VOTE ALERT: Dems Defend National Security...Will GOP Follow?

A few days ago, I said the most important thing Democrats could do right now is to demand President Bush revoke Karl Rove's security clearance, in light of revelations that Rove was involved in leaking sensitive information that compromised U.S. national security. And yesterday, House Democrats sent a letter to Bush demanding just that. Now today, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) is demanding to know whether the White House actually complied with previous executive orders that Bush himself signed about leaks. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are stepping up with an amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill that would force the White House to comply with Democrats' request to suspend Rove's security clearance. This critical vote is expected today.

Here is the text of the legislation, as forwarded to me by a source:

"No federal employee who discloses or has disclosed classified information, including the identity of a covert agent of the Central Intelligence Agency, to a person not authorized to receive such information shall be entitled to hold a security clearance for access to such information."

Based on Republicans past statements about their supposed disdain for national security leaks, this bill should pass the Senate easily. And it is a pretty fair request considering historical precedent in similar cases. That said, the GOP cares little about hypocrisy, so it may face a big fight. Keep your eye on the Senate today, on C-SPAN 2 or on the Senate's website where they post roll call votes. The vote on the amendment is expected today.

Will the GOP join Democrats in standing up to protect America's national security? Or will they permit our country's defenses to be weakened by allowing a national security threat to continue having access to the most sensitive material?

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