Posted on 01/18/2011 3:05:02 PM PST by jazusamo
The gloves are coming off on the House committee that will be at the center of Republican attempts to investigate the Obama administration.
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), the ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, took a jab at his Republican counterpart this week, calling for serious investigations rather than probes that are “silly or absurd.”
Cummings made the remark in a letter to Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) on Monday spelling out his goals for the committee in the new Congress. He said the panel needs to hold the government accountable while also heeding President Obama's call to elevate political discourse in the wake of the attempted assassination of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.)
“I want to join you in conducting responsible oversight to ensure accountability in government and effective operation of our nation’s laws,” Cummings wrote. “I also agree with President Obama’s statement last week that ‘a more civil and honest public discourse can help us face up to the challenges of our nation.’ Together, I hope we can elevate the level of discourse not only on our Committee, but across the nation."
In the letter, Cummings also questioned Issa's use of taxpayer funds for unofficial committee activities, which was reported in a New Yorker profile released this week. The article mentions a “highly organized” effort to manage Issa’s image, which aides refer to as “Issa Enterprises.” Another effort, which aides call “Oversight Productions,” refers to a series of Youtube videos Issa links to his Twitter account and official website.
“As Ranking Member, my goals are straightforward: I want the Committee to engage in oversight that is regarded as serious rather than dismissed as silly or absurd; to establish strong predicates for investigations rather than making unsubstantiated allegations that waste taxpayer funds; to use Committee resources to inform and educate the American people rather than attacking opponents; and to conduct comprehensive, balanced investigations that seek out the truth rather than launching one-sided inquiries designed to fulfill predetermined outcomes,” Cummings wrote.
Never one to let an attack go unanswered, Issa’s office punched back Tuesday and accused Cummings of obstructionism and failing to be a “serious” oversight partner.
“Congressman Towns and Congresswoman Maloney were pushed aside in order to have the most effective obstructionist as Ranking Member,” said Issa spokesman Frederick Hill. “This letter and other statements have only underscored concerns that Ranking Member Cummings is not interested in being a serious partner on oversight.”
The letter is the latest in a series of early jabs between Issa and Cummings. When it became clear that Issa would chair the panel, Democratic leaders pushed Reps. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) out of the top Democratic post because he had not been aggressive countering Issa while serving as chairman for the past few years. Democrats also passed up Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) in favor of Cummings, for similar reasons — out of fear that she would not be able to effectively go toe to toe with Issa.
Ever since Republicans won back the majority, the media spotlight has fallen squarely on Issa and his plans to investigate all corners of the Obama administration.
This week, Issa announced that his first investigation on the Oversight Committee would be of a Homeland Security Department policy that requires political appointees to review many Freedom of Information Act requests.
Yep, Boehner, Issa on Oversight and Smith on Judiciary are going to catch it from the CBC.
So any investigation will be deemed silly is this the tactic the have choosen? Silly silly donks just do not understadn that the world for them has changed and few believe what you say.
My good friend, I am one of the over-the-gang, tired, but not yet dead!!! In addition, there is not a politically correct bone left in my body. So.....I call ‘em, like I see ‘em!!! And....I don’t care if I am civil or not. These people (Democrats)are out to destroy my country, not only for me, but for my children, grandchildren and...children yet to come!!! Yes, it is sad and a tragedy as to the happening in Arizona, but it a worse tragedy that millions of decent, honest hard working Americans are out of work, struggling to get by and survive. Meanwhile Obama is giving out “Political Tee” shirts, packing an arena with college crazies, his wife is living like she is Mrs. Marcos and you want me to be civil. Forget it!!! And....the Republicans better wise up and do these incompetents in, or they will get the toilet flush, just like the Democrats did on November 2, 2010. Come on, do you think I need a useless dummy like Congressman Cummings to guide me and tell what I should say or do!!! Forget it!!! Please, don’t do you know what down my backside, and then tell me it’s raining!!! How’s them apples, friend???
Okay, they won’t be silly probes.
I want to see meeting minutes and testimony of the meetings between Treasury, the WH and BoA when BoA was forced to take over Countrywide.
Or, the negotiations that cut Senior Bond holders out of the GM and Chrysler bankruptcies.
There's dozens of things the Admin never thought would be released as they thought they had unassailable majorities in the House and Senate and the hubris that goes with that.
A crazy man with a meat clever, that’s all I want to see.
There should be political blood everywhere in DC. It’s far past the time to flat out kill corruption in politics.
America needs JUSTICE.
Amen! There's far more things to investigate than they can reasonably do in the next two years and do justice to those investigations. It's really a target rich environment.
Everything is “vitriol” or “silly” when you question the Kenyan, Soros or his Marxist gang of US haters.
Get your affairs in order, bitches.
Everything is “vitriol” or “silly” when you question the Kenyan, Soros or his Marxist gang of US haters.
After the election the Rats got in their last licks in the lame duck session and now their tone has really changed.
Nicey nicey all of a sudden calling for bipartisanship but they’re still snakes with fangs.
Love that graphic and the movie, it was true Western justice.
I think they should probe the GE/Obama/China/NBC news propaganda connection.
I’m with you, MU. Rip and tear and make the squirm.
Imagine the entire country plastered with these billboards:
The members of the Party of Treason have got to be kidding with that “honest discourse” jive. If Zero were honest about any major thing — not counting his honesty about his intention to destroy the US, something not given coverage by the partisan shills in the media — his “let’s change the rules now” call wouldn’t be so laughable. Thanks jazusamo.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.