SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- It doesn't cost Howie Hawkins a lot to run for Congress. No big media buys. No consultants. These days, Hawkins is often out, by himself, slowly collecting the thousands of signatures he'll need to take a spot on the November ballot.
“If I get elected, it will be on the strength of my ideas and the smaller level of financial support I get from local contributors,” said Hawkins, a congressional candidate for the 25th district.
And Hawkins isn't afraid to embrace some controversial ideas. He's calling now on Congress to act on a proposal to study possible impeachment of President Bush for crimes ranging from alleged pre-Iraq War lies to what some claim was unauthorized domestic spying.
The potential Green party candidate for congress in the 25th District is calling on Congress to proposing that President Bush be impeached. Our Bill Carey has more on the idea of Howie Hawkins.
“The democrats claim there will be a backlash against them if they prosecute for these very heinous crimes. Torture. Illegal spying against our constitutional rights,” said Hawkins. “I think it's very different than Clinton perjuring himself, perhaps, about a private sexual affair he had.”
It is unlikely republican candidate Dale Sweetland would support impeachment, but the congressional hopeful says he understands the strong feelings of people like Hawkins.
“Many people have had questions in their mind about why and how the decisions were made that got made. I don't discount any of them. I've had those same questions in my mind many, many times. But it's clear to me, that Congress is not going to act on any of this. They aren't acting on anything at all,” said Sweetland.
Democrat Dan Maffei declined an on-camera interview, issuing a written statement saying that his focus is on "moving forward and fixing the mistakes of the last eight years."
“That's lawlessness being ratified by this congress. If that's how they're going forward, they're going in the wrong direction,” said Hawkins.
Hawkins says it is a test of moral leadership and whether Congress will stand for the rule of law.
Hawkins hopes to collect as many as 6,000 signatures on his petitions. They are due to be filed later this month.