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Line 50: − − In 2021, Cassidy first voted to declare the second impeachment of President Trump "unconstitutional." Then he switched his vote the following week to "constitutional." He and six other aberrant Republican senators, including [[Mitt Romney]], [[Lisa Murkowski]], [[Susan Collins]], [[Ben Sasse]], [[Richard Burr]], and [[Pat Toomey]], voted "guilty" in the final tabulation to convict Trump of the single charge of "inciting an insurrection," referring to Capitol Hill riot on January 6, 2021. On the afternoon of the final Senate vote on impeachment, which fell ten votes short of conviction, the Louisiana Republican Party [[censure]]d Cassidy for his failure to follow the wishes of a majority of Louisiana voters and instead voting as he personally wished to do. Cassidy was handily reelected to a second term in the Senate in 2020, and his campaign advertising extolled Trump's successes in the presidency.<ref name=censure>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2021/02/13/trump-acquitted-louisiana-republican-party-censures-senator-bill-cassidy-over-guilty-vote/4477426001/|title=Louisiana GOP censures Sen. Bill Cassidy over his guilty Trump impeachment vote|author=Greg Hilburn|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|date=February 13, 2021|accessdate=February 14, 20221}}</ref> − − The censure carries no legal weight, and a [[recall]] is not permitted for U.S. officials. The state Republican Executive Committee said, "We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the vote today by Sen. Cassidy to convict former President Trump. Fortunately, clearer heads prevailed and President Trump has been acquitted of the impeachment charge filed against him." Party secretary Mike Bayham said that the censure vote "couldn't wait" because "many Republicans believe this was a betrayal and required immediate action.<ref name=censure/> On February 10, 2021, conservative [[radio]] commentator [[Moon Griffon]] devoted his whole two-hour program to reflect on the outrage that conservatives feel about Cassidy's treachery. He likened Cassidy to the [[Louisiana Republican Fraud Squad]], a collection of twenty-three Moderate Republicans who joined with all the Democrats and two [[Independent voter|Independents]] to elect [[Clay Schexnayder]], the Moderate Republican from Ascension Parish and the choice of Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]] as the state House [[Speaker]].<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]],'' February 10, 2021.</ref>
move BHathorn's entry to replace mine, keep references I had added
===117th Congress===
===117th Congress===
Cassidy was one of only seven [[GOP]] senators who voted along with all Democrats on February 13, 2021 to convict former president [[Donald Trump]] over flimsy charges brought against him in an article of impeachment over the [[2021 Capitol riot]],<ref>Carney, Jourdain (February 13, 2021). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/538764-seven-gop-senators-vote-to-convict-trump Seven GOP senators vote to convict Trump]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 13, 2021.</ref> vaguely justifying his decision by calling him "guilty".<ref>Lonas, Lexi (February 13, 2021). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/538774-gop-sen-cassidy-i-voted-to-convict-trump-because-he-is-guilty GOP Sen. Cassidy: 'I voted to convict Trump because he is guilty']. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 13, 2021.</ref> Representing a state which strongly favored Trump in the [[2020 U.S. presidential election]],<ref name="Louisiana Election Results 2020: Live Updates"/> Cassidy was unanimously censured by the Louisiana Republican Party.<ref>William Jourdan (February 13, 2021). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/538786-louisiana-gop-votes-to-censure-cassidy-over-impeachment-vote Louisiana GOP votes to censure Cassidy over impeachment vote]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 13, 2021.</ref>
In 2021, Cassidy first voted to declare the second impeachment of President Trump "unconstitutional."<ref>Carney, Jourdain (January 26m 2021). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/535925-senate-rejects-paul-effort-to-declare-trump-impeachment-trial Just five GOP senators vote Trump impeachment trial is constitutional]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 14, 2021.</ref> Then he switched his vote the following week to "constitutional."<ref>Carney, Jourdain (February 9, 2021). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/538087-senate-votes-trial-constitutional-six-republicans-vote-yes Senate votes trial constitutional; six Republicans vote 'yes']. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 14, 2021.</ref> He and six other aberrant Republican senators, including [[Mitt Romney]], [[Lisa Murkowski]], [[Susan Collins]], [[Ben Sasse]], [[Richard Burr]], and [[Pat Toomey]], voted "guilty" in the final tabulation to convict Trump of the single charge of "inciting an insurrection," referring to Capitol Hill riot on January 6, 2021.<ref>Carney, Jourdain (February 13, 2021). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/538764-seven-gop-senators-vote-to-convict-trump Seven GOP senators vote to convict Trump]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 13, 2021.</ref> On the afternoon of the final Senate vote on impeachment, which fell ten votes short of conviction, the Louisiana Republican Party [[censure]]d Cassidy for his failure to follow the wishes of a majority of Louisiana voters and instead voting as he personally wished to do.<ref>William Jourdan (February 13, 2021). [https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/538786-louisiana-gop-votes-to-censure-cassidy-over-impeachment-vote Louisiana GOP votes to censure Cassidy over impeachment vote]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 13, 2021.</ref> Cassidy was handily reelected to a second term in the Senate in 2020,<ref name="Louisiana Election Results 2020: Live Updates"/> and his campaign advertising extolled Trump's successes in the presidency.<ref name=censure>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/news/2021/02/13/trump-acquitted-louisiana-republican-party-censures-senator-bill-cassidy-over-guilty-vote/4477426001/|title=Louisiana GOP censures Sen. Bill Cassidy over his guilty Trump impeachment vote|author=Greg Hilburn|publisher=''The Monroe News-Star''|date=February 13, 2021|accessdate=February 14, 20221}}</ref>
The censure carries no legal weight, and a [[recall]] is not permitted for U.S. officials. The state Republican Executive Committee said, "We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the vote today by Sen. Cassidy to convict former President Trump. Fortunately, clearer heads prevailed and President Trump has been acquitted of the impeachment charge filed against him." Party secretary Mike Bayham said that the censure vote "couldn't wait" because "many Republicans believe this was a betrayal and required immediate action.<ref name=censure/> On February 10, 2021, conservative [[radio]] commentator [[Moon Griffon]] devoted his whole two-hour program to reflect on the outrage that conservatives feel about Cassidy's treachery. He likened Cassidy to the [[Louisiana Republican Fraud Squad]], a collection of twenty-three Moderate Republicans who joined with all the Democrats and two [[Independent voter|Independents]] to elect [[Clay Schexnayder]], the Moderate Republican from Ascension Parish and the choice of Democratic Governor [[John Bel Edwards]] as the state House [[Speaker]].<ref>''[[Moon Griffon|The Moon Griffon Show]],'' February 10, 2021.</ref>
==Political positions==
==Political positions==
In 2020, Cassidy called for [[U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]] to concede the election to former Vice President [[Joe Biden]]. Cassidy, a former Democrat who once supported liberal presidential candidate [[Michael Dukakis]] in 1988,<ref>Two references:
In 2020, Cassidy called for [[U.S. President]] [[Donald Trump]] to concede the election to former Vice President [[Joe Biden]]. Cassidy, a former Democrat who once supported liberal presidential candidate [[Michael Dukakis]] in 1988,<ref>Two references:
*[https://www.newsweek.com/who-bill-cassidy-669781 Who Is Bill Cassidy? How a Doctor for the Poor Became the Senator Leading the Obamacare Repeal Charge]. ''Newsweek''. Retrieved February 13, 2021.</ref> did not address the rampant fraud which occurred in that election. Nor did he indicate if he will now support the Biden agenda.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2021/01/03/republican-senator-bill-cassidy-urges-congress-certify-biden-win/4122229001/|title=Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy urges Congress to certify Biden win: 'Voters have spoken'|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=January 4, 2021|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|accessdate=January 5, 2020}}</ref>
*[https://www.newsweek.com/who-bill-cassidy-669781 Who Is Bill Cassidy? How a Doctor for the Poor Became the Senator Leading the Obamacare Repeal Charge]. ''Newsweek''. Retrieved February 13, 2021.</ref> did not address the rampant fraud which occurred in that election. Nor did he indicate if he will now support the Biden agenda.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2021/01/03/republican-senator-bill-cassidy-urges-congress-certify-biden-win/4122229001/|title=Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy urges Congress to certify Biden win: 'Voters have spoken'|publisher=''The Shreveport Times''|date=January 4, 2021|author=[[Greg Hilburn]]|accessdate=January 5, 2020}}</ref>
==References==
==References==