PrintMarch 19, 2010
Desperate Dems
The word is out that Democrats have instructions "Do Not Allow Yourself to Get Into a Discussion of the Details," of what the House is trying vote on. At Big Government, a lawyer recounts how his efforts to get his Congressman, John Garamendi (CA-10), to respond to a question earned him a call from the Capitol Police for harassment.
At first, the Agent was curt with me. He claimed I was harassing Mr. Garamendi's staff by continually calling after being told to stop calling. I asked him when it became a federal crime to lobby a congressman. He said that it wasn't but it was a crime to "harass" congressional members and staff pursuant to 47 U.S.C. 223. I told him I was an attorney (which I am) and that I would research the statute he had cited.After researching 47 U.S.C. 223, I called Mr. Garamendi's office again and asked to be transferred back to the Capital Police Agent. The Agent picked up the phone and I explained to him that the statute he cited was not controlling since it only prohibits people from calling with the specific intent to harass. I further explained that I was simply trying to voice my concerns with the intent of getting Mr. Garamendi to change his mind, not to harass his staff. The Agent eventually agreed with my position and said he would call Mr. Garamendi's office and instruct his staff that I was within my rights to call my congressman and voice my concerns.
The author of the above is worried that such attempts at intimidation will work with citizens who are not as familiar with the law. I think he is wrong. The leaders of this Congress are bullying, bribing and running roughshod over the Constitution in order to take control of the nation's health care industry and to raise taxes in the middle of a nasty recession. Their desperation is that of the con artist who always needs a new mark let the whole web of lies collapse. Unfortunately for them, the taxpayers who have funded an unsustainable welfare state and overpaid unionized government bureaucracies for decades have finally gotten wise to the game. Not only is their dander up, but each day sees more talk of ongoing confrontation and passive resistance along with the promise that come November they are going to vote the entire lot out of office.
