West Wing "Lame Duck"

Lame duck Senator Tony Marino explains to WH Communications Director Toby Ziegler why -- having been defeated for reelection largely as the result of his support for ratification of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty -- he cannot vote to ratify the treaty in a lame duck session of Congress. Something about actually respecting the will of the voters ... which leaves Toby speechless.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• lame
• duck
• Congress
• treaty
• ratification
• Tony
• Marino
• Toby
• Ziegler
• Nancy
• Pelosi
• Harry
• Reid
• Mitch
• McConnell
• Jed
• Bar

[shaunpeacock1]

that senator is a champion

[robertl30]

Are they supposed to do what their constituents want? Or are they supposed to, at least sometimes, lead their constituents? I think it's a balance.

[jesusthroughmary]

@BrandonRhea I think he's actually objecting to the concept of a lame-duck session. He didn't say he would vote against ratification, he said he would abstain.

[pengo2008]

@jbone84 Sorry I disagree, firstly they must meet their obligations to Israel and other allies, then they can listen to their constituents. Israel IS America!!

[jbone84]

@BrandonRhea You couldn't be more wrong. Members of Congress are supposed to do what their constituents want, if they were just supposed to decide w/o our consent then why even vote for Congress just appoint them like judges.

[tfn105]

@BrandonRhea I didn't interpret it that way at all. I think if he had been re-elected he would have voted on the bill irrespective of overall public opinion. His point was that he had lost his seat and was simply serving out the remainder of his time in a manner that reflected his constituents' overall opinion.

People don't usually vote on one issue, they vote for a candidate who most closely follows their ideals, and he acknowledged they no longer want him in office on their behalf.

[mitchellfamilyof4]

Hey Senator - Wanna hear the most annoying sound in the world?

[BrandonRhea]

The Senator stood on certain principles, but in the end members of Congress, particularly Senators, are not supposed to go to Washington to do whatever their constituents want. By doing that, they're just voting based on opinion polls.

They're supposed to do what's best for the country, even if that conflicts with public opinion. That's what it means to stand on principles. In fact, what this Senator did was cowardly. He firmly believed he was right, but he caved to public opinion polls anyway.