"Speaking of Republicans pushing for impeachment during a war with Iraq, Democrat Charles Rangel said, "In times of war, anyone who conspires against the commander in chief--. This comes a lot closer to the definition of high crimes and misdemeanors than where the president's hands were in the Oval Office.'' "Our troops ``will be demoralized if we do stop this constitutional process,'' added Democrat Duncan Hunter. GOP Wants Impeachment Debate Friday WASHINGTON (AP) -- Brushing aside sharp Democratic protests, Republicans insisted on bringing articles of impeachment against President Clinton to the House floor for a Friday debate despite the continuing campaign of U.S. airstrikes against Iraq. ``We strongly object to this matter coming up tomorrow or the next day or any day in which our young men and women in the military are in harm's way,'' complained Democratic leader Dick Gephardt. ``There's no way to know when the troops will have completed their mission,'' countered Rep. Bob Livingston, the Louisiana Republican in line to become House speaker in January. ``We cannot refrain from advancing the people's business on this critical issue.'' The clash on the House floor Thursday was a prelude to the first presidential impeachment debate in 130 years -- a historic event suddenly made even more remarkable by the military hostilities halfway around the world. Clinton faces four articles of impeachment on perjury, obstruction of justice and abuse of power, all stemming from his efforts to conceal a sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. The president's prospects for avoiding impeachment have faded dramatically in recent days as a string of wavering GOP lawmakers announced plans to vote in favor of sending his case to a Senate trial. That drift continued during the day, as a handful of additional Republicans said they would support impeachment, and a few Democrats lined up against. Despite widespread predictions that impeachment would be approved, one Democrat, Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind., cautioned reporters, ``It's still a dynamic situation. It's fluid.'' Many Democrats and a small number of Republicans have called for Clinton's censure, and the president has virtually invited such an outcome for the gravest crisis of his career. But majority Republicans refuse to allow a vote on anything short of impeachment, saying it is up to the Senate to mete out a punishment. Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., also reaffirmed during the day that the Senate would proceed to a trial if the House impeaches Clinton. ``We will go to a trial and there won't be any deal making,'' he said on CNN. An Associated Press survey showed 190 House members in support of impeachment, 184 opposed, and the balance either undecided or unwilling to disclose their decisions. ``I'll let you know tomorrow,'' said Rep. Connie Morella, a Maryland Republican who is among the ranks of uncommitted. ``I want to hear the debate,'' said Rep. Jon Fox of Pennsylvania, who lost his seat in the November election. Rep. Paul McHale, D-Pa., told reporters he had made up his mind but wouldn't disclose his decision because of the ongoing military campaign in Iraq. Republicans grudgingly agreed on Wednesday night to a brief delay in impeachment proceedings that had been set for Thursday. They did so after Clinton went on television to announce the air campaign against Iraq. At the same time, numerous lawmakers said they were deeply suspicious of Clinton's timing, and promised to go ahead as soon as possible. By midday Thursday, they had proposed a schedule for 16 hours of debate, running past midnight Friday, to be followed by votes on Saturday on the four articles of impeachment and a Democratic attempt to force a vote on censure. Democrats scuttled that, citing the troops overseas. Republicans then announced they would bring the issue to the floor under rules that could provide for as little as one hour of debate on what many lawmakers have cited as the most important issue of their careers. House Majority Leader Dick Armey announced that talks with Democrats would continue in hopes of finding agreement on a longer debate time. At the White House, Clinton told reporters he didn't think proceedings on the floor would undercut his ability to carry out the military mission. ``No, I think that, first of all, I'm going to complete this mission,'' he replied -- in words that Armey later read on the House floor in response to Gephardt's comments. Lawmakers of both parties cited men and women in uniform to buttress their points of view -- in unusually strong language. Speaking of the Republicans' stance, Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., cited his own service in Korea. ``In times of war, anyone who conspires against the commander in chief, that comes a lost closer to high crimes and misdemeanors than where the president's hands were at any given time in the Oval Office,'' he said. Republicans mustered several lawmakers who served in Vietnam and other wars to rebut. Rep. Duke Cunningham, R-Calif., said that while he was serving in Vietnam, what demoralized him was not Congress but Tom Hayden, Jane Fonda and ``the anti-war protesters like Bill Clinton.'' The troops ``will be demoralized if we do stop this constitutional process,'' added Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif.
