Bruce censured despite his 'Mr. Smith' comparison
By Alan Gathright, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published January 24, 2008 at 9:50 a.m.
Updated January 24, 2008 at 6:47 p.m.
Photo by Dennis Schroeder © The Rocky
Douglas Bruce today infuriated fellow lawmakers by being the lone legislator who refused to cosponsor a Joint House-Senate resolution honoring Military and Veterans Appreciation Day. Above, he addresses the House last month.
Rep. Douglas Bruce’s efforts to cast himself as a victim hounded by the press, including invoking the image of movie legend Jimmy Stewart, didn’t spare him the first censure in the legislature’s 131-year history.
The Colorado House voted 62-1 Thursday to censure Bruce for kicking a Rocky photographer on the House floor last week.
The censure resolution rebuked the Colorado Springs Republican for violating the House decorum and “ordinary standards of decency,” by using physical force against Javier Manzano as the photographer crouched before the standing Bruce during the ceremonial morning prayer.
By striking the photographer, Bruce also violated the constitutionally protected “right of public access to the proceedings of the House of Representatives,” the censure stated.
“We need to lead by example,” said Rep. Steve King, R-Grand Junction, co-chair of the committee that recommended censure. “Violence can not be tolerated in this house.”
Bruce remained unrepentant, blaming Manzano for provoking his “nudge” by refusing to heed the rookie lawmaker’s demand not to photograph him during the prayer.
“This resolution is the real overreaction to the nudge of an unruly photographer who broke his promise that he would not interrupt my participation in the prayer,” Bruce said.
“I made a mistake,” Bruce said. “I trusted a journalist and I won’t do that again.”
Bruce compared himself to Stewart in the 1939 film about a crusader who became a member of Congress, “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”
Mr. Smith “is set up and provoked by the press even before being sworn in,” recounted Bruce, who himself was only sworn in two hours after booting Manzano.
Mr. Smith “responds by punching several reporters,” Bruce said contrasting that respone to his mere “poke” to Manzano’s knee.
While Mr. Smith “prevails only by collapsing during a filibuster defending his honor,” Bruce told his colleagues not to worry.
“I’m not going to collapse here and I’m not going to filibuster,” Bruce said.
Rep. Al White, R-Hayden, rejected his Republican colleague’s cinematic comparison.
“Rep. Bruce, you’re not James Stewart and this is not a 1939 movie,” White said. “This is today. You’re actions were wrong.”
White agreed with Bruce that censure might not be the “appropriate action.”
“The appropriate action, I believe, would be for you to recognize your misdeed, to acknowledge that you made it and too apologize to the person upon which you inflicted that kick,” White said.
“You have not done that. You have continued to fail to recognize that you created a misdeed,” White added, “As a result this body is now sitting in judgment of your actions, because you have not recognized your own guilty and culpability.”
Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud was the lone vote against censure. House rules barred Bruce from voting on the resolution.
“I come down here not to defend Rep. Douglas Bruce, because what he did in my opinion was wrong,” Lundberg told colleagues. “It was an exercise in very poor judgment and it did compromise the decorum and the integrity of this House.”
But Lundberg cautioned against “rushing down the road of censure,” saying a lesser rebuke better suited the incident.
Censure is the harshest penalty a lawmaker can face – short of ouster or jail for contempt
“I believe we are setting frankly a low (standard) for this action that has never been taken in this body,” Lundberg said.
Censure committee co-chair Rep. Paul Weissmann, D-Louisville, said the bipartisan panel took its work seriously and acted fairly.
Weissmann, who implied they gave Bruce every chance to atone for the kick, has said a swift apology by the lawmaker would have quelled the uproar over his misconduct.
“We walked Rep. Bruce to the edge — or he helped himself to the edge,” Weissmann said.
At this point, Bruce could “flop off” the cliff like the crash-prone cartoon character, Wile E. Coyote, Weissmann said. “Or he could choose to work his way back” into his colleagues good graces."
“I frankly hope he chooses to work his way back,” Weissmann added.
As Bruce began telling colleagues to consider his “effort to establish some good will in this body” by passing out four dozen roses to staffers and packets of jelly beans to fellow lawmakers, House Speaker Andrew Romanoff told him his 10-minute talking time limit was up.
A surprised Bruce said he wasn't told of that rule, but the Romanoff firmly repeated: “Rep. Bruce, you’re time has expired.”
Bruce later asked that his seven-page rebuttal letter be printed in the House Journal.
“I think it should be part of the record so that decades from now, people will see what really happened,” Bruce said.
But House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, urged a “no” vote on entering it in the journal, saying Bruce’s letter “includes a laundry list of items of which some might be rumors, some might be truth.”
Bruce lost that round too.
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January 24, 2008
10:14 a.m.
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rg writes:
Thank you Jesus for the censure. Bruce was in the process of breaking the law when he broke the law called assault and battery. It is against the law to pray in the public arena; it is against Jesus' law to pray in the public arena. Implicit in the Establishment Clause: The First Amendment: is keep church and state separate. Church and State are Siamese twins, any twins who are born joined together in any manner; therefore, the Wall mentioned by the Scotsman Burg and later Williams and thrust into the First Amendment by Thomas Jefferson is the scalpel that separates these twins which if joined would create holy horrors. Richard Grimes, Deicide: http://www.geocities.com/r22037/think...
Deicide Corner: “The merits and services of Christianity have been industriously extolled by its hired advocates. Every Sunday its praises are sounded from myriads of pulpits. It enjoys the prestige of an ancient establishment and the comprehensive support of the State. It has the ear of rulers and the control of education. Every generation is suborned in its favor. Those who dissent from it are losers, those who oppose it are ostracised; while in the past, for century after century, it has replied to criticism with imprisonment, and to scepticism with the dungeon and the stake. By such means it has induced a general tendency to allow its pretensions without inquiry and its beneficence without proof. ” -- Preface, Crimes of Christianity, by G.W. Foote and J.M. Wheeler
January 24, 2008
10:57 a.m.
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Elwood writes:
What the heck does being censured entail? Does he get a slap on the wrist? Is he banned from all the parties (celebration not political)? Does he have to stand in the corner and wear a pointy hat? Does the majority leader call him a bad boy or what?
January 24, 2008
10:58 a.m.
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mexcellent writes:
I'd like to see assault charges
January 24, 2008
11:18 a.m.
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windbourne writes:
Fire his A&^. This is not just unrepentant. He is outright blaming the photojournalist for HIS mistake.
January 24, 2008
11:31 a.m.
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jibbons writes:
Censure is a public slap on the wrist. It is the equivalent of taking a misbehaving student to the front of a school assembly and saying, "you misbehaved, we all think you misbehaved, and we resent that you misbehaved...," and then sending them back to their seat.
Now think back to your school days, and imagine the class cheater being subjected to this. Do you think that the individual would stop cheating, or do you think that they would try to be quieter about it?
The guy is a substitute anyway, he should be kicked off the hill, and have a reliever sent up. Chances are that we could not do much worse than this guy.
January 24, 2008
11:36 a.m.
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jsvaldez writes:
For me this akin to an athlete that gets a stiff fine for cheap shot that otherwise wouldn't have warranted it. The reason for the stiff fine is because this athlete has established a reputation for playing dirty. Now, I'm not comparing Bruce to an athlete or in any way condoning his actions. My point is that he has no one to blame but himself. Maybe the censure was an overreaction, but Bruce's history of arrogance and immaturity certainly led to this action. I for one do not claim him as a representative and would sign a petition for a recall if possible.
January 24, 2008
11:52 a.m.
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LoFat writes:
Apparently Mr. Bruce is a felon. He initiated the Bruce amendment that denied secular-progressives unfettered access to the working man's wallet. He failed to kow-tow to the liberal shrines of "Entitlement". I am not aware of what else he may be guilty of.
I have, however, watched as he has been demonized and vilified by the leftist liberal press. How dare he interfere with their plots and schemes. This is just another example of the slash-and-burn personal destruction tactics employed by the far-left secular-progressives against any and all who do not support their programs. Keep poking any man with sharp sticks long enough and he will lash out.
I am a proud Democrat in the tradition of JFK. I really want to know who the usurpers and pretenders are that have hijacked the Democratic party. I would love to send them packing and restore decency and integrity into the American way of life.
"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country".
January 24, 2008
11:54 a.m.
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Francesca writes:
elwood, according to Barrons the definition:
Censure is the official reprimand by a legislative or other formal body of one of its own members. Synonymous with obloquy. A censure is more severe than a simple reprimand. Being under censure makes one the object of disgrace.
I hope the lawmakers can move on now.
January 24, 2008
12:05 p.m.
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jvb writes:
The entire legislature should be censured for allowing petition to a bearded monster in the sky for intervention in its work. "Guide us O Holy One so we don't Bush up."
January 24, 2008
1:07 p.m.
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broker writes:
Folks, let's get down to the nitty, gritty !!
WHY DO WE NEED A PRAYER TO CONVENE THE HOUSE OR SENATE OR FOR THAT MATTER, ANYWHERE IN PUBLIC/POLITICAL ASSEMBLAGE.
Do we think that it makes a better politician..
No, thats an oxymoron.. no such thing as a "better politician"
January 24, 2008
1:55 p.m.
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Lowtaxequalsfreedom writes:
There is no law for or against public prayer. To say that Jesus outlaws public prayer is nonsense. Do you control which religion Bruce follows? How about the rest of us?
Let’s face it, this is about Tabor. Tabor is a citizen imposed revenue and spending limit. Tabor also requires a vote of the people. Politicians hate anything that reduces there power and gives more of it back to the citizens.
How do we protect the taxpayer and the vote? How do we separate Bruces mistake for the will of the people?
This photographer really should file charges. I would like to see what the courts decide. That should have been he only penalty Bruce faced.
Now that we have censured one, there should be many more. How about any politician in Colorado including Ritter and Romanoff that merely suggest surpassing Tabor and the State Constitution get a censure?
January 24, 2008
2:05 p.m.
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GrayOwl writes:
The vote was 62-1? That's closer than it should have been.
January 24, 2008
2:10 p.m.
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davies writes:
This has been a truly wonderful issue to get the legislative session kick-started. We have all gotten a kick out of this story, but now can we just move on? No sense in kicking a guy when he's down...
January 24, 2008
2:22 p.m.
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Elwood writes:
Why waste time with the censure, It has already been done in the press for a week or more now.
"Ow my feelings are hurt, you called me a bad boy." Big deal!
January 24, 2008
2:24 p.m.
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jvb writes:
Jesus says pray in your closet so you may not be seen; whereas, those who pray in public are hypocrites (Mt.6); I now count three people who take Bruce's side. Every Republican in the Legislature except for Lundberg from Berthoud voted against Bruce. This has nothing to do with Tabor.
January 24, 2008
2:36 p.m.
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rickg19611 writes:
yawn..... guess Democraps and Republican lapdogs have nothing better to do than feed the media slime machine and their idiot fans with the latest non-issue.
Next week.... someone wears an ugly tie and the idiots of the world waste a couple of weeks whining over that non-issue too.
No wonder politicians, the media, and the idiots that worship them have reputations below used car salesmen.
January 24, 2008
2:43 p.m.
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3rdGenerationNative writes:
Get off your high horses - it's not a party membership or tax control matter, it's a question of SELF control. And don't even try to misdirect this discussion this for your personal atheism- (unless your real purpose is to violate the 1st amendment's free exercise clause).
Back to the subject of "what does Censure mean, exactly?" It can now be used as one of the bases for a recall petition by the voters in DB's El Paso County District. He can be removed months before running in an open election (he lost a state race to replace Ray Powers years ago). The opinions (or grudges as some of you presume) of the General Assembly then become immaterial. If you like TABOR and Lame Doug is your man, you have no choice but to move to northern El Paso County to fight the recall petition or take your chances and campaign for him if he survives until November.
Censure is also a legal record that is just cause to bar the man from public institutions (school districts) where he is considered a danger to the public trust. Last November, the Harrison School District rejected him as a visitor when he wanted to donate copies of the US constitution. Well now he is on record as using 'physical violence in public'. Schools prohibit teachers from ANY form of physical contact, even a 'nudge'. Because the resolution uses the words 'physical violence'and since it states that house members must be held to even higher standards, that is even more restrictive than the standard for teachers. He continues to meddle with El Paso County Commissions, district courts and Colorado Springs City Council affairs, but now the censure allows local government to avoid officially acknowledging his input or antics.
January 24, 2008
4:11 p.m.
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3rdGenerationNative writes:
Or maybe you want him visiting your middle schooler's class with a lecture on how to disrupt government intrusion? That will stay civil only as long as your kid agrees with hizzhonors' personal definition of decorum - but what happens if, kids being kids, your child mock's DB's hairdo or plays an April Fool "shoe's untied" trick on him? What if the whole class smirks- will he call that provocation and lash out? Kids always bait substitute teachers, expecting an overreaction. They won't grant him any respect, either.
He's already served jail time for contempt of court. His written response to the censure is pure obfuscation and finger-pointing. He's already lost more elections and ballot measures than he won. He continues to display contempt for all public institutions that are beyond his absolute control, even criticizing the public that doesn't vote his way. Next time he comes calling, lock the school down or keep your kid home.
January 24, 2008
4:36 p.m.
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O_TRAIN writes:
Bruce & Lundberg = Marmalard & Neidermeyer
....what kind of man kicks a defenseless photog?
January 24, 2008
4:43 p.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
Tax cuts are an illusion in the age of deficits. If you haven't already done the math, your kids get the tax bill, you moron.
January 24, 2008
5:02 p.m.
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forwhatitis writes:
What kind of photographer doesn't respect a person's wishes not to be photographed during a spiritual moment. Give me a break. How much has this cost us, the taxpayers? Was anyone hurt? Let the paparazzi suffer.
January 24, 2008
5:16 p.m.
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Oh_Wise_One writes:
ezekiel777- "i will never vote for a conservative again" With that statement I can be assured that you have never, ever voted for a conservative. Only a liberal in sheep's clothing would make a statement like that anonymously on teh internets.
January 24, 2008
5:42 p.m.
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O_TRAIN writes:
How much of my tax dollar has been spent on "spiritual" moments.? Politicians should experience their spirtual moments on their own time - say your prayers before you go to work. Still no excuse to kick someone - whether he was experiencing "something" or picking his nose.
January 24, 2008
7:35 p.m.
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LeeAlbrandt writes:
How very Christian of Bruce.
January 24, 2008
10:40 p.m.
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Lowtaxequalsfreedom writes:
The comments on here that claim to have the authority on Christianity are ridiculous. God is as personal as fingerprints. Learn the Constitution and you will see that these brilliant men never intended religion to be their version or any other. They just wanted to guarantee we could all think and express any damn way we wanted.
Which politicians challenged the excessive use of the emergency clause?
Which politicians amended the Constitution to guarantee that the people are notified of tax increases and get to vote?
Which politicians fight for the citizens right to initiate and referendum the legislators?
Which politicians fight for term limits?
One and you just censured him.
January 24, 2008
10:56 p.m.
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Lowtaxequalsfreedom writes:
There is no such thing as separation of church and state. That is an illusion created by the atheist.
There is no such thing as a Democracy in America. That is an illusion created by the socialist.
You puppets had all better reread your freedom documents.
January 25, 2008
9:37 a.m.
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rg writes:
Douglas Bruce: If you are aware, paste these expressions on your mirror. You are a wannabe dictator. Apologize to the photographer whose only sin is trying to make you look good with your hands clasped in piety as if Christianity were a virtue. Everyone now knows how bad you are. Richard Grimes: http://www.geocities.com/r22037/think...
“All religions promise a reward for excellences of the will or heart, but none for excellences of the head or understanding.” -- German philospher Arthur Schopenhauer
“Let us begin, then, at once, with that merest of words, 'Infinity.' This, like 'God,' 'spirit,' and some other expressions of which the equivalents exist in all languages, is by no means the expression of an idea--but of an effort at one. It stands for the possible attempt at an impossible conception.” -- Edgar Allan Poe
“. . . there is nothing, I think, so odious as the whitewashed outside of a specious zeal; as those downright imposters, those bigots whose sacrilegious and deceitful grimaces impose on others with impunity, and who trifle as they like with all that mankind holds sacred; those men who, wholly given to mercenary ends, trade upon godliness, and would purchase honour and reputation at the cost of hypocritical looks and affected groans; who, seized with strange ardour, make use of the next world to secure their fortune in this; who, with great affectation and many prayers, daily preach solitude and retirement while they themselves live at Court; who know how to reconcile their zeal with their vices; who are passionate, revengeful, faithless, full of deceit, and who, to work the destruction of a fellow-man, insolently cover their fierce resentment with the cause of Heaven.” -- Moliere
“Religion is the idol of the mob; it adores everything it does not understand. . . . We know the crimes that fanaticism in religion has caused. . . .” -- Frederick the Great, letter to Voltaire
“The merits and services of Christianity have been industriously extolled by its hired advocates. Every Sunday its praises are sounded from myriads of pulpits. It enjoys the prestige of an ancient establishment and the comprehensive support of the State. It has the ear of rulers and the control of education. Every generation is suborned in its favor. Those who dissent from it are losers, those who oppose it are ostracised; while in the past, for century after century, it has replied to criticism with imprisonment, and to scepticism with the dungeon and the stake. By such means it has induced a general tendency to allow its pretensions without inquiry and its beneficence without proof. ” -- Preface, Crimes of Christianity, by G.W. Foote and J.M. Wheeler
January 25, 2008
10:04 a.m.
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eagleye writes:
rg: The topic is Douglas Bruce and his boorish behavior. Spare us the Wikipedia atheist quotes. Find another pulpit to vent your hatred of Christianity. That he carried out his little tirade during a prayer is incidental to the behavior and mindset of Mr. Bruce.
January 25, 2008
10:57 a.m.
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rg writes:
But eagleye: I prefaced with topic and besides, I've received many letters from those who enjoy my "atheist quotes." And besides, you should never use the pronoun "us" or "we" unless you have a tapeworm or a rat in your pocket. Hey! No ill intended; but you can't speak for anybody but yourself. Get used to saying "I" or "me" ~~~ Richard Grimes: Deicide.
Deicide Corner: "In a world wounded by conflicts, where violence is justified in god's name, it's important to repeat that religion can never become a vehicle of hatred, it can never be used in god's name to justify violence." Pope Benedict XVI Oct. 22, 2007 and recently the pope claimed the Church was correct about Galileo: "The Church's verdict on Galileo was rational and just," with gays being a threat to world peace, Pope is the greatest threat. Huckabee wants to amend the Constitution so it aligns itself with god's word. What brand of snake oil do you want in bed with the state? How about Islam? America needs that "Wall... ." http://planetatheism.com/?s=Linda+All...
January 25, 2008
1:41 p.m.
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3rdGenerationNative writes:
I second eagleeye's rebuke. That qualifies as us- plural against you isolated singular, 'rg'. Since you didn't link to your fan club and no one else in this column applauded you, it seems you're not much more popular than DB. Stay on topic or rant somewhere else.
January 26, 2008
10:35 a.m.
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jvb writes:
Hey! rg: You are on topic. It is religion that got Bruce into deep water. God works in mysterious ways. Jesus told Bush to invade Iraq and Jesus told Bruce to kick the photographer. God has a seat in the General Assembly and he never ran for election. Hang in there, rg: "us" aforementioned reminds me of Genesis where Jehovah says, "us gods" leaving me to wonder how many gods exist in Jehovah land. I hate the word "rant" it is so overused. I look forward to your next quote. Ignore the "us" who seek to regulate the comments on this blog. If Bruce hadn't been involved in superstitious nonsense he wouldn't have kicked anyone.
January 27, 2008
1:54 p.m.
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rg writes:
I contributed $150 to the Tabor Amendment and was a Bruce fan; however, he proves that prayer is divisive irrespective of from which brand of snake oil it is derived. Presently the legislature imbibes on Christian snake oil and there are 10,000 brands of it. Thanks jvb and Christ died for our sins. Don't make his martyrdom meaningless by not committing them. Everyday I strive to make his martyrdom meaningful. Richard Grimes: Member of the Deicide, the sword of time that kills all gods sending them to the graveyard of mythology.
February 4, 2008
8:15 a.m.
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native writes:
Bruce is delusional; now he compares himself to Jimmy Stewart (Mr. Smith goes to Washington) He clearly has a victim complex; I say, he has been censured and any more shenanigans should result in a kick to the curb-for good!