I’ve always said Washington, DC, is nothing but high school with paychecks – big paychecks covered by our money – but this has never been more on display than it was this week.
Democrats pulled the equivalent of a “meet me at the monkey bars after school” move this week when they followed Nancy Pelosi’s lead after she accused the President of the United States of engaging in a “cover up.” The only thing missing from the allegation was any mention of what exactly was being covered up.
But we’re in a post-fact world so what it is the President is supposed to be covering up is irrelevant. The lapdog media parroted the charge not only as if it had been proven, but if it were true.
The next day they settled, at least for now, on what it was that was supposed to be covered up – obstruction of justice. Somehow, in their twisted minds, cooperating fully with the Special Counsel’s office but refusing to willingly participate in a made for TV show hearings covering the exact same ground is obstruction.
The only problem for them, at least legally speaking, is there is no obstruction of justice of Congress. Congress does not dispense justice. They can’t charge, they can’t indict, and they can’t even criminally investigate. All they can do is create perception, and that’s what this week was about.
By dragging administration officials, who’ve already given days of testimony, up to Capitol Hill to repeat Democratic Party-selected portions of their previously told stories, the only purpose being served is optics. In the 448 page Mueller Report there are embarrassing moments that can be politically damaging when cherry-picked and put on video.
And that’s the point. Democrats know there was no obstruction of justice in the Mueller probe, now they’re aiming to commit character assassination. The written word is one thing, having people on video repeating selected lines is another. The Democrats are attempting to turn the House of Representatives into a campaign ad.
But there was one thing Democrats didn’t count on, beyond the claim of executive privilege, is Donald Trump striking back.
When the White House announced the President had given the authority to declassify anything he saw fit related to the origins of the Russia hoax to the Attorney General, Democrats were caught flat-footed. Faced with the ultimate power move, one that could blow the doors off their plans for 2020, they freaked out.
“While Trump stonewalls the public from learning the truth about his obstruction of justice,” House Intel Committee Chairman Adam Schiff tweeted, “Trump and Barr conspire to weaponize law enforcement and classified information against their political enemies. The cover up has entered a new and dangerous phase. This is un-American.” The panic drips off the screen.
Somehow now the release of more information is a masterstroke in a plot to obstruct. How that works is a mystery, but when you’re grasping at straws you grab any straw you can get your hands on.
The New York Times described the move as “significantly escalating the administration’s efforts to place those who investigated the campaign under scrutiny.”
Rather curious how the move is being couched by the left. The reasons Democrats doing like it are obvious, but rarely are journalists critical of the prospect of more information being available to the public. Uncovering information is supposed to be their job, when previously unavailable information becomes accessible they’re supposed to revel in it, they’re supposed to report it. Instead, they’re actively trying to downplay or undercut it before they even see it.
This week the President turned the tables on Democrats and they don’t know how to handle it. The best thing President Trump has going for him, aside from the economy, is his willingness to fight, to “go to the mattresses.” Republicans usually cower when attacked, then apologize or capitulate. Not Trump. Every time they’ve taken a swing at him he’s bloodied their noses.
The taste of their own political blood is one they are not used to, nor capable of accepting. As more information about how this entire hoax got started gets dragged into the sunlight, the desperation will only grow. It’s about to get ugly. See you at the monkey bars at 3:00.
Derek is the host of a free daily podcast (subscribe!) and author of the book, Outrage, INC., which exposes how liberals use fear and hatred to manipulate the masses.