Lyons Hits Nethercutt Stance Democratic Challenger Says Impeachment Slowing Congress

Democratic challenger Brad Lyons on Thursday accused Rep. George Nethercutt of participating in a “vindictive and partisan witch hunt” against President Clinton.

“Nethercutt raised the bar of partisanship by going so far as to call for the president’s resignation even before the Starr report was released,” Lyons said.

Instead of pursuing impeachment, Nethercutt and the Republican leadership should censure and fine Clinton, Lyons said.

“With President Clinton, anything more than a reprimand is partisan politics this country doesn’t need,” he said.

Lyons said Clinton was guilty of “poor moral behavior. It’s not behavior I condone.”

But pursuing the impeachment inquiry is distracting Congress from passing budget bills, Lyons said.

Nine of the 13 bills necessary to fund the federal budget are pending approval. That’s unacceptable, Lyons said.

“If a private citizen performed so poorly, they’d certainly be fired,” he said. He then suggested voters do so with Nethercutt.

Lyons said he called Thursday’s press conference after campaigning throughout the 5th District and finding voters frustrated with Congress.

“Virtually everybody I talked to wants to put an end to the charade,” Lyons said.

Nethercutt campaign manager Dale Neugebauer said Lyons is “obsessed with this whole thing.”

Lyons’ statements reflect an organized campaign by national Democratic groups, Neugebauer said.

“He’s made himself a pawn in Clinton’s game to avoid punishment,” Neugebauer said.

A thousand calls received by Nethercutt’s office in Washington, D.C., are running 9 to 1 in favor of impeachment, Neugebauer said.