Me Thinks They Doth Protest Too Much
In the recent bribery case of Democrat Congressman William Jefferson, it’s been a bit of a surprise to see so many from both Parties step up to show their outrage at his office being searched by the FBI. Rarely does such a blatant alleged felon warrant such a star-studded list of political luminaries to defend him. Consider this piece from the Hill, courtesy of John Hawkins at RightWingNews.
"House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) told President Bush yesterday that he is concerned the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) raid on Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-La.) congressional office over the weekend was a direct violation of the Constitution.
Hastert raised concerns that the FBI’s unannounced seizure of congressional documents during a raid of Jefferson’s Rayburn office Saturday night violated the separation of powers between the two branches of government as they are defined by the Constitution.
...Calling the Saturday-night raid an “invasion of the legislative branch,” House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) predicted the case would eventually be resolved in the Supreme Court and hinted that Congress would take further action. The majority leader said Hastert would take the lead on the issue because he is the chief constitutional officer in the House.
...“No member of Congress is above the law,” House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters yesterday. “I am concerned about the unprecedented exercising of authority over a separate branch of government and the execution of a search warrant without any communication with the leadership of this House.”"
It’s quite a feat when you get the House Speaker, Majority Leader and Minority Whip to leap to your defense. I was perhaps most shocked that Ms. Pelosi hadn’t been tapped for a quote, but I imagine she would stand with her fellow Congressionals.
As have others, I also wonder what exactly Speaker Hastert thought could be a direct violation of the Constitution and Separation of Powers? I know the relevant passage, but it doesn’t cover felonies for one and bribery to the best of my knowledge is still a felony in this country. And how is this “an invasion”? Who would be the regulatory force for Congress? Don’t tell me the assertion of Congress is that the police themselves. They don’t honestly expect the citizenry, after centuries of dubious exercise of power, to believe that they could be so entrusted do they?
It would seem, sadly, that they do, especially in light of Congressman Boehner’s comment that Congress will take “further action”. What, is Congress going to write a law that they’re surrounded by an invisible force field, no takebacks, immune from investigation or prosecution? What other “action” could Congress consider? How about considering that they are not above the law, as Congressman Hoyer at least had the decency to admit, albeit with a qualification.
Were all 535 residents of the Capitol Building absent in government class the day they discussed checks and balances? The Executive executes the law (imagine that). No matter what you may think of any given Executive, the need to obey the law, to exist as a nation of laws, does not stop at the Washington border or the doors to Congress. It extends everywhere, or it extends nowhere. The minute that anyone from the President on down becomes immune to prosecution of felonious behavior, that’s the minute we abandon all pretense of a “representative” republic and go right into the Imperial Congress/Executive role. There is no middle ground in such an instance and I would think that the esteemed leaders in Congress, on both sides of the aisle, would have the slightest idea what that was about.
The members of Congress need to reflect and examine what it is to be a representative of the people and how they are bound by the nation’s laws. If they feel they do not need to submit to the same rigors as “the people”, then it’s time they step down and allow someone to handle the job who does feel that way. I warned you, this incumbency nonsense really does go to your head.
Representative Jefferson and all those like him cannot hide behind their office, and one wonders what those who are shouting so loudly in his defense have to fear themselves. If he turns out to be innocent, fine, but until then, he’s no different than Delay, Cunningham, or any other Congressman that comes under suspicion of illegal behavior. Congress’ power is not absolute, and they, like every other elitist entity (read: antique media), need to get a grip on that and accept the consequences of living in a republic. Otherwise, they risk losing their relevancy and allow our entire society to suffer as a result.
In the recent bribery case of Democrat Congressman William Jefferson, it’s been a bit of a surprise to see so many from both Parties step up to show their outrage at his office being searched by the FBI. Rarely does such a blatant alleged felon warrant such a star-studded list of political luminaries to defend him. Consider this piece from the Hill, courtesy of John Hawkins at RightWingNews.
"House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) told President Bush yesterday that he is concerned the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) raid on Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-La.) congressional office over the weekend was a direct violation of the Constitution.
Hastert raised concerns that the FBI’s unannounced seizure of congressional documents during a raid of Jefferson’s Rayburn office Saturday night violated the separation of powers between the two branches of government as they are defined by the Constitution.
...Calling the Saturday-night raid an “invasion of the legislative branch,” House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) predicted the case would eventually be resolved in the Supreme Court and hinted that Congress would take further action. The majority leader said Hastert would take the lead on the issue because he is the chief constitutional officer in the House.
...“No member of Congress is above the law,” House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters yesterday. “I am concerned about the unprecedented exercising of authority over a separate branch of government and the execution of a search warrant without any communication with the leadership of this House.”"
It’s quite a feat when you get the House Speaker, Majority Leader and Minority Whip to leap to your defense. I was perhaps most shocked that Ms. Pelosi hadn’t been tapped for a quote, but I imagine she would stand with her fellow Congressionals.
As have others, I also wonder what exactly Speaker Hastert thought could be a direct violation of the Constitution and Separation of Powers? I know the relevant passage, but it doesn’t cover felonies for one and bribery to the best of my knowledge is still a felony in this country. And how is this “an invasion”? Who would be the regulatory force for Congress? Don’t tell me the assertion of Congress is that the police themselves. They don’t honestly expect the citizenry, after centuries of dubious exercise of power, to believe that they could be so entrusted do they?
It would seem, sadly, that they do, especially in light of Congressman Boehner’s comment that Congress will take “further action”. What, is Congress going to write a law that they’re surrounded by an invisible force field, no takebacks, immune from investigation or prosecution? What other “action” could Congress consider? How about considering that they are not above the law, as Congressman Hoyer at least had the decency to admit, albeit with a qualification.
Were all 535 residents of the Capitol Building absent in government class the day they discussed checks and balances? The Executive executes the law (imagine that). No matter what you may think of any given Executive, the need to obey the law, to exist as a nation of laws, does not stop at the Washington border or the doors to Congress. It extends everywhere, or it extends nowhere. The minute that anyone from the President on down becomes immune to prosecution of felonious behavior, that’s the minute we abandon all pretense of a “representative” republic and go right into the Imperial Congress/Executive role. There is no middle ground in such an instance and I would think that the esteemed leaders in Congress, on both sides of the aisle, would have the slightest idea what that was about.
The members of Congress need to reflect and examine what it is to be a representative of the people and how they are bound by the nation’s laws. If they feel they do not need to submit to the same rigors as “the people”, then it’s time they step down and allow someone to handle the job who does feel that way. I warned you, this incumbency nonsense really does go to your head.
Representative Jefferson and all those like him cannot hide behind their office, and one wonders what those who are shouting so loudly in his defense have to fear themselves. If he turns out to be innocent, fine, but until then, he’s no different than Delay, Cunningham, or any other Congressman that comes under suspicion of illegal behavior. Congress’ power is not absolute, and they, like every other elitist entity (read: antique media), need to get a grip on that and accept the consequences of living in a republic. Otherwise, they risk losing their relevancy and allow our entire society to suffer as a result.
posted by Rob Beck | 7:08 AM
1 Comments:
So much for the Democrats' "culture of corruption" initiative against the GOP.
Ds & Rs have long pointed the finger at each other as corrupt. Consider me convinced! Both are corrupt.
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