U.S. House strikes member's remark that Bush stole 2000 election

The verbal battle broke out after Representative Steve Buyer, an Indiana Republican, proposed a measure barring any U.S. official from requesting the United Nations formally observe the U.S. election Nov. 2.

Representative Corrine Brown, a Florida Democrat, and several other House Democrats have made that suggestion. They argue some black voters were disenfranchised in 2000 and problems could occur again this fall.

"We welcome America to observe the integrity of our electoral process and we do not ask, though, for the United Nations to come as monitors at our polling stations," Buyer said.

"I come from Florida, where you and others participated in what I call the United States coup d'etat," Brown said.

"We need to make sure it doesn't happen again. Over and over again after the election when you stole the election, you came back here and said: 'Get over it."'

"No, we're not going to get over it. And we want verification from the world."

At that point, Buyer demanded Brown's words be "taken down," or removed the debate's permanent record.

The House's presiding officer, Texas Republican Mac Thornberry, ruled Brown's words violated a House rule.

"Members should not accuse other members of committing a crime such as, quote, stealing, end quote, an election," Thornberry said.

When Brown objected to his ruling, the House voted 219-187 to strike her words.

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