Posted on 02/16/2011 1:39:57 PM PST by Nachum
In the latest sign of an increasingly antagonistic stand by Democrats against top GOP oversight official Rep. Darrell Issa, President Obama declined a request for a top economic adviser to testify before an oversight panel about the president’s economic stimulus law. Obama spokesman Reid Cherlin indicated the move will be part of a general policy against top White House aides testifying before Congress, potentially setting the stage for a showdown on later, more important hearings.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...
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This is going to get interesting.
They are going to have to up their game and use the law to hold him accountable.
I hope Issa does what Obama would do: Double down.
‘antagonistic’
sounds like the Obama Administration.
“President Obama today refused an order from the Republican connected Darrell Issa related to the...”
etc..etc.. big media will have his back.
Bullies only understand bullying. They need to be the aggressor or he (his) handlers win. We lose. Sure seems like a foreign anti-American interest is running the show.
Hearings...
Good luck with that.
No there is no law. Obama can do whatever he wants because he controls TV and the media. Bill O’Reilly and Fox are behind him now too. There is only Obama law now. Thank drooling idiots who watch TV for empowering him.
Generally, they are fully enforceable. Refusing to appear can lead to a Contempt of Congress referral to the USA for the District of Columbia for prosecution.
Where it becomes complicated, is upon the assertion of Executive Privilege. The law is fairly well developed, but it would be inaccurate to describe the rules as clearly defined. Again generally, when an Executive asserts privilege, it withstands judicial review because of the great deference to separation of powers, given by the Court.
Whenever you have the Congress issuing subpoenas to an uncooperative Executive branch, it's not too long after that whispers of "Constitutional crisis" begin to peculate. So far, the closest we've come are with Nixon, and then later with Clinton, who lost his claim of Executive Privilege which of course then lead to impeachment.
We are a LONG way from that. These things usually have a way of working themselves out.
I would also add that in this matter, Issa has yet to issue a single subpoena, I believe. As the story points out, it is very rare for WH advisers to testify, but it of course is not at all unusual for non-WH advisers who are members of the Executive Branch to testify. It literally happens every day on the Hill.
Congressional subpoenas are enforced by the DOJ.
As if that’s going to happen.
I fear the only way forward may be a total government shut down.
Make that #16.
We are going to have a full blown constitutional crisis before the next election.
They oughta Subpoena EVERY Czar, and have them point to the clause in the Constitution that gives them their authority, OR their position!
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