(US Rep.) Burton sorry about missing votes for golf

[deadparrot]

U.S. Rep. Dan Burton this morning apologized for missing 19 votes to play in a golf tournament in January.

Burton, R-Indianapolis, who has not responded to requests for comment, made his apology during an appearance on a conservative radio talk show in Indianapolis.

Burton told talk show host Greg Garrison that he made reservations to play in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic when Republicans were still in control of the House.

When Democrats took control, he did not expect them to schedule votes so early in the month. "I probably made a mistake," he said.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070212/LOCAL19/70212040/1100/SPORTS03

[MaineDem]

1. Probably???

Good grief!

[rodeodance]

6. I second your E-motion!!

[Ashamed_American]

2. FOUR!

Err...NINETEEN!!

[calimary]

18. Nineteen? Is that categories of lies he's told per day or marriages

he's ruined with his own philandering? And THIS is the guy who called Clinton a "scumbag." Guess it takes one to know one.

:eyes:

[habitual]

3. I'm sorry I was exposed, it won't happen again!

i prolly shoulda put the american citizens needs before my need to hit a little ball in a hole.

But it was the Bob Hope Classic!

And I really really wanted to play, and was promised by my fellow repubs that i would be able to.

Damn them DEMS, DAMN THEM!!!!

Oh and BTW, support the troops, support the troops....

[Captain Hilts]

4. That the PGA invites total cranks like that to play says something. nt

[ShortnFiery]

13. Yeah, that you are FORE the power elite you morAn. Play through to defeat.

:P

[AndyA]

5. And I'm sorry that you're such a perfect example of GOP abuse in government, Burton.

And I'm sorry that you feel it's OK to go golfing instead of minding the interests of your constituents.

And I'm sorry that you are a member of a party that is almost Gestapo in their beliefs.

And I'm sorry that the people of Indianapolis have such poor representation in government.

But I'm not sorry you've been called out on this. You deserve it.

[bmbmd]

7. Darn that five-day work week.

nt

[LiberalFighter]

8. 3 points

1) He was elected to represent his district as a U.S. Representative not a golfer.

2) The proper action on his part would had been to call the "Bob Hope Golf Charity" and send his regrets due to committment in DC.

3) His salary should be reduced based on unexcused time off when he should had been in Congress.

[allalone]

25. you're right

dock his pay.

[LisaM]

9. Is he saying the GOP scheduled votes around golf tournaments?

That's what it sounds like he's saying!

[truthisfreedom]

10. That'd be a big 10-4. Thugs don't work, they just take bribes and have fun with pages.

[TheCowsCameHome]

11. It's Ok, Dan. The only balls you have are on the golf course, anyway.

Stay out there. Who needs you, anyway?

[yellowcanine]

12. Maybe he was out buying watermelons for his ballistics research.

We are talking about "Watermelon Dan" Burton, are we not?

http://www.americanpolitics.com/010599DISpatch.html


Someone wrote a song about it......

http://servercc.oakton.edu/~billtong/bnsp/watermelonman.htm

Dan... Watermelon Man.
Dan... Watermelon Man.
He's obsessed with proving guilt of Clinton.
Shooting watermelons, he is hintin'
That he "got his man."
Watermelon Man.

Dan... Watermelon Man.
Dan... Watermelon Man.
What a looney, drunken with his power.
Making up new charges by the hour.
Kick him in the can!
Watermelon Man.

Dan... Watermelon Man.
Dan... Watermelon Man.
He's the Taliban from Indiana.
Tryin' to scream at Castro in Havana
Right wing Taliban.
Watermelon Man.

[Supersedeas]

14. Indy are you listening to this?

[Doctor_J]

15. As sorry as he was about getting caught cheating on his wife?

or not that sorry?

[Supersedeas]

28. the word sorry is a campaign slogan--it means he wants your vote

[EndElectoral]

16. Well, the Dem's took control, but he still wouldn't cancel his golf.....what an idiot

[KamaAina]

17. Hey! Let's put on a golf tournament and invite all the repukes to play!

That way we could get stuff done without all their obstructionism!

[daleo]

19. Sorry about that.

"Now watch this swing."

[Sapere aude]

20. Didn't he shoot some watermelons in his yard once? What was that about?

[yellowcanine]

23. Yes - he was doing ballistics research to "prove" Vince Foster was murdered.....

http://www.americanpolitics.com/010599DISpatch.html

[maxrandb]

27. That's Right!

This is the idiot that shot pumpkins and watermelons in his backyard to try to prove Vince Foster was murdered, or probably could have been.

We need some Democrat to call the press and media and have them report to the mall. Then we should set up a practice tee and a practice putting green. Then we should have several people hitting golf balls into the reflecting pool and practicing their putting by the Washington monument. We would tell the media that it's a "ballistic" test to show that you could play golf and still be able to make votes on the house floor.

[Parche]

21. GOLF

Yes, and next election the voters are sending you to the 19th hole........for good.

[salin]

22. due to a change in schedule by dems... hardly

locally there was a report a few days ago that pointed out that Burton has missed tons of votes over the years coinciding with a number of golf tourneyments.

[lakercub]

24. You did nothing wrong, Dan

By all means, play as much golf as you'd like. In fact, why not have a three month Republican golf retreat? Three year? We have a quorum without you...so go...play....have a good time. And bring Lieberman with you.

[Hekate]

26. He didn't expect that Madame Speaker would actually get right to work? rofl

That's okay -- we didn't need his vote anyway. ;-)

Burton's not a bad egg in some respects. I once tuned into CSPAN and caught him conducting a hearing on mercury in children's vaccinations. He was grilling the representatives of the CDC and FDA over a slow fire, and was not happy with their answers.

Toward the end he revealed that his then-16 year old grandson was autistic, and was fast approaching a size and age where his parents were not going to be able to care for him at home much longer.

I was glad that at least this one Republican was deeply and personally involved in an issue that has devastated untold thousands of families. I respect him for his efforts.

Hekate

[classysassy]

29. Join the tour(PGA)

you want be missed in the house.