have long histories of promoting white nationalist, racist and anti-Semitic principles and policies within the country;

Whereas President Donald Trump has provided encouragement and little to no denunciation of white supremacist groups and individuals who promote their bigoted, nationalist ideology and policies;

Whereas President Donald Trump has failed to provide adequate condemnation and assure the American people of his resolve to opposing domestic terrorism: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) does hereby censure and condemn President Donald Trump for his inadequate response to the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia on August 12, 2017, his failure to immediately and specifically name and condemn the white supremacist groups responsible for actions of domestic terrorism, for re-asserting that “both sides” were to blame and excusing the violent behavior of participants in the ‘Unite the Right’ rally, and for employing people with ties to white supremacist movements in the White House, such as Steve Bannon and Sebastian Gorka; and (2) does hereby urge President Donald Trump to fire any and all White House advisors who have urged him to cater to the white supremacist movement in the United States.