In response to this article about Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee, calling for Eric Holder to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate torture, and mentioning the total lack of Republican support, I have just been making some phone calls to members of this committee, adding my voice for this appointment.
And in doing so, I got more or less dissed by the office of Lamar Smith, the ranking member.
For each of the Democratic offices I contacted, a staffer politely took my call.
However, when I contacted Lamar Smith, the ranking member of this committee, I was told, in so many words, that as a matter of Congressional protocal, the office is "not allowed" to take my call, since I am not calling from Mr. Smith's district
I was totally perplexed at this, given that I was not calling about a local matter and that Smith was a leader in this committee, and tried to explain that I had just been on the phone with other offices, none of which were from "my district." The staffer simply repeated their ridiculous "policy."
I tried to point out the silliness of their policy. Perhaps is was a matter of how my NJ accent (which sounds more Jerseyish and slightly George Costanza-ish when I get emotional) might have been being heard by conservative Texas ears, but the staffer then started accusing me of being "abusive" and moved to end the call.
In short, I was dissed by a staffer of a Congressman who clearly doesn't want to hear from critics of an immoral history that he wishes to be whitewashed. I am assuming that the Congressman sets both the policy and the tone that the staffers then follow.
This is, after all, the same member of Congress who has said
"Investigating lawyers who did their best to give advice on how the executive branch could protect innocent Americans in the wake of 9/11 will significantly undermine our ability to prevent future terrorist attacks,"
and who has said about the campaign to impeach Jay Bybee
"If Congress gets into the habit of impeaching federal judges for legal advice provided while serving in the administration, no good lawyer in their right mind would join the administration!" Smith told Legal Pad in an e-mail. "Even government lawyers must be free to provide legal advice and counsel without fear of retribution from politicians. Mr. Bybee was asked to provide his legal—not personal—opinion regarding interrogation techniques. He should not now be punished for doing his job."
Interesting how when it is the Democrats who are calling for some accountability, it is "retribution from politicians."
Lamar Smith come across as your run of the mill, wingnut Texas Bush/torture apologist (with a really bad toupée). That is bad enough. But shutting himself off from communications with Americans who disagree with him makes him even worse in my eyes. That he is the ranking member of this committee speaks volumes about the arrogance and idiocy of today's ever declining GOP.
In the meantime, if anyone is so inclined to contact him to challenge this idiotic `no calls from outside the district' policy, here is a direct line.
Washington D.C. Office
2409 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
ph: 202-225-4236
fax: 202-225-8628