Joe Wilson = Rebuked…

I've often asked, "whyfor" when things just aren't making sense. I figure, why not ask the question in a form that doesn't make sense either.

The below events are just begging me to ask, whyfor?

On Tuesday, September 15th; Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) & Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC) brought resolution H. Res. 744 to the floor; which says the outburst "was a breach of decorum and brought discredit to the House of Representatives."

The final tally late Tuesday was 240-179, generally but not entirely along party lines. It was 233 Democrats and seven Republicans voting to chastise Wilson, 167 Republicans and 12 Democrats opposing the measure and five Democrats merely voting "present." (Don't get me started on voting 'Present')

Though Joe Wilson apologized to White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, and the President almost immediately after the outburst; and even Obama himself considered the matter 'closed'. The Democratice leaders had this to say:

"The House general code of conduct requires that, "a lawmaker shall conduct himself at all times in a manner which shall reflect creditably on the House of Representatives." These are the standards members are held to when they take the oath of office. Despite the request of leadership of both parties, Rep. Wilson has refused to apologize on the House Floor, as is considered traditional, when a Member breaches House rules. Therefore, the House is compelled to respond."

Hmmm, interesting; Standards in the House of Representatives? Oath you say? Then, are the below actions not in violation of this same code of conduct?*

RANGEL FAILED TO REPORT ASSETS AND PAY TAXES

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) Failed To Report More Than $660,000 In Assets During 2007. “In late August, the slowest news period of the year, Rangel filed updated financial disclosure reports showing he failed to report more than $660,000 in assets during 2007, a potential violation of House ethics rules.” (Glenn Thrush, “Pelosi Loath To Drop Hammer On Rangel,” The Politico, 9/5/09)

Rangel Is Already Under Investigation For Misusing Rent-Controlled Apartments, Avoiding Taxes, And Using Government Letterhead To Raise Money. “The ethics panel has already spent a year peering into Rangel’s use of several rent-stabilized apartments in a luxury Harlem apartment complex, his failure to pay all taxes on a Dominican Republic vacation villa, and his use of Congressional letterhead to raise funds for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at City College in New York City.” (Glenn Thrush, “Pelosi Loath To Drop Hammer On Rangel,” The Politico, 9/5/09)

The House Ethics Committee Is Also Investigating Rangel’s Trips to the Caribbean. “The committee recently broadened the investigation to include Caribbean trips taken by Rangel and four other lawmakers to determine if they complied with a ban on corporate-funded travel.” (Glenn Thrush, “Pelosi Loath To Drop Hammer On Rangel,” The Politico, 9/5/09)

MURTHA AND VISCLOSKY DOLING GOV MONEY FOR CAMPAIGN CASH

Reps. John Murtha (D-PA) And Peter Visclosky (D-IN) Have Been Linked To Lobbying Firm PMA, Which Has Been Raided Twice By FBI Agents. “Murtha and Visclosky have both been linked to the lobbying firm PMA, which was twice raided by federal agents in recent months.” (Jay Newton-Small, “Key Dems' Ethical Clouds Could Haunt Pelosi,” Time, 8/22/09)
Murtha And Visclosky Have Received $3.5 Million For Steering Money To PMA Clients. “Over the last decade firms that PMA helped get hundreds of millions of dollars worth of earmarked projects - pet projects inserted into the appropriations process by lawmakers — have given Murtha and Visclosky more than $3.5 million in campaign contributions.” (Jay Newton-Small, “Key Dems' Ethical Clouds Could Haunt Pelosi,” Time, 8/22/09)

Visclosky Was Forced To Give Up Control Of His Appropriations Subcommittee After Being Subpoenaed In The PMA Investigation. “But, Visclosky was forced to resign his chairmanship of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee after he was subpoenaed in relation to the PMA investigation.” (Jay Newton-Small, “Key Dems' Ethical Clouds Could Haunt Pelosi,” Time, 8/22/09)

MORAN TAKEN MORE THAN $100,000 IN PMA-CONNECTED DONATIONS

Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) Received $53,100 In Campaign Cash That Was Tied Directly To PMA On A Single Day In 2006. “Moran’s total take for June 6, 2006, shows how PMA’s bundling increased its presence. On that day, Moran’s campaign took in $57,000, according to FEC records. Of that total, $19,650 came from employees of Planning Systems, ProLogic and FiberGate. But another $15,500 came from PMA employees and another $7,750 from other PMA clients. Counting donations of spouses and other relatives of PMA clients, the lobbying firm was connected to $53,100 of the $57,000 total that Moran collected that day.” (Paul Singer, “PMA, Clients Shared Deep Ties,” Roll Call, 3/17/09)

From 2003 To 2005, Moran Received At Least $60,685 From A Group Of Companies With PMA Ties. “Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) received cash infusions from this same group regularly. In June 2003, Moran’s campaign banked $22,685 from employees of the four companies. Over a week in June 2004, he received $19,250. On one day in June 2005, he received $18,750 from members of this group.” (Paul Singer, “PMA, Clients Shared Deep Ties,” Roll Call, 3/17/09)

Cryptek, FiberGate, And Planning Systems Have Contributed To Members Of Congress In Bunches. “Employees of Cryptek, FiberGate, Planning Systems and ProLogic have tended over the years to generate campaign donations to Members of Congress in bunches, suggesting that the check writing was an organized activity, not random donations.” (Paul Singer, “PMA, Clients Shared Deep Ties,” Roll Call, 3/17/09)

Three PMA Directors Are Listed As “Equity Security Holders” For Cyrptek. “In bankruptcy filings submitted in a Virginia court in November, Cryptek listed three PMA directors among its ‘equity security holders’ — Paul Magliocchetti, Mark Magliocchetti and John Lynch. “(Paul Singer, “PMA, Clients Shared Deep Ties,” Roll Call, 3/17/09)

Louis Brown, A PMA Director, Is A Director At FiberGate And The Son Of PMA Founder Paul Magliocchetti Was Once Employed At FiberGate. “One of PMA’s clients is an Alexandria, Va., fiber optic company called FiberGate. According to Virginia corporate records, one of three directors of the firm is Louis M. Brown Jr. Brown has also been a director at PMA since 2005. Mark Magliocchetti, son of PMA founder Paul Magliocchetti, was also once employed at FiberGate.” (Paul Singer, “PMA, Clients Shared Deep Ties,” Roll Call, 3/17/09)

Brown, A PMA Director, Was Listed As A Director At Planning Systems Until 2008. “Until 2008, Brown was also listed as a director of Planning Systems Inc., an information technology firm that was a PMA client and received millions of dollars worth of earmarks.” (Paul Singer, “PMA, Clients Shared Deep Ties,” Roll Call, 3/17/09)

*Source = www.cologop.org/news

This is a living and breathing example of the self serving activity I’ve grown to despise in our Government. Michael Steele, president of the GOP claimed it was a sideshow meant to take focus off of their bumbling and deteriorating health care debate. Though that is true, to a point, it really doesn’t accomplish anything except salve the animosity Clyburn has of Joe Wilson and waste taxpayers time and money. None of these I consider productive.

The best part? Joe Wilson was spot on; President Obama has lied; he may have juts missed the bullseye on the ‘what’ he was lying about, that, and he picked a poor place and time to bring it up ;-).