Rossputin.com Rational Thinking About Our World

Republican Darrell Issa (R-CA) was ready to force the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to vote on whether to subpoena records of Countrywide Mortgage’s “Friends of Angelo” program and other such Countrywide programs which might show favorable treatment being given to politicians (of both parties).

The Democrats, led by committee Chairman Edolphus Towns (D-NY) have been avoiding such a vote, maybe not least because Rep. Towns is already known to have received two mortgages from Countrywide.  One courageous Democrat, Mike Quigley, a freshman from Illinois, has stated publicly that he supports the subpoena and the efforts to get the documents – which Bank of America (who bought Countrywide) have already said are ready to go once the subpoena is delivered.

Last Thursday, the Republicans showed up for a scheduled Committee meeting only to find that the Democrats were absent.  The Democrats claimed they had a scheduling problem, with a conflict because of another committee’s mark-up of a bill which required the presence of several OGR Committee members.  However, a Republican OGR staffer got video of the Democrats sneaking out of a side door from their supposed other meeting.

It’s clear that the Democrats are literally running away from a vote on the Countrywide subpoenas.  And here’s the proof:

So what was Chairman Towns’ reaction to having his cowardice made public?

He had the locks on the Committee room doors changed so that Republicans could not use the room, telling Issa (the ranking Republican on the Committee) that Democrats would keep all the keys to the new locks.

Yes, this is what Democrat-run government has come to: literally locking Republicans out of meeting rooms.

Every Democrat on the Committee (with the possible exception of Quigley) should be ashamed, and Chairman Towns should be reprimanded (but he won’t be.)

Rep. Issa said that it’s almost certain that today’s meeting will be canceled because of the Democrats’ fear of a vote on the Countrywide subpoena issue.