The past election was sold on the theme of "Change". One of the most galling practices in most need of change from the past was the way Republicans would close ranks when one of their own was caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Democrats have promised to do better and, I think, they mostly have. However, it's past time to move forward with the Countrywide investigations, and I'm glad to see that Mike Quigley is putting duty above party.
Quigley Ready To Break Ranks With Party Over Dodd, Conrad Subpoenas
Seniority, party loyalty and congressional etiquette don't seem to get in the way of Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.).
The freshman lawmaker is ready to break with his fellow Democrats by supporting a proposal to subpoena documents that may reveal unpleasant details about two prominent Democratic senators and their involvement in a discredited Countrywide lending program.
The first-term congressman, who won Rahm Emanuel's seat in April, backs a full-scale investigation into Countrywide, the disgraced subprime lender, that would include a Republican proposal before the House oversight committee to subpoena potentially damaging records related to preferential loans Democratic Sens. Chris Dodd (Conn.) and Kent Conrad (N.D.) received through the lender's "Friends of Angelo" program (which refers to indicted Countrywide chairman Angelo Mozilo).
"At this point in my state's history and my country's history, we've got to go out of our way to be transparent," Quigley told the Huffington Post. "Much of what took place with predatory lending is responsible for the financial crisis."
There are those who will say that we have to protect our own. That facing the loss of Democratic seats or embarrassing senior Dems just isn't worth it. I can't condone that sort of thinking. If Dodd and Conrad can survive this, great. If they can't, too bad.
I don't know where this is going to lead, but I DO know that I don't want Republicans to be the ones driving the bus. If some of our own are in the wrong, its better if Democrats lead the way. Countrywide is accused of fraudulently selling loans to millions of trusting customers and they need to be brought to justice.
No matter the consequences.