Kucinich: An Impeachable Offense

Dennis Kucinich

CBSNews-- Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) told Hotsheet today that it's an "indisputable fact" that President Obama committed an impeachable offense by authorizing a military attack without congressional approval. "The next question is what does Congress do it about it," Kucinich said, adding that he hasn't said he's introducing a resolution for impeachment. "This is a teachable moment," he said. "The American people should understand that our Constitution does not provide for the president to wage war any times he pleases." Kucinich and other lawmakers -- including both liberal Democrats and some Republicans -- are raising concerns about the air strikes the U.S. military is conducting in Libya to prevent Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi from killing civilians who oppose his rule.

The United States on Monday fired cruise missiles over Libya, after leading a round of air attacks over the weekend. The air attacks are part of an effort to enforce the no-fly zone over Libya approved by the United Nations last week. The U.N. resolution approving the no-fly zone also approved "all necessary measures" to prevent attacks on civilians. In a press conference, Mr. Obama maintained today that the U.S. will hand off control of the mission to the international coalition supporting the no-fly zone in a matter of days. But Kucinich said the U.S.'s continuing role in the mission does not change the fact that the president went outside of his authority. "They crossed the line," he said. "The president needs to explain to the nation why he went outside the Constitution to order this attack." Read full story here: News New Mexico

Kucinich: An Impeachable Offense