U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker, a Republican who represents Mississippi’s First District, is being sued by Democratic opponent Ken Hurt on the grounds that he breached a promise made in connection with the “Contract with America” not to run for a seventh term. The Contract, which Republicans put forth as part of their successful campaign for control of Congress in 1994, proposed 12-year term limits for House members, and Hurt says Wicker promised to serve no more than that span. The term limit idea was never enacted into law. Wicker’s campaign manager, Kirk Sims, called the new suit “frivolous and, quite frankly, a little nutty”. (Joshua Cogswell, “Challenger sues Wicker for breaking ‘Contract with America’”, Jackson Clarion-Ledger, Jul. 28).
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I’m not sure that other politicians would endorse this suit in any way shape or form. After all, politicians not telling the truth is the bedrock of American politics.
As for the term limits, It would be a great idea for Congress. I suggest we get started on that right away. Ignore the arguments about “experience” , how could it get worse?
Cleary a campaign publicity stunt, which any attorney signing the papers should be called to account for, in my view. Any first-year contract student could explain why the “Contract with America” was not a legally congnizable contract.
I’d still like to see what his detrimental reliance is.
Uhm, is anyone else not getting the point that the term limit proposal was never signed into law? Thus, there is no law that was actually broken! The CWA must be evaluated as an idea, some of whose tenets did make it into law. If you’re going to argue that the politician should keep his word, then I agree. I don’t see how a lawsuit would help matters, though. After all, it’s not like he lied before a court like say..oh…Bill Clinton. :>