Back Off

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Press Release

COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND GOVERNMENT REFORM
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform - Republicans: Home

U.S. House of Representatives
News Release
Issa to Emanuel: Back Off!

August 4, 2009
WASHINGTON. D.C. – Following reports that White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel has been orchestrating an effort to intimidate members of Congress and Governors who raise legitimate concerns regarding the effectiveness of the stimulus, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) sent a letter to Emanuel saying “While this type of scare tactic may work In Chicago, it will not work to intimidate me or other Members of the United States Congress.”

“I and others have dared to bring these facts to the attention of President Obama, the Congress and the American people,” Issa wrote. “You’ve unfortunately reacted by once again resorting to the playbook of the Chicago political machine.”

Last month, Politico reported that Emanuel had “launched a coordinated effort to jam” Senator Kyl and other Administration critics… “[A]fter seeing Kyl and House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) again paint the legislation as a failure on Sunday talk shows, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel directed that the letters from the Cabinet secretaries be sent to [Governor] Brewer, according to two administration officials.”

Issa noted, “The fact that the letters were coordinated by you to maximize the level of intimidation is supported by the timing, structure, and content of each letter. Not only were the four letters all sent the day following Senator Kyl’s remarks, but they were also remarkably similar in tone and sentence structure.”

Letter from Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation:

On Sunday, Arizona Senator Jon Kyl publicly questioned whether the stimulus is working and stated that he wants to cancel projects that aren’t presently underway. I believe the stimulus has been very effective in creating job opportunities throughout the country. However, if you prefer to forfeit the money we are making available to your state, as Senator Kyl suggests, please let me know [emphasis added].


Letter from Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior:

Some key Republican leaders in Congress have publicly questioned whether the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is working and suggested cancelling all projects that are not currently in progress. I believe they are wrong. The stimulus funds provided through the Recovery Act are a very effective way to create job opportunities throughout the Country. However, if you prefer to forfeit the money we are making available to Arizona, please let me know [emphasis added].

“At what point do you believe your practice of Chicago-style politics violates a public official’s right to speak out in favor of alternative policies,” Issa asks. “The American people have a right to know what role you played in developing the threatening letters to Governor Brewer and whether you intend to continue to engage in these tactics in the future.”

In order to assist the Committee with its investigation of this issue, please provide the following information by close of business on Tuesday, August 11, 2009:

1. Your response to Politico’s report that “White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel directed that the letters from the Cabinet secretaries be sent to [Governor] Brewer, according to two administration officials.”

2. A full and complete explanation of the development of the four July 13 letters from the cabinet secretaries to Governor Brewer, including but not limited to the role you or any other White House official played in writing the letters or encouraging the writing of the letters.

3. All records and communications between you and Secretary LaHood, Secretary Salazar, Secretary Donovan, and Secretary Vilsack referring or relating to the decision to send the July 13 letters to Governor Brewer.

4. A full and complete explanation of the role of the Democratic National Committee and the White House Office of Political Affairs in authoring, encouraging, facilitating, or directing the four July 13 letters from the cabinet secretaries to Governor Brewer.


You can view a copy of the full letter to Emanuel by clicking here.

Committee on Oversight and Government Reform - Republicans: Press Release :: Issa to Emanuel: Back Off!

 

[Amanda]

Very interesting...

 

[WillowTree]

Whooooooooooo! Dingeeee! somebody has a pair!

 

[alan1]

I wonder how long it's going to be before Mr Emanuel becomes a fall guy for Mr Obama. Or will the MSM ignore his Chicago thuggery?

 

[Zoom-boing]

I wonder how long it's going to be before Mr Emanuel becomes a fall guy for Mr Obama. Or will the MSM ignore his Chicago thuggery?

I'll take ignore for 100, Alex.

 

[Contessa_Sharra]

Whooooooooooo! Dingeeee! somebody has a pair!

Yeah oh yeah, Issa is the punk that funded the California recall election and then the governator punked him and kicked his butt right out of the ballpark. His "pair" don't amount to raisins.

 

[WillowTree]

Whooooooooooo! Dingeeee! somebody has a pair!

Yeah oh yeah, Issa is the punk that funded the California recall election and then the governator punked him and kicked his butt right out of the ballpark. His "pair" don't amount to raisins.

boo hoo babe sucks to be you donut?

 

[Xenophon]

Its almost unreal how bad our government has become.

 

[ba1614]

Its almost unreal how bad our government has become.

It sure is, unfortunately.

 

[Old Rocks]

Poor babies. So Emanuel is practicing effective politics.

 

[asaratis]

Poor babies. So Emanuel is practicing effective politics.

Effective and good can be two different things. Obama and his cronies have no problem being effective. What they are doing will affect us for years to come...just not in a good way. Many political leaders have effectively ruined their countries.

 

[alan1]

Poor babies. So Emanuel is practicing effective politics.

Effective and good can be two different things. Obama and his cronies have no problem being effective. What they are doing will affect us for years to come...just not in a good way. Many political leaders have effectively ruined their countries.

Ask Old Rocks if he was impressed by Karl Roves' use of "effective politics".

 

[Vel]

Poor babies. So Emanuel is practicing effective politics.

Effective politics? Is that the new code for thuggery and intimidation?

 

[bodecea]

Daryl Issa, local Congressman who wanted the Border Patrol to close their check points around here in SoCal.

And staged the governor recall that got us Schwartzenager, tho he cried when he realized he would not be the chosen one.