Issa Pulls Plug On Hearing Before Witness Can Debunk Him

Posted by | July 16, 2014 23:15 | Filed under: News Behaving Badly Politics Top Stories

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Anyone who has been paying careful attention already knows that House OverSight Committee chairman Darrell Issa has all the credibility of Joe Isuzu (google it, kids). What he did today deserves wider attention, as it exposes his entire “potential abuses of taxpayer funds by the White House’s new political office” claim as a complete farce:

Issa seemed to catch everyone off guard Wednesday when he suddenly pulled the plug on his committee hearing before witnesses could even testify.

Issa read his opening statement for the hearing on potential abuses of taxpayer funds by the White House’s new political office, and let his Democratic counterpart, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), read his statement before declaring the hearing over. Two witnesses who came prepared to testify were dismissed. A source who was in the hearing said one of Issa’s witnesses, Carolyn Lerner, the director of the independent Office of Special Counsel, appeared to leave angrily.

“She didn’t say a single thing,” said this source, who requested anonymity. “She literally just left the hearing room.”

So what happened? …

Two things were apparent to those following the hearing: First, Issa began the hearing irritated that the White House had dismissed his subpoena to compel Obama’s political office director, David Simas, to testify. He called it “deeply disturbing” that White House counsel Neil Eggleston said Simas was immune from a congressional subpoena. Second, and perhaps more tellingly, Issa may have wanted to prevent Lerner from testifying since, based on the written testimony she provided ahead of the hearing, she was planning to say the White House Office of Political Strategy and Outreach had done nothing inappropriate, which contradicted Issa’s claims leading up to the hearing.

Lerner’s shop is charged with enforcing the federal Hatch Act’s prohibitions against federal employees engaging in political activity, which makes her the go-to person in the event of allegations of wrongdoing by the White House political office. She was prepared to tell the committee she did her homework and found nothing wrong.

HuffPo also has an excerpt from her prepared remarks:

OSC received copies of correspondence between Chairman Issa and the White House concerning the establishment of the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach (OPSO). The White House did not consult with OSC about establishing the OPSO. However, based on our review of the White House correspondence to the Committee, it appears that the White House adhered to OSC guidance in determining the scope of activity for the office. To the extent that OPSO’s activities are limited to those described in the White House correspondence, OPSO appears to be operating in a manner that is consistent with Hatch Act restrictions.

But wait — there’s more!

The White House, meanwhile, took shots at Issa for needlessly issuing subpoenas. As of Wednesday, Issa has issued a total of 99 subpoenas since becoming committee chairman — more than the past three chairmen combined.

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Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: dave-dr-gonzo

David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.

* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.

57 responses to Issa Pulls Plug On Hearing Before Witness Can Debunk Him

  1. Eric Trommater July 16th, 2014 at 23:18

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4RqGYDUcVs

  2. Eric Trommater July 16th, 2014 at 23:18

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4RqGYDUcVs

  3. Anomaly 100 July 16th, 2014 at 23:53

    Such a nice man.

    • M D Reese July 17th, 2014 at 00:14

      I agree. Bless his little heart. (It’s too late for his little brain…)

  4. Anomaly 100 July 16th, 2014 at 23:53

    Such a nice man.

    • M D Reese July 17th, 2014 at 00:14

      I agree. Bless his little heart. (It’s too late for his little brain…)

      • tiredoftea July 17th, 2014 at 01:12

        His heart left his body a very long time ago.

        • Pilotshark July 17th, 2014 at 09:08

          kind of winder which came out of his 4th point of contact first?
          head?
          heart?

          maybe the suction of him pulling his head out sucked the heart and left his brain embedded.

      • Anomaly 100 July 17th, 2014 at 06:53

        You wuv him!

  5. labman57 July 17th, 2014 at 00:06

    Rule #1 of any Issa-run hearing:
    Opposing points of view will not be tolerated.

    • M D Reese July 18th, 2014 at 19:47

      #2 Real facts will not be entered into the record.
      #3 People who actually know what happened will not be interviewed.

  6. labman57 July 17th, 2014 at 00:06

    Rule #1 of any Issa-run hearing:
    Opposing points of view will not be tolerated.

    • M D Reese July 18th, 2014 at 19:47

      #2 Real facts will not be entered into the record.
      #3 People who actually know what happened will not be interviewed.

  7. Tommy6860 July 17th, 2014 at 00:31

    Wait, since he pulled the plug on the hearing, doesn’t that mean this case closed? The prick can’t keep having the hearings go according to how it suits his politics. I’d love to see the dems take back the house and subpoena his ass to a panel of committee members all wearing Issa masks.

  8. William July 17th, 2014 at 00:32

    What a disgusting coward.

    • urbanegorilla July 17th, 2014 at 16:37

      i don’t see how you can call him a coward…He waved guns under the noses of his employees and probably burned down his own business.. That’s not cowardice, it’s Republicanism!

  9. William July 17th, 2014 at 00:32

    What a disgusting coward.

    • urbanegorilla July 17th, 2014 at 16:37

      i don’t see how you can call him a coward…He waved guns under the noses of his employees and probably burned down his own business.. That’s not cowardice, it’s Republicanism!

  10. tiredoftea July 17th, 2014 at 01:13

    Don’t you just hate it when witnesses don’t cooperate in your lies?

  11. tiredoftea July 17th, 2014 at 01:13

    Don’t you just hate it when witnesses don’t cooperate in your lies?

  12. Obewon July 17th, 2014 at 01:22

    Issa’s 0 Indictments prove whatever his 99 subpoenas pretend are the ravings of Limbaughtomized lunatic.

  13. Obewon July 17th, 2014 at 01:22

    Issa’s 0 Indictments prove whatever his 99 subpoenas pretend are the ravings of Limbaughtomized lunatics.

  14. fahvel July 17th, 2014 at 03:43

    it’s the vote people – voters put the asshole there and now they must reap the results of their choice or vote it out. Simple on paper – but just try to find the momentum – you’all don’t have it!

  15. fahvel July 17th, 2014 at 03:43

    it’s the vote people – voters put the asshole there and now they must reap the results of their choice or vote it out. Simple on paper – but just try to find the momentum – you’all don’t have it!

  16. Budda July 17th, 2014 at 06:25

    I believe Mr. Issa has proven himself to be incompetent and not creditable a while back. Proven by the fact that his ‘hearings’ are not being covered by the press to any degree.

  17. Budda July 17th, 2014 at 06:25

    I believe Mr. Issa has proven himself to be incompetent and not creditable a while back. Proven by the fact that his ‘hearings’ are not being covered by the press to any degree.

  18. Denise July 17th, 2014 at 08:46

    I find it “deeply disturbing” that issa keeps wasting taxpayer money by issuing subpoenas for illegal activity by president obama and his administration because the voices in his head tell him to.

    seriously, california, you can do better than this. dump this toxic waste in november.

    • tiredoftea July 17th, 2014 at 09:25

      He has a very safe seat in North County San Diego, unfortunately. And, our Dems are very run of the mill with not enough backbone to oppose him. It’s an embarrassment, but that’s Dems for you.

  19. Denise July 17th, 2014 at 08:46

    I find it “deeply disturbing” that issa keeps wasting taxpayer money by issuing subpoenas for illegal activity by president obama and his administration because the voices in his head tell him to.

    seriously, california, you can do better than this. dump this toxic waste in november.

    • tiredoftea July 17th, 2014 at 09:25

      He has a very safe seat in North County San Diego, unfortunately. And, our Dems are very run of the mill with not enough backbone to oppose him. It’s an embarrassment, but that’s Dems for you.

  20. Shades July 17th, 2014 at 09:10

    Everybody, all together now, surprised face.

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