Congressional Investigations Headed In Right Direction
With the new Republican-controlled House in power, media pundits and beltway aficionados have begun rumblings over the prospects of congressional hearings that may begin as early as next month.
And fresh off of his mid-term reelection, Congressman Darryl Issa (R-CA) has forged ahead on plans to issue a string of investigations into the Wikileaks scandal, the handling of the financial crisis, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, among others.
More importantly, the GOP has called for additional investigations into ethical charges against the Justice Department and its handling of the New Black Panthers case, as well as the recent controversial reparations packages signed into law. When it comes to discovering the truth sometimes you need a cheating investigator to help you out uncover things.
Issa will chair the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for the 112th session of Congress and has already enraged Democrats by appearing on a national media blitz in order to further bolster the inevitable hearings.
Liberal bloggers and left-wing media outlets went stir crazy after Issa proclaimed that the Obama administration was one of the” most corrupt.” Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD) expressed outrage over Issa’s comments, saying the California congressman should be careful with that kind of power.
One U.S. News and World Report columnist wrote that Issa’s investigation into the failed stimulus program is not an ethical issue but merely a political fight. So in other words, passing a law that strips $787 billion from the taxpayer and dumps it into a quagmire of social programs that actually raise unemployment is not unethical at all, but merely a Democrat versus Republican problem?
Sure.
Of course Democrats are already throwing the usual temper-tantrum by calling the investigations, “political witch-hunts.” And as usual, President Obama has stated that even though Democrats ruled with an iron fist for the last two years, Republicans must now learn to share responsibilities.
Mr. Obama and the Democratic Party seems to forget that it was only four years ago, after Democrats were swept into power, that then former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her ilk were ramping up investigations into Bush-era practices over a slew of baseless allegations.
Can we say double-standard?
The idea that only Democrats have the responsibly of investigating malpractice by government is laughable, considering the current allegations of corruption, fraud, and abuse have all occurred under a Democratic administration.
Why is it when liberals are in power they believe in a no-holds barred approach to ruling the people completely devoid of any accountability, yet when they are not in control of government everyone else must abide by their rules?
The answer is quite simple. Do as I say, not as I do and everyone else can go and sit on the sidelines.
After all, the American people were told repeatedly by Nancy Pelosi that the previous House of Representatives delegation was the most ethical ever.
Sorry, Charlie Rangel.
The fact is government is not only obliged but mandated to answer questions revolving around its ethical behavior, particularly if it comes at the taxpayer’s expense. This sort of public trial is nothing new to democracy, even if liberals do not agree with the potential outcome.
And contrary to some, congressional hearings are not a waste of taxpayer money if the investigations are substantive enough to warrant action; because without oversight we are sending a message to government that it can rule unrestrained and without consequence.
But in the infamous words of one of the most ethical individuals in Congress, Alcee Hastings (D-FL), “There ain’t no rules here, we’re trying to accomplish something, all this talk about rules. . . When the deal goes down we make ‘em up as we go along.”
Nuff said.
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Ashley Stinnett lives in West Virginia, where he serves as an adjunct college instructor, writer, media and public relations consultant, public speaker, volunteer for various conservative organizations, and a civilian recruiter for the NRA. He is registered with the Associated Press, and is a nationally syndicated columnist with The North Star National. He is the author of the new book, “Grasping Appalachian Conservatism: How Not To Be Mistaken For A Latte Liberal.”
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