Is Speaker Hastert Illiterate?
posted at 11:47 am on May 24, 2006 by Bryan
On Tuesday the FBI raided the office of Rep. William Jefferson, (D-LA). He’s the Congressman caught on tape accepting a bribe. He’s also the Congressman who used a post-Katrina military search and rescue squad to get…something…from his own home in New Orleans. The FBI had requested documents from him for weeks, he hadn’t cooperated, so they raided him.
The House, led by Republican Speaker Dennis Hastert, has gone ballistic. Hastert’s screaming about Constitutional separation of powers (the FBI is under the executive branch), and even demanding that it return whatever it took from Jefferson’s office. The Democrats are right there with him, in a rare and ill-advised show of unity.
And they’re all nuts. As Right Wing News notes, the Constitution speaks clearly on this issue.
Moreover, trying to use the Constitution as a shield in this case is pure bunk. If you look at Article 6, Section 1 of the Constitution, it says:
“They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.”
It’s sad that private citizens have to enlighten our rulers, but bribery is a felony. That being the case, Jefferson isn’t protected here. Read the Constitution–it is written in English, fellas. Furthermore, the Justice Dept got a federal court order before conducting the raid, so you have two branches involved in rooting out corruption in the third. That’s how it’s supposed to work.
Sheesh.
Makes me wonder (along with the entire blogosphere), what else are all those House members terrified the FBI might find?
UPDATE: Ramesh, you and I are on the same page. I say randomly raid ‘em all and let the facts sort ‘em out.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
I like the idea. Raid ‘em all. Start with Barbara Boxer and Hillary. Love to see forensic accountants do a number on those.
clyde on May 24, 2006 at 12:00 PM
You know I’d send these clowns an email highlighting their illiteracy, but they would just delete it.
thegreatsatan on May 24, 2006 at 12:03 PM
Maybe its me but I thought that there was a seperation of powers but the people had the ultimate say. Who are these idiots to think they are above the standard??
JVelez on May 24, 2006 at 12:06 PM
Inside the Beltway there are many little kingdoms (with a small ‘k’). They live like kings and queens at out expense, carve out territory to hold and defend, bribe and cheat and refuse to obey the laws which we are laboring under. Part of it comes from lifetime protection if they continue to be re-elected-someone can get pretty egocentric if they spend 20 years being sucked up to by political toadies and lobbyists.
Term Limits.Term Limits.Term Limits.Term Limits.Term Limits.
Doug on May 24, 2006 at 12:15 PM
amen to that
JVelez on May 24, 2006 at 12:17 PM
These clowns are beyond parody. This should be an issue on which everyone, left and right, can agree: an imperial congress, which appently believes that a request to obey the law constitutes less mageste, should be slapped down and sent packing. In the words of Glenn Reynolds, “Cut their pay and send them home.”
student on May 24, 2006 at 12:24 PM
When you have the likes of Harry Reid, entering the Senate as a self proclaimed pauper, and now is a multi-millionaire, you have to wonder just how they do it on $150k a year.
Everyone of these bastards needs to be investigated – both parties!
Then they have the nerve to claim another privilege.
Build the “financial wall” then institute term limits.
Bob Mileti on May 24, 2006 at 12:31 PM
I wish the GOP had someone like Mr. Newt as Speaker.
birdman on May 24, 2006 at 12:39 PM
Yeah, Denny. Way to make yourself look like a Washington Elitist! Nice move.
Usually, I like Speaker Hastert, I’ve met him several times and he is a down to earth guy. But, this one really makes him look ridiculous.
Warner Todd Huston on May 24, 2006 at 12:53 PM
I agree with Doug—Term limits is the only answer to this arrogance. Our founding fathers voluntarily placed term limits upon themselves , and then returned to their farms or private businesses . However , the current entrenchment can only be corrected by a constitutional amendment , or the voting populace getting fed up with the STENCH in D.C. —TERM LIMITS—NO PENSIONS .—PASS IT ON
PAPA BEAR on May 24, 2006 at 12:57 PM
Awwwh. Law makers don’t like the long arm of it?!!!!!!
bucktowndusty on May 24, 2006 at 1:01 PM
Link to members of the Ways and Means Committee:
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/members.asp
Could there be others involved in this little game of “passing the bucks”?
Easy87us
easy87us on May 24, 2006 at 1:04 PM
Why would an ex-high school wrestling coach be able to interpret (or read) the Constitution? Isn’t that asking too much of Hastert? Isn’t that what lawyers are for?
I like the idea of building a dormitory in Washington, D.C. and making all the senators and congressmen live in it on $1,200 a month. No cable tv or cell phones or big cars either. Live like people live on social security, which would bring them down to earth. In their spare time – and there’s too much of that already – they could get jobs “doing what Americans won’t do”.
clyde on May 24, 2006 at 1:13 PM
Dennis Hastert went to Congress basically broke.He was a High School wrestling coach making about 17k a year.
He latest tax returns shows he is a multi millionaire. Turkish officials boasted of giving “tens of thousands of dollars in surreptious payments” to House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) in exchange for political favors according to (FBI) whistleblower Sibel Edmonds.
The FBI’s investigations into a senior official at the Turkish Consulate is said to have claimed in one recording that the price for Hastert to withdraw the resolution would have been at least $500,000. …
Why is it that we allow this crap to go on. Why is it the MSM never investigates the money these guys steal from the American Tax Payers.
ScottyDog on May 24, 2006 at 1:16 PM
Sorry, birdman, but Mr. Newt was one of the first to cry foul. Evidently, he, Denny and Company are willing to risk looking like dunces in hopes of staving off yet another play of the race card.
Aunt B on May 24, 2006 at 1:19 PM
According to the latest tax returns Dennis Hastert who went to Congress broke is a multi millionaire.
The FBI’s investigations into a senior official at the Turkish Consulate is said to have claimed in one recording that the price for Hastert to withdraw the resolution would have been at least $500,000. …
Maybe this explains why he is so outraged.
ScottyDog on May 24, 2006 at 1:19 PM
Nowhere in the Constitution does it even hint that Congressmen are permitted to hide criminal evidence in their offices. “Full-nelson” Denny joins Sen. Lott in the ranks of elitists who are tired of hearing from the little people.
firegeezer on May 24, 2006 at 1:39 PM
I really hope that Hastert IS this stupid. The alternative, that he’s trying to make political points by standing up to Bush, is way past stupid and into the realm of idiocy.
msplitt on May 24, 2006 at 1:44 PM
Let’s get down to basics. The FBI “raided” the office of Rep. Jefferson. Didn’t they HAVE a warrent? The answer is yes. Who issues the warrents? Judges, IN THE JUDICIAL BRANCH!!!
This, children, is an example of checks and balances for the THREE branches of governement.
Damn these people are just plain stupid sometimes!!!
dallas94 on May 24, 2006 at 1:49 PM
How else to explain their voter-be-damned-attitude except that they’re all getting kickbacks. Term Limits now. Yeah, right they’ll vote for that. [no tags necessary]
elvis on May 24, 2006 at 2:07 PM
The current Congress is an abomination that should be buried under a foot of concrete. Nothing less can repair or reverse the corruption and evil within it.
ForYourEdification on May 24, 2006 at 2:09 PM
Not only is bribery a felony, but by saying that a member of congress’s office cannot be searched by the FBI or another executive branch law enforcement agency, Hastert essentially has said that a rep can do whatever he or she wants in the confines of his or her office and avoid prosecution. Ridiculous.
And I don’t see anything in the Constitution that prohibits searches authorized by a federal judge.
skwired on May 24, 2006 at 2:17 PM
Is there ANYTHING else that elected officials can do to further shame Illinois? Between my US Senator (Durbin), my Black Panther co-founder cum US Rep (Bobby Rush), neighbor (Jesse Jackson Jr.), oh and let’s not forget teh unelected representatives of IL…Louis Farrakhan…Jesse-is-my-name, extorion-is-my-game Senior…
And people wonder why we liked mobbed up alderman in our former 1st Ward home. The paisans are more loyal to America than the legislators.
dm60462 on May 24, 2006 at 2:19 PM
Hastert seems to forget that he got the job mainly because he was low profile enough not to be “Gingriched.” Silence was this guy’s best feature. What a bunch of hypocrites and buffoons. Have our congressmen always been this slimy, or do we just have it put in our face more these days?
Sugar Land on May 24, 2006 at 2:34 PM
More and more we are witnessing a Royal House. Cynthia McKinney:”We don’t wear no stinkin’ badges.” Patrick Kennedy:
“I’m immune from reckless driving because I’m on my way to a 3:00 AM House vote” (and pigs wear wings).Now the House Speaker is “outraged” because Crooked William Jefferson was caught with “frozen assets” due to an “illegal search.”
So many House members are involved in crimes, misdemeanors and peccadillos that, far from immunity, the swearing-in ceremony of each new House member ought to be coupled with an indictment.
MaiDee on May 24, 2006 at 2:41 PM
Aunt B I mean with the “contract with America”. To lay out a master platn for fthe future of this country. I agree with you on crying Newt foul.
birdman on May 24, 2006 at 2:42 PM
Hastert really comes off looking bad on this one…looks like it’s time for a change up there.
canvas on May 24, 2006 at 2:58 PM
Let’s hope this is a ploy to keep it in the headlines as a means of keeping the Dems at bay! Or it may just be a further indication that they are all stuck on stupid and have to go!!!!!!!!!
Regardless of the Constitutionality of the move by Justice, it will look to the public as Republican arrogance and that they are trying to say they are above the law.
Why the SOTHOR should go to bat for this slug is beyond me. But just wait ‘til “55mph KANKLES” puts in her 2 cents!
Dread Pirate Roberts VI on May 24, 2006 at 3:14 PM
We can beat up Hastert on this issue all we want, but Clyde went too far when he said this…
“Why would an ex-high school wrestling coach be able to interpret (or read) the Constitution? Isn’t that asking too much of Hastert? Isn’t that what lawyers are for?”
Clyde, I hope you don’t participate in politics by voting! If you think only lawyers should be “allowed” to “interpret (or read) the Constitution”, then you really have no grasp of our system or liberty.
I do, indeed, hope this was your effort at humor, but if you are serious your kind of thinking represents a danger to this country.
Warner Todd Huston on May 24, 2006 at 3:23 PM
What dumbfounds me is that the Republicans finally can change the public’s perceptions about the “Republican culture of corruption” (in MSM spin) and show first-hand the REAL corruption of the Democrats.
Instead, they take this perfect opportunity and throw it away by criticizing Bush and the FBI. The FBI certainly did the right thing.
Sadly, with this type of idiotic leadership, the Republicans probably deserve to lose the House for a couple of years.
januarius on May 24, 2006 at 3:31 PM
I say lets randomly raid the White House……….
Confiscate all papers…….
That’s what congress should do today………
LZVandy on May 24, 2006 at 3:38 PM
see how bushie likes it……
since he is the number one mexican coyote…
charging an additional 2k to the mex’s
LZVandy on May 24, 2006 at 3:42 PM
BASIC MATH IN A PC WORLD:
1. Teaching Math In 1950* A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is
4/5 of the price./ What is his profit?/
2. Teaching Math In 1960* A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is
4/5 of the price, or $80. /What is his profit?/
3. Teaching Math In 1970* A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. /Did he make a profit?/
4. Teaching Math In 1980* A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20./
5. Teaching Math In 1990* A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living?/ Topic for class participation after answering the question: /How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes?/ (/ *There are no wrong answers.*/)
6. Teaching Math In 2005* Un hachero vende una carretada de maderapara $100. El costo de la producciones es $80
WC on May 24, 2006 at 3:44 PM
First immigration and now this. One more slap in the face from our Republican-controlled Congress. Outrageous. Throw the bums out!
tommy1 on May 24, 2006 at 4:02 PM
WOW!
The most outraged will be the ones with the most to lose. I’m hoping the new CIA guy will ferret out a bunch of this bs.
Feinstain has a lot to lose. Michelle should do a little expose of Feinstain’s husband’s Chinese portfolio, which increased from a believable amount to either $5 mil or $50 mil or more since his wife was elected senator! How does that happen? Legally, that is.
NTWR on May 24, 2006 at 4:51 PM
Hastert should review the Case Law concerning the White House Tapes used as evidence to evict the Wretched Nixon from the Oval Office. Executive Privilege availed President Nixon not at all. Chairman Sam Ervin and Chairman Peter Rodino effectively destroyed the Separation Of Powers invocation of privileged status, rendering the Archibald Cox and Leon Jaworski Subpoenas a sure thing. Speaker Hastert should know better, and probably does. Criminal matters nullify Privilege arising from the Separation Of Powers Doctrine. (You could look it up!)
Waumpuscat on May 24, 2006 at 5:21 PM
Just another reason, in an ever growing list, to vote ALL incumbants out. Both parties! Hastert and Boehner make me sick.
roninacreage on May 24, 2006 at 5:54 PM
Ah Hah! The truth comes out. Drudge reporting Hastert is a crook. ABC reporting Hastert took more from Abramoff than ANYONE!! I say line everyone of those a-holes in Washington, including el presidente, up against a wall, blindfold them, give ‘em one last ciggy and then let’s get it over with.
Then let’s have new elections to fill every seat in Congress and the White House. How much lower can this country sink.
msplitt on May 24, 2006 at 6:58 PM
I thought I was beyond being surprised or amazed at the arrogance of politicians but I was wrong. The “safe house” rule they’re trying to create amazes me. I guess, when it comes to ensuring they remain above the rule of law, they stick together like the mob.
If Clinton could be compelled to provide a DNA sample to compare to a stained dress, do these idiots think they can get away with a scam like this? Can you imagine what the inside of a Congressman’s office would look like if it was immune from lawful searches? Maybe Jimmy Hoffa has been under Ted Kennedy’s desk all these years.
right as rain man on May 24, 2006 at 9:19 PM