Who
owns the documents being suppressed in the clumsy Fast and Furious
cover-up? Murder-gate would be a descriptive moniker. Could some
intrepid reporter ask the hapless Jay Carney if the POTUS believes that
the U.S. Government is "of the people, by the people, and for the
people"? If he believes that, then surely he should understand that
every document generated by that government is the property of the
American People. There should be a high bar to clear before declaring
any document confidential. To simply assert blanket executive privilege
without a strong explanation is outrageous. A power-corrupted Department
of Justice is a grave danger to every citizen who is not a favored political ally.
President Obama has raised the stakes. This not just a political dust-up; not merely a healthy test of strength between two co-equal branches of government. The rule of law is being challenged by Mr. Holder and the President. The Constitution invests tremendous power in the federal government. In return we the people are entitled to full transparency and accountability from its officials. A routine congressional investigation has evolved into a monstrous scandal and cover-up. It is as if they have missed the lessons from all the failed cover-ups of their predecessors. Congress and the Courts should act with haste and conviction to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The hive has been abuzz in the past few weeks trying to discredit the whole Congressional investigation of F&F. They say it started under Bush. What if it did? The requested documents should help to prove that, if it is true. They say the requested documents contain information pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations. They could prove that by letting Chairman Issa and his committee see them in executive session. Are they less entitled to see those documents than the low level DOJ investigators working on the cases? In their partisan fury, they see no issue of accountability to the American People. No objective observer can deny the likelihood that the requested documents would lead to charges of perjury. In seven months or so there will be a new sheriff in town. Will the documents still exist?
President Obama has raised the stakes. This not just a political dust-up; not merely a healthy test of strength between two co-equal branches of government. The rule of law is being challenged by Mr. Holder and the President. The Constitution invests tremendous power in the federal government. In return we the people are entitled to full transparency and accountability from its officials. A routine congressional investigation has evolved into a monstrous scandal and cover-up. It is as if they have missed the lessons from all the failed cover-ups of their predecessors. Congress and the Courts should act with haste and conviction to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The hive has been abuzz in the past few weeks trying to discredit the whole Congressional investigation of F&F. They say it started under Bush. What if it did? The requested documents should help to prove that, if it is true. They say the requested documents contain information pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations. They could prove that by letting Chairman Issa and his committee see them in executive session. Are they less entitled to see those documents than the low level DOJ investigators working on the cases? In their partisan fury, they see no issue of accountability to the American People. No objective observer can deny the likelihood that the requested documents would lead to charges of perjury. In seven months or so there will be a new sheriff in town. Will the documents still exist?
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