Mark Lawrence Campaigns for the Constitution in ME-01

Submitted by Bob Fertik on October 31, 2007 - 4:09pm.

The very first act of any new Member of Congress is taking the Oath of Office to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

Incredibly, of the 535 Members who took that oath in January 2007, only 22 have actually upheld their oath by co-sponsoring H.Res. 333, Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Cheney.

Mark Lawrence would like to join them. He's running for the open seat in ME-01 that is being vacated by Tom Allen (D), who is running for Senate against Susan Collins.

Lawrence is the elected District Attorney for Maine Prosecutorial District One which covers York County, home to one out of every seven Mainers.

A native of Kittery, Lawrence was first elected to the Maine House of Representatives in 1988 becoming only the second Democrat elected from Kittery since the Civil War. In 1992, he won a seat in the Maine Senate from another overwhelmingly Republican district.

Elected Democratic leader after just one term, Lawrence helped Senate Democrats secure a majority in 1996. Lawrence was then twice unanimously selected by his colleagues to serve as Senate President.

Lawrence recently wrote an op ed on impeachment for the Portland Press Herald:

To fail to take action will pose a grave danger to our Constitution through Congress' implicit compliance with the president's assumption of any unconstitutional powers that will serve as a precedent for future presidents, Republicans or Democrats...

I disagree with those who suggest that there are more important priorities; who fear that impeachment proceedings would be perceived as either a distraction or as political retribution.

As public officials, we hold no higher imperative than to uphold the fundamental principles on which this nation was founded.

And as history teaches us, justice delayed is justice denied.

I couldn't agree more. To learn more about Mark, visit http://www.marklawrence.org

Thanks Bob!

Submitted by Lawrence for Cong… on October 31, 2007 - 9:43pm.

We appreciate the shout out. I encourage everyone to check out the website and to email us with any questions about the campaign (emails are in the Contact section).

Dear Mark, As you know, I

Submitted by lauriedobson on November 10, 2007 - 9:07am.

Dear Mark, As you know, I supported your decision to act on impeachment. Indeed, I had urged you to this course of action after a meeting of the York County Democratic Committee prior to your public position of support. Is it enough, however, just to call for this, to say that you endorse impeachment, and to call for its necessity at this time? Is it not also important to stand with others who are running on a pro-impeachment platform in Maine, as opposed to standing with those who are against impeachment? I refer to Tom Allen, whose seat you hope to attain, who I am running against for the US Senate seat in Maine, currently held by Susan Collins, up for re-election in 2008. I am running for the US Senate on a pro-impeachment platform, against two others who are firm in their committment to not support impeachment: Tom Allen and Susan Collins. Allen, according to the Portland Press Herald, which is linked on my blog: http://lauriedobson.blogspot.com, said that he will not support impeachment. If you are for impeachment, should you not stand with me and call Tom Allen out on this? He is in the House, where you hope to be. That is where impeachment should begin, NOW. By standing with me, you will let Tom know, in no uncertain terms, that he must act NOW for impeachment. This is an issue requiring courage and leadership. I accept the requirement to stand alone against the formidable forces of the Allen campaign, since he is failing in his duty to represent those in the Party who want accountability and restoration of the rule of law. I call upon you, Mark, to uphold the Constitution and to denounce the anti-impeachment platform of Tom Allen, and to side with me, a pro-impeachment candidate, about whom, according to Attorney General Steve Rowe, you have spoken in the highest of regard. Laurie Dobson Kennebunkport, Maine Nov. 10, 2007