"The decision to invoke executive privilege," House Speaker John Boehner told the House Oversight Committee a few days ago, "is an admission that White House officials were involved in decisions that misled the Congress and have covered up the truth."
Speaking in reference to the botched and ostensibly covered-up gun-walking program known as Operation Fast and Furious, Boehner suggested that President Obama admitted culpability when he shielded Attorney General Eric Holder from releasing more documents related to the congressional probe.
But, then came Rep. Darrel Issa, the Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, who said this:
To be sure, here's the question posed: "But I just want to be clear—we got to get out—there's no evidence, at this point, that the White House is involved in a cover up?"
And here’s the answer: "And I hope they don't get involved."
In short, Issa revealed his probe to be a politically driven, opportunistic stunt. The Washington Post's Colbert I. King wrote about this political opportunism several days ago, before Issa contradicted House Leader Boehner. The short version:
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has a 23-member Republican majority. Encouraged by political opportunism in an election year, the committee has recommended that attorney general Eric holder be held in contempt of congress for withholding "critical information" from the panel. Holder has already turned over 7,600 relevant documents, but Boehner and House Republican leadership are demanding more.
King is echoing the Democrats, who have complained that the contempt vote is nothing more than "an election year stunt" to make them look bad.
The House is still scheduled to vote later this week on the committee's recommendation to hold Holder in contempt. There is certainly legitimate concern over the operation, which resulted in the death of a border patrol agent and about 20,000 guns walked over the border into Mexico.
But, as Issa has now revealed, there are also legitimate concerns that certain House committees are shamelessly involved in stunts to win political favor in an election year.
Comments (0)
Be the first to comment!