Thursday, September 17, 2009

Preservation or Conscience

Everyday most Congressmen and Senators have to make a decision on whether or not to introduce or support legislation that might be construed as being dangerous to them keeping their jobs. It is a fine line. One case in point is Congressman Harry Teague who voted with republicans to not censure the South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson. Why would Harry do this? Because he is running hard to keep a traditionally republican seat from returning to that wing nut party? Because he really believes Joe Wilson doesn't deserve this grief for ignoring decades of decorum in the joint sessions with the President?

I think he just wants to retain his seat and he saw this as a necessary evil as he faces the extreme right wing of the republican party in his region of New Mexico. But, that doesn't make it right.

I will continue to send Harry money, although god knows he doesn't need it. I will ask people to support him because he is the best we can hope for in that part of the state. Also, his general out look for the constituents of his district is very compassionate given his upbringing in poverty. That is something that is rare for a man of his wealth who made it big in the oil business.

2 comments:

Rodney said...

I think his motivation must have been to avoid conflict with the racists in his district. The reason he gave, essentially - congress has more important things to do than waste time with this - doesn't quite float since the vote was taking place regardless of how important it was. Voting for the censure didn't take any more time or effort than voting against it. However, voting for it wouldn't sit well with many of those folks down their who just can't quite deal with the fact that a black man is in the White House.

Rodney said...

Oh, and I wanted to ask your opinion of the proposed rules change Patrick Lyons is after on payments to developers for "improvements" they make to public lands.