Contemptible Conduct

As expected yesterday afternoon, House Republicans voted to hold AG Eric Holder in Contempt of Congress in a cheap poltical stunt (shocking I know).  The vote was 255-67 as a number of Democrats, including the Congressional Black Caucus and Nancy Pelosi, walked out of the vote.

A large number of Democrats -- including members of the Congressional Black Caucus and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi -- walked off the House floor in protest and refused to participate in the vote. Speaking in New Orleans immediately after the vote, Holder dismissed it as "the regrettable culmination of what became a misguided -- and politically motivated -- investigation during an election year."

The criminal contempt charge refers the dispute to District of Columbia U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen, who will decide whether to file charges against Holder. Most legal analysts do not expect Machen -- an Obama appointee who ultimately answers to Holder -- to take any action.

The Dems who voted against Holder?  17, including Kentucky Rep Ben Chandler.  I'm so verrrrrry surprised at that, gosh.  Not.

• Jason Altmire (PA-04)
• John Barrow (GA-12)
• Dan Boren (OK-02)
• Leonard Boswell (IA-03)
• Ben Chandler (KY-06)
• Mark Critz (PA-12)
• Joe Donnelly (IN-02)
• Kathy Hochul (NY-26)
• Ron Kind (WI-03)
• Larry Kissell (NC-08)
• Jim Matheson (UT-02)
• Mike McIntyre (NC-07)
• Bill Owens (NY-23)
• Collin Peterson (MN-07)
• Nick Rahall (WV-03)
• Mike Ross (AR-04)
• Tim Walz (MN-01)

 And it turns out GOP Reps. Steve LaTourette of OH-14 and Scott Rigell of VA-2 both voted no on the final contempt vote.  More courage than nearly a dozen and a half of our own guys.  Nice.  Meanwhile, Rep. Allen West (R-Nutjob) went on Facebook to pull a Sarah Palin and flat out accused the Congressional Black Caucus of being racists.

America holds this Congress in contempt.  We vote on that in November.