On “Respecting the Office”
Friday, September 18th, 2009
Yesterday’s post on insulting politicians reminds me of a conversation I had a couple years ago shortly after I testified before Congress on the online gambling issue.

I can’t remember if it was a Capitol Hill staffer or a former staffer who was then working for the Poker Players Alliance, but a guy came up afterward and complimented me on my testimony. He said he’d never heard someone be so direct with Congress while giving testimony. I responded that I’d never really bought into the sanctimony of Congress—the idea that congressmen by default deserve reverence because they hold a political office.

That apparently went too far. The guy was offended, even though he was on my side on the poker issue. He said something to the effect of, “But you have to respect the office and the institution.”

I don’t see why. Members of Congress sure as hell don’t respect the office or the institution. They regularly pass laws that aren’t authorized by the Constitution. And that’s just the stuff they do proudly. Never mind the corruption, exempting themselves from the laws they pass, pork spending, and . . . the list goes on.

I don’t agree with Sen. Jim Webb on much when it comes to economic policy. But the guy became a hero in my book when he refused to shake then-President George W. Bush’s hand at a White House ceremony a few years ago. Bush had sent Webb’s son off to fight in what Webb thought was a feeble excuse for a war. If anything, a politician who uses his power to achieve ignoble ends ought to be held in higher contempt than the rest of us. He certainly isn’t entitled to genuflection simply by virtue of his position.

I was talking about all of this a couple of weeks ago with some D.C. folks. What would happen if someone came to testify before Congress, and just ripped into the members present with a richly-deserved, profanity-laced tirade? There is such thing as “contempt of Congress,” but as far as I know it concerns not showing up for testimony, not insulting an individual congressman, or not showing the appropriate deference to political power.

I’m sure our ranter would be subject to thorough tongue-lashings by David Brooks, David Broder, David Gergen and the phalanx of Washington’s other crusty guardians of decorum not named David. But could you be arrested? Just wondering.


http://www.theagitator.com/2009/09/18/on-respecting-the-office/

I hate it when people say you 'have' to respect the office. It's just another way to say one should always publicly agree with officials. This country was founded on the very principle of standing up for your beliefs if you think that officials are in the wrong. This country was build on dissent.

But a profane rant just lack style and decorum. It's hard to take anyone serious if that's what they end up doing. No one is really going to listen to the issues underlying the rant.

Fact is the idea behind our government, is that We The People are the boss. But once these jokers take their oath, they disrespect the people and the integrity the office is supposed to hold.

As far as some profanity, if it was in there for the sake of it, then I might not agree, but if someone were to single out corrupt congressmen and give them an appropriate name modifier, then I'd probably applaud.

I agree.