The report begins: "A House committee hearing on Tuesday about the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau disintegrated into heated accusations of lying, with the panel's chairman accusing Elizabeth Warren of giving misleading testimony at a hearing in March and of making up facts about her agreement to testify this week."

Elizabeth Warren reacts after a Republican House committee member accused her of 'making things up,' 05/24/11. (photo: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)

House Republicans Accuse Elizabeth Warren of Lying

By Edward Wyatt, The New York Times

25 May 11

House committee hearing on Tuesday about the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau disintegrated into heated accusations of lying, with the panel's chairman accusing Elizabeth Warren of giving misleading testimony at a hearing in March and of making up facts about her agreement to testify this week.

Representative Patrick T. McHenry, a North Carolina Republican who is chairman of a subcommittee of the House oversight committee, told Ms. Warren, who is directing the start of the consumer agency, that he believed she had misled Congress about her role in settlement talks between government authorities and mortgage servicing companies.

Ms. Warren denied Mr. McHenry's accusation, saying that she clearly stated in March that she had provided advice to officials of the Treasury and Justice Departments about their investigations of fraud among mortgage-servicing companies and about their settlement discussions with the companies.

The argument was a rare collapse of the decorum that usually pervades discussions among even the most fervent opponents on Capitol Hill. It demonstrated the level of frustration some Republicans apparently have over the consumer agency, its leadership and its authority as established by the Dodd-Frank Act that followed the financial and mortgage crisis.

After an hour in which Ms. Warren repeatedly parried efforts by Mr. McHenry and other Republicans to pin her down with "yes or no" answers to questions about her March testimony - and about the bureau's powers and responsibilities - Mr. McHenry abruptly moved for a temporarily recess so lawmakers could attend a floor vote.

Ms. Warren objected, saying that she had agreed to be present for only an hour and had no more time. Mr. McHenry disagreed and said that other subcommittee members still had questions for her.

A vigorous back and forth ensued.

"Congressman, you are causing problems," Ms. Warren said. "We had an agreement."

"You're making this up," Mr. McHenry replied, eliciting gasps from the audience. "This is not the case."

As Mr. McHenry and Ms. Warren traded accusations, a senior Democrat, Representative Elijah Cummings of Maryland, tried to smooth things over. "Mr. Chairman," he said, "I'm trying to be cordial here - you just accused the lady of lying. You need to clear this up with your staff."

Mr. McHenry did not back down. After the meeting broke, he said in a statement: "I was shocked by Ms. Warren's blatant sense of entitlement. She was apparently under the assumption that she could dictate a one-hour time limit for her testimony to Congress, and that we were there at her behest instead of the other way around. This is just further example of her disregard for Congressional oversight."

The hearing was intended to address how much supervision Congress should require for the agency. Republicans have introduced bills to eliminate some of the bureau's independence; for example, the bureau is not subject to Congressional appropriations. A group of 44 Republican senators recently signed a letter saying they would not allow a director of the agency to be confirmed unless the Obama administration agreed to structural changes in the agency.

Faced with strong opposition to Ms. Warren, a Harvard professor, President Obama has not nominated her to lead the new bureau. In fact, officials in the Democratic Party are trying to pressure her to return to Massachusetts to run for the United States Senate in 2012.

While there were some questions about oversight, Ms. Warren apparently came to the hearing expecting a hostile reception on other topics. On Tuesday morning, hours before the afternoon hearing, Mr. McHenry said on CNBC that he believed she had lied to Congress.

"I question the veracity of her former testimony in relation to the reality that we now see," he said, referring to documents indicating that the consumer bureau had advised the Iowa attorney general on the terms of a possible settlement between federal and state regulators and mortgage servicing companies.

Asked by the CNBC correspondent if that meant she had been lying when she said she was only an adviser, Mr. McHenry replied, "Sure."

During the hearing, Mr. McHenry displayed the documents, which he said indicated that Ms. Warren's involvement extended outside her designated role as an adviser to the president and the Treasury secretary to set up the new consumer bureau.

"You said you were providing advice to the Treasury secretary," Mr. McHenry said. "Now it is apparent that you were providing advice to the attorney general of Iowa," regarding lawsuits against mortgage servicers.

Ms. Warren said she provided advice to state and federal agencies at the direction of the Treasury secretary, adding that she had been open about her meetings and involvement in the talks. She said she had provided that information two months ago in response to a letter from House members and had heard nothing back since then.

Those exchanges led a Democrat on the subcommittee to apologize "for the rude and disrespectful behavior of the chair." Representative John Yarmuth, a Kentucky Democrat, said to Ms. Warren that Mr. McHenry's accusation "indicates to me that this hearing is all about you, because people are afraid of you and your ability to communicate in very clear terms the threats to our consumers."

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+113 # Bruce Gruber 2011-05-25 20:14

The Hon (?) Mr. McHenry may need investigation into the veracity of the oath he purported to take to uphold the Constitution of the united States in representing the people of North Carolina. His allegiance to obfuscation and misinformation regarding the interests of the bankers, speculators and mortgage servicing tycoons and Wall Street deserve investigation and exposure.

+39 # signalfire 2011-05-26 13:18

They're terrified of her! Actually, the BEST thing that could happen is if she was given the Consumer Protection post. I'd prefer she ran for President. I'm sure Katie Couric would have no trouble getting Liz Warren to list the publications she reads...

+5 # Progressive Patriot 2011-05-27 13:52

And, being from the corporate controlled mainstream media, you can bet that Katie Couric would ask tougher questions of a Democratic presidential candidate than she did of a Republiklan vice-presidential candidate.

+15 # Richard W. Spisak 2011-05-28 11:56

Elizabeth Warren in 2012!
Republicans and Democrats are right to be trembling

Elizabeth Warren in 2012!
solidarity & peace

+10 # CL38 2011-05-28 08:05

+7 # sark 2011-05-29 06:23

McHenry is from NC 10th. He may or may not be elected by the voters there because the easily hacked electronic voting machines used in NC(and most states). Although NC has election audits, his will never be audited because it is not a state wide race.
When MoveOn was just getting started, they focused on trying to get a Dem. elected from that area. It should have been easy because many of the Republicans in that area are actively against McHenry. I told MoveOn that they should focus on the electronic voting machines first but was told they would do that after they got McHenry out of office. How do you vote someone out of office with voting machines that are easily hacked and leave no trace of the hacking?
McHenry was Tom DeLay's little favorite and should have gone down with him. It is sad that NC's 10th may never be able to vote him our of office because the electronic voting machines will select him no matter the true vote.

+52 # canuuk 2011-05-25 20:40

I guess they never read the bullshit that Goldman Sachs gave to Carl Levin about "the Big Short"...

+123 # Daisy 2011-05-25 20:44

For more of us believe Warren is doing her best to stand up for the consumer, while McHenry is doing his best to stand up for the financial industry.
Obama should appoint Ms. Warren to a permanent position as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. She can be trusted to serve Americans and protect them from the financial industry's predators.

+12 # Progressive Patriot 2011-05-27 14:01

Obama should make a recess appointment that would run through the 2112 election. If he nominates her for the position and goes through the Senate confirmation process, The ReTHUGs would not allow her to be appointed, but he can make recess appointments ... a tactic George W. Bush used frequently when Congress was holding hearings about his appointees.

The Constitution sets specific criteria for recess appointments, which Bush violated with abandon (just as he wantonly violated the Constitution in many other ways ... like the invasion of a country that did not threaten the United States ... twice), but since Bush set the precedence, why shouldn't Obama take advantage of it?

+12 # Bill Clements 2011-05-27 17:52

Few know that Bush made 171 recess appointment!

+4 # D Rubes 2011-05-30 10:24

The Republicorps have precluded that with not allowing a recess to occur this session. She is too much a threat because of her plain, honest, & (horribly) intelligent way of simplifying complex issues to make sense, even to those who disagree. She's too gosh darned NICE!!

+1 # annualoath 2011-05-30 18:27

PP, i'm not so certain the president and other democrats really want ms. warren in that post because she's a threat to the banking interests that sponsored them. these happen to be the same bankers that own those republicans that are threatened by her. hence, as stated by another commenter, democratice forces would rather see her run for the senate in mass.

+55 # jon 2011-05-25 20:45

McHenry would have been perfectly complete if he had been wearing a Nazi SS uniform, whilst inserting a monocle in one eye as he asserted, "Ve can shoot you, you know"

+18 # bigkahuna671 2011-05-26 09:50

Let's see, John Kyl, Gov. Sanford, David Vetter, Congressman Craig, ad nauseam, are all CERTIFIED liars and all of them have one thing in common, they're all Republifascists , just like McHenry...which is why he'd definitely look good in a Nazi SS uniform. Tea Partiers forget when they try to use Communists and Nazis to describe the same person that they were opposites, it's their beloved Nazi Republifascist brethren who would love another "Holocaust," but one of the American middle class and poor. Damn those folks for messing up our pure-white, RICH, America.

+5 # Progressive Patriot 2011-05-27 14:07

The most unfortunate thing about ReTHUGliklans is that they can't see beyond their whiteness to understand that this country never has been 100% White, and as the "ruling" White class is losing their power and seeing "little brown men" pouring across the border from Mexico, as well as more children being born to Black and Hispanic citizens, and all those Yellow people coming here from Asia ... the White "ruling class" is running scared.

+40 # wjh2 2011-05-26 09:52

Let's not resort to FOX tactics. Nazi's have nothing to do with this. McHenry was rude and it's not hard to see where his allegance lies. He supports unrestrained capitalism. Thats the opposite of what the CFPB agenda is. Capitalism is a good system, when it is restrained by thoughtful regulations.

+6 # Progressive Patriot 2011-05-27 14:09

And right now we are fighting to regain some of what has been lost in over 30 years of thoughtless _de_regulation.

+8 # CL38 2011-05-27 22:40

I hear you, but I unfortunately, while Republicans and the Tea Party constantly call others Nazi's--they themselves have a great deal in common with Nazi's.

Studies over the past 40 years have examined how the Nazi atrocities could have happened. What they found in Nazi's (and also in far right Republicans) was a belief in their own superiority and right to rule over others, no empathy or compassion, a belief that they deserved wealth, power, and entitlements, while their "inferiors" don't deserve these things; characteristics that included a willingness to lie, deceive and bully to get what they want, a lack of self awareness, etc.

Pretty frightening that these are the kinds of people who have control of our country and government and making the most important decisions that affect our lives and future.

+40 # DaveM 2011-05-25 21:27

Congress members seem to lie pretty much every time they open their mouths. When will we see them called to account for it?

This is so low that it doesn't even merit the usual pot and kettle analogy.

+92 # Lee Fernandez 2011-05-25 21:40

Mr. McHenry is no gentleman. I saw some of this hearing and I'm embarrassed we have such rude, overbearing, poorly informed representatives . Ms. Warren is brilliant, incredibly hard working and an articulate defender of consumers. I hope she can be a "recess" appointment.

+26 # Lee Black 2011-05-26 09:02

One has to wonder about the electorate that votes in such people.

+62 # Dave W. 2011-05-25 21:51

Lets face facts. Republicans in the House, as they stand today, are a inferior breed of human being. Its that simple. The morals a seven year old possesses surpass that of House Republicans. Just understanding the concept of "right and wrong" has become an exercise in futility for the GOP. Warren is a "straight as an arrow" advocate for those who've been maligned by both the pernicious effects of the de-regulatory process and the "plain as the nose on your face" defenders of avarice antics of the Republican party. Republicans are evolutionary throwbacks, sired in the womb of an elephant who'd spent one to many days at the circus and had now decided to toss "peanuts" back at the paying customers. Sorry fellas, the shell is "cracked." There's a "nut" inside. A rotten one at that.

+44 # cake eater 2011-05-26 07:01

McHenry and company DO understand right and wrong. They simply choose to be wrong, to clutter the debate with theater and the tone of controversy. Given the choice to defend their constituency or act in favor of their masters, they will always choose the latter, at any cost. Truth, morality, common sense be damned. This will be enough for Fox, Limbaugh and the rest of the ministry of lies to run with, leading the brainwashed masses to condemn the "liar" and dismantle the agency before it begins. The brownshirt right will stop at nothing in their goal to destroy civilized society, to remake our country and the world into a modern feudal state.

+19 # Dave W. 2011-05-26 08:16

cake eater, You're right of course. The debauched right DOES know the difference between right and wrong. Wealth and the power associated with it IS all they seem to value. The party of "values", how sadly and perfidiously ironic it all seems. Those of us who see through the charade MUST keep up the fight. Tyranny unopposed is Tyranny condoned. I for one, do NOT wish myself or my family to live in a "modern feudal state." Lets all work to spread the truth about these defiled bastards to what is a sometimes painfully ignorant American voting electorate.

+16 # George D 2011-05-26 10:01

....leading the brainwashed masses to condemn the "liar"....
You left off "and EDUCATED, intellectual" that are equally or more offensive terms to Teabaggers.

As another pointed out; The "you lie" mentality is all that exists in Republican politicians. That and the "vote them out" (Palin Doctrin) without ANY clear plan, reasoning, or POSITIVE assertion to make.

+5 # devaki 2011-05-29 09:10

We need to point out the magnitude of the lies that have been perpetrated by the "financial industry" and their champions in Congress.

+68 # George D 2011-05-25 21:57

Yet another "collapse of the decorum that usually pervades discussions among even the most fervent opponents on Capitol Hill" on the part of Republicans.

It's sickening and disgusting to see what these people do in our name. "They're frustrated" with some of the people in power that they cannot control? Welcome to the life of Democrats under Bush and now held hostage by the Teabaggers. Or for that matter, the rest of us in the general public that want to scream at BOTH parties on a daily basis.

I guess this is the new America. No more "American Dream" for future generations; Just one continuous sellout by wealthy "representatives " that will eventually strangle the life out of the middle class and literally laugh about it, all the way to the bank.

+53 # Regina 2011-05-25 23:29

The Repubs are getting desperate; the Oz curtain is sliding open and we're seeing them barer and barer. To accuse Warren of lying -- retroactively yet! -- is a measure of their panic. On adding Warren's non-intimidation to the NY 26 upset of their arrogated entitlement, the GOPanic is getting mighty shrill. Maybe they'll just self-destruct.

+3 # Progressive Patriot 2011-05-27 14:22

As it is becoming more evident to voters that this is _not_ the Republican Party of Eisenhower, or even of Reagan, more and more people are turning away from them. I keep asking a friend of mine what he is doing to take his party back from the THUGS who have taken over.

I'm predicting, after the poll a couple weeks ago in which 52% (or was it 56%) of Republicans answered "none of the above" when asked who their preference is among the circus clowns purportedly running for the 2012 nomination, that Republican voters will stay home in droves when the 2012 election is held.

They are realizing, as I did many years ago with the DLC controlled Democratic Party, that the rank and file party members have no control over who leads the Republicans, and most don't really like the "leadership" direction. Of course, Faux "news" has a lot of influence, too.

+40 # angelfish 2011-05-25 23:37

McHenry is a "NOBODY" ReTHUGlican "Chairman" looking to increase the size of his testicles by bullying a woman! Sadly, they're about as big as his brain (equal to, maybe, the size of a shriveled peanut, I'm sure!). ReTHUGlicans are well known for their lack of Hearts and Humanity as evidenced by Paul Ryan's recent holding up of Aid for Tornado Victims in Joplin, Missouri in exchange for a a decrease in Funding for a "Green" piece of Legislation. A REAL hero is he, wouldn't you say? What about an INCREASE in Taxes for the Mega-Wealthy? Nah, didn't think so. If God is Just, and I know HE is, there will be WAY fewer THUGS in Washington come November 2012! Dare I hope?

+14 # Zac Reisner 2011-05-26 07:08

Quoting

McHenry is a "NOBODY" ReTHUGlican "Chairman" looking to increase the size of his testicles by bullying a woman! Sadly, they're about as big as his brain (equal to, maybe, the size of a shriveled peanut, I'm sure!). ReTHUGlicans are well known for their lack of Hearts and Humanity as evidenced by Paul Ryan's recent holding up of Aid for Tornado Victims in Joplin, Missouri in exchange for a a decrease in Funding for a "Green" piece of Legislation. A REAL hero is he, wouldn't you say? What about an INCREASE in Taxes for the Mega-Wealthy? Nah, didn't think so. If God is Just, and I know HE is, there will be WAY fewer THUGS in Washington come November 2012! Dare I hope?

I wasn't aware of Ryan's holdup of the aid to tornado victims; that'that's just truly appalling. Maybe what we need is a tornado to come and sweep up the House Rethuglicans, as well as all the DINOs (Democrats in name only) on the other side of the aisle!

+3 # boudreaux 2011-05-26 09:26

angelfish, before you go spouting about the tornado's, I would have like a link to back that up first...it is too easy for anyone to say anything these days and I just want to see with my own eyes...know what I mean???

+2 # angelfish 2011-05-28 18:40

As per PoliticusUsa: "Cantor said, "If there is support for a Supplemental it would be accomplished by support for having Pay fors to that Supplemental". Meaning, Any Emergency Funding Congress approves is tied to spending Cuts equal to the cost of the disaster relief.

+53 # CL38 2011-05-26 00:31

Republicans are now in favor of "Congressional oversight"??? Really?

Or just preventing Ms. Warren from heading the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at all costs because she'll impose real consumer protections on Wall street and banking?

+53 # Geri Kenyon 2011-05-26 01:03

I believe a petition of protest needs to be mounted on this matter. This egregious behavior on the part of Mr. McHenry is unacceptable and constitutes outrageous and inappropriate behavior.

+30 # Frosty46 2011-05-26 02:26

Usual Republican thug tactics. We watched them do this during the Redbaiting 50's. Republicans are conartists of the first degree.
Why do Republicans hate truth so very much?

+22 # Regina 2011-05-26 08:58

Republicans hate truth because it exposes their prostitution to the corporate manipulators who buy their elections, and in return demand control over national policy. This is an endless loop, because the policies the corporate power wielders demand feed their profits -- and their personal wealth -- at national expense. And now, in addition to Congress, these corporate power wielders have their clutches on the Supreme Court via the Citizens United 5-4 decision.

+6 # Progressive Patriot 2011-05-27 14:29

The current crop of ReTHUGliklans HATE AMERICANS, unless we're among the handful making $Billions off the rest of the country.

It is time for the lower 95% to _revolt_ against the THUGS. one way to do it is to elect enough Progressives to Congress next year that we can reinstate the regulations that have been dismantled over the past 30 years.

It all started with Gerald Ford giving tax breaks to corporations ... followed by Raygun's initial tax cuts for the rich and greedy. Then he _increased_ taxes on the Middle Class.

+5 # CL38 2011-05-27 22:23

I know your question is rhetorical, but John Dean's "Conservatives Without Conscience" answers it.

+22 # rf 2011-05-26 03:00

They grow them real smart dawn there in the south! Who does he think will invest in this country if our system is perceived as corrupt and unchanged?

+22 # fredboy 2011-05-26 03:41

And they wonder why Congressional ratings are in the toilet.

+23 # stonecutter 2011-05-26 04:15

This guy McHenry is a "Congress-Slut!" OOOOHHH, my goodness, how could I sink to such a low, low standard of verbal expression, as to call this cynical, right-wing little prick who doesn't give a damn about the public's right to consumer protection, and can't tie Elizabeth Warren's intellectual shoelaces, a "slut". Of course, I don't really mean he's a slut in the sexual sense, but I do mean it in the political sense, absolutely, and since most Americans are too stupid to see the nuance or the irony--hell, they don't even know what the hell nuance or irony IS--I must be, by the high standards of RSN Reader Commentary, so, so, so sorry. Look, I'm crying, just enough to seem contrite. If I had any ratings, I'd be checking them right about now.
Meanwhile, this guy McHenry ought to be working in the Post Office, selling stamps, not running a Congressional subcommittee.

+14 # Doctoretty 2011-05-26 05:25

Frankly, I wouldn't trust the mail getting through if he were working in the P.O.!

+14 # Lakshmi 2011-05-26 05:59

Don't denigrate postal workers like that!

+2 # boudreaux 2011-05-26 09:30

You shouldn't throw stones...looks like he isn't going to say he's sorry so I will, I know you guys do a great job!!!

+9 # angelfish 2011-05-26 09:08

Hey Stonecutter0602 , Don't be so hard on Postal Workers! McHenry is too stupid to work for the Post Office. In fact, I don't think he could pour Pee out of a boot even WITH the directions written on the heel!

+5 # bigkahuna671 2011-05-26 15:52

Please, please don't let him in the Post Office. Maybe at the end of a shovel at a carnival shovelling elephant dung. Of course, then you wouldn't know which was smellier and more offensive, that on the shovel or that handling the shovel!!

+24 # True Progressive 2011-05-26 04:28

"Faced with strong opposition to Ms. Warren, . . . President Obama has not nominated her to lead the new bureau."

Typical Obama. Sensing "opposition," which in Uncle Tom's mind is not good kumbaya, he slinks away and leaves her to twist in the wind. Except that, Ms. Warren is very adept at taking care of herself. (She would make a far better president than our current Uncle Tom.) Rep. Yarmuth's observation is absolutely right on, the Rethugs are scared to death of Warren's ability to expose them as the true and main threat to the American people's economic security. There's nothing more desparate than a Rethug who's about to be outed. Such putrid hypocrisy. A Republican accusing someone of lying is like Al Capone, for example, charging someone with being a crook. "Liars 'R' Us" should be the Republican national slogan.

+9 # Doctoretty 2011-05-26 05:26

I have signed petitions for him appoint her. But what is the point, if she can't be confirmed?

+3 # Progressive Patriot 2011-05-27 14:35

That's why he needs to make a "recess appointment", which would be in force until the _next_ (hopefully Democratic) Congress takes office in January of 2013. _Then_ he could renominate her and have her confirmed. The "secret hold" and filibuster rules need to be changed in 2013 to stop obstructive ReTHUGs from blocking legislation.

+1 # tomo 2011-05-26 19:51

"Typical Obama." I keep searching for the word that's right. I doubt the man is actively malignant. I think the closest I can come to a just characterizatio n is "Ultimate Yuppie"--a man coolly devoted to his own aggrandizement, with absolutely no side-tracking distractions.

+47 # Homer Peters 2011-05-26 04:35

If 1/2 of the Republicans had the class of Elizabeth Warren the Congress would be a much better place. I saw her exchange with Patrick T. and he is a classic example of no class at all.

+35 # John Austin 2011-05-26 04:40

If this kind of Republican becomes too numerous, we'll wind up with a Fascist state run by corporations whose sole function is to make money for shareholders..

+19 # Elliot Hoffman 2011-05-26 05:37

Too many Americans are just asleep, ignorant or simply lack the courage to look reality squarely i the face. The Republican party has transformed to a bunch of whores with no regard for the people they are supposed to serve - the common good, the body politic. They now serve their true master - corporate and financial America. The Dems serve some of the same masters but I think there are a few good ones remaining. If citizens continue to vote for the whores, the"people" will continue getting screwed. Wake up, America.
Elliot Hoffman

+21 # PGreen 2011-05-26 05:05

Nixon raised the specter of an "imperial presidency." Now we have "an imperial congress." The Republican chairman, McHenry, clearly believes that others should be subservient to his timetable, his perspective, and to his agenda. The problem with this attitude is that it overrides concepts of, not only human decency, but right and wrong. If what you say goes, no matter what, then you can do no wrong. McHenry is apparently quite aware of the notion of a "blatant sense of entitlement," but reserves that for himself. Without a sense of good and evil (only power and opposition), there is nothing to stop him from taking sides against the interests of the clear majority. By this reasoning, Elizabeth Warren is a threat to him.

+23 # FLevin 2011-05-26 05:16

House republicans had no problem accepting and rubber-stamping the lies of Goldman Sachs. You know, the criminal organization and serial rapists that Elizabeth Warren is trying to protect Americans from......the master thieves that our congressman bowed to and begged for forgiveness for inconveniencing them---instead of prosecuting them.

+9 # sandylieberson 2011-05-26 05:43

sorry John...but our govt is already mainly run by 'corporations whose sole function is to make money for shareholders'!!!
how about asking Obama and the democrats to stand behind Ms. Ryan instead of behaving tactically rather than on principals we expect from them.

+5 # Myron Hoitomt 2011-05-26 05:46

John Austin, I am afraid you prediction has already happened!!!

+14 # Cari Williams 2011-05-26 05:57

Please, Elizabeth Warren, do not run for senate in mass. The country needs you where you are. Obama can make a recess appointment.

+2 # CL38 2011-05-27 22:18

I agree, although I live in MA and would love to have her run for Senate and take Scott Brown's seat. Most of the time Brown votes with right wing Republicans and his email responses to voter petitions and complaints are always so slick and smarmy and full of misleading rationalization s for why he voted as he did.

+14 # Greg Scott 2011-05-26 06:01

I notice that Mr McHenry, the Honorable Gentleman from north Carolina does not accept emails from outside his district.

Hmmmm, I wonder why.

I simply wanted to tell him, very politely of course ;), that he is neither...

+2 # CL38 2011-05-28 07:59

I've noticed that most of the southern politicians seem to have this policy--their way of saying I only care about the "southern view". I'm not accountable to you, if you don't live in the south.

+2 # sark 2011-05-29 16:23

He even has it set up where citizens from his district cannot send him email comments from social, economic and environmental justice organizations' actions. Asking citizens in his district to take action on something means you have to ask them to copy and paste the information to his web form.

+15 # Glenna 2011-05-26 06:11

another example of a Republican accusing someone else of doing what they themselves are doing.
Elizabeth Warren is honest, ethical, and committed to a government of the people for the people. That scares the s*** out of the GOP. They might not be able to realize their dreams of collecting every asset and dollar for themselves!

+18 # Bill Clements 2011-05-26 06:39

As I posted elsewhere, McHenry is an ill-mannered, loutish, lubberly lumpen.

The Republican strategy in cases like this is always the same: unjustly accuse your opponent of lying, for example, by lying!

Elizabeth Warren is simply above reproach because she actually possesses integrity! Yes, how rare! And adding insult to injury, she sincerely cares about the consumer. Republicans like McHenry, cynical and corrupt, can't stand someone like that. It drives them to distraction.

And the fact that she's a smart woman who is not intimidated by their below-the-belt tactics rankles them even more because try as they might, they can't put her in her place.

I am forever grateful for people like McHenry because they keep showing us again and again what the Republican party stands for these days.

+5 # Progressive Patriot 2011-05-27 14:43

Their problem is, she _is_ in her place, and a strong woman with integrity scares the hell out of ReTHGUliklans, because they cant' _CONTROL_ her ... which is their _real_ agenda.

+3 # Bill Clements 2011-05-27 17:52

Yes, agreed. Putting her in her place means the place they think she deserves to be.... which is a marginalized place of no power. Easy to control someone when you've managed to strip them of their voice and their power.

+4 # greenandfriendly 2011-05-26 06:44

Yes, John, Sandy and Myron, I'm afraid it is already true.

Also, to Edward Wyatt re: "Mr. McHenry abruptly moved for a temporarily recess so lawmakers could attend a floor vote." Please proofread before publishing!!

+13 # carpepax 2011-05-26 06:45

She should be given kudos for sitting there and fielding questions from those assholes. Seriously, I don't know why anybody would purposely subject themselves to "confirmation hearings" for any appointed position in today's government.

+13 # Reidar Hansen 2011-05-26 06:48

Ms. Warren is a breath of fresh honest air in the stench of a cesspool that the house of Representatives has become.Nothing will get accomplished by our lawmakers as long as these knuckle draggers are in power.

+13 # Vince 2011-05-26 06:51

Hmmmmm .... shades of McCarthy. Republicans want transparency? That's funny.

+13 # brianf 2011-05-26 06:55

When a Republican politician accuses someone of lying it usually means the Republican politician is lying. This is generally true of their accusations. It's probably a conscious strategy, because it is so consistent.

For example, Inhofe says that what climate scientists have discovered about global warming is the biggest hoax in history. The truth is that Inhofe is part of the biggest and most dangerous hoax in history, the efforts to confuse people about and deny the existence of global warming.

+19 # Heleni Thayre 2011-05-26 06:59

If we want to be well represented by our Senators and representatives in Congress we MUST look to the integrity of our elections.

We need hand-marked paper ballots and if these ballots are counted by machine we need swift, meaningful, transparent, statistically based hand counted audit of machine results. Machine vendors are private companies that sometimes exercise inappropriate control over our election processes, and who make inappropriate claims to proprietary rights in order to prevent the release of election data to citizens seeking transparency.
The best protection for We the People of the integrity of our national government would be that votes for US Senator, US Representative and US President would be mandated to be on hand-marked paper ballots nationwide, and mandated to be counted by hand in full and meaningful public view, at the polling place, immediately upon close of the election before transport or storage takes place.

That would be a start for the restoration of our political autonomy.

+2 # sark 2011-05-29 16:26

YES!
Thank You!

+20 # winston P. Nagan 2011-05-26 07:00

The disgraceful Republican treatment of Professor Warren challenges a vital national interest. They want to destroy the appointment of administrators who are independant, not owned by special interests, are smart, competent , honest, and are committed to the Public interest.

+2 # fredboy 2011-05-26 07:35

We must remember that the Republican Party almost committed suicide by enabling and allowing the 2008 financial meltdown. They controlled all at the time, and they blew it.

Yet the Dems, instead of arriving and acting to protect us, cozied up to them. And blew the next Congressional election, yielding the majority to the vampires.

This is the result, and "sluts" is the accurate term. The GOP Congress expects a sissy response from the Dems. in Congress and the White House, and that's what they get. Rolling over and playing dead ain't leadership.

+7 # HowardMH 2011-05-26 07:43

What we have here is a failure to communicate accurate information to the Republician Retards that have been totally bought and paid for by the Banks and Big Business. What is needed is a few hundred thousand people at the capital with baseball bats or 2x4 (about 3 feet long) and take the place apart. Then, and only then will the retards on capital hill get the message the people are not going to take it any longer!!! Professor Warren is the most respected person working in the government and she does not get even close to the amount of backing she should from the White House or anyone else.

+4 # bobby t. 2011-05-26 08:45

The rationale is always the same. If i don't take the job of putting in microwave systems in canada, (illegal in america as it causes cancer,etc.)
another company will do it and they will get the money. it is going to happen so why shouldn't i take the money?
the concept of blood on your hands does not compute.
denial of global warming makes me money, so i will lie. the five billion people who will die because of lack of food and water, is not relevent to milo minderbender. money is his god and he prays to it, and do anything for it.
i have seen elizabeth warren on tv and she is terrific. no bs from her. i love her toughness and her honesty. to call her a lier is to give rush limphead something to lie and rave about on the radio. yes, it is like the ss, only, this time backed by exxon, and not krupp.

+9 # VSweet 2011-05-26 08:55

What are the Republicans really AFRAID of? What are the Republicans trying to really HIDE? and why or why are they BADGERING Mrs. Warren who is respected by most except for the REPULSIVE Party?

+7 # Lulie 2011-05-26 10:12

Elizabeth Warren is one tough cookie who stands up and fights for her principles. Perhaps she can serve as a role model for Obama. Truth is, Obama seems somewhat afraid of her too. Otherwise, he might have gotten her onboard sooner, instead of appointing all the old Clinton and Bush leftover Wall Street cronies.

+7 # bobby t. 2011-05-26 12:26

vsweet,
what are they trying to hide?
hmmm. how about that they and some dinos helped rob the american people through lack of regulation of the banking industry and the insurance industry. even clinton is guilty of not overseeing fanny may and freddy mac. bob rubin told him in the nineties that they were breaking the law in order to give the board of directors and the ceos of both companies, which are backed by us tax payers, a larger amount of money in their pay checks and their stock. clinton did nothing to stop them too.

so it is clilton along with the bush administration that caused all the problems we had with the leveraging and the bundling of mortages. warren knows all about both parties involvement, along with greenspan and his so called libertarian hands off the market baloney. he too was involved and no one stopped him and the fed. people should be going to jail and they are putting kids with an ounce and a half of pot in their college dorm in jail.....i don't hear of the foreign ceos going to jail either. they knew what they were doing, and were just as greedy and just as guilty.

+5 # tomo 2011-05-26 20:06

I think McHenry must be resolutely committed to accumulation of money at the top. In general, those societies are freest from tension in which all citizens share in the societal prosperity. Our Ayn Rand, Milton Friedman defense of the vast disparities our brand of capitalism is generating has been that the brightest, most industrious, most creative among us are entitled to notably larger shares of wealth than the rest of us--as a form of recognition and reward.

Today, however, we know that the most destructive forces in our society are our financiers. We ALL KNOW the only reason they have so much more money than the rest of us is because they are far more immoral that the rest of us. I do not think a society can long endure when its alleged leaders are as despised as ours are.

+1 # dkonstruction 2011-05-27 08:26

wjh2...i agree that the flippant use of the nazi or fascist tag is not helpful. at the same time, i cannot remember a time ever when capitalism was "restrained by thoughtful regulation." This suggests that if only we had the "right people" running the show everything would be o.k. To me this is part of America's individualist mythology...the problem is not individual but systemic...until we change the system i don't care who you put in place to run the show for in the end it won't matter (lest we forget that most of the "deregulation" that folks are now saying was at the root of the current financial crisis was put in place by the democrans and not the republicrats.

+4 # CL38 2011-05-27 22:11

The Republicans who've lied, manipulated, abused and stolen their way into power are accusing ELIZABETH WARREN of lying???

She scares the hell out of them, so they resort to the same old attack tactics. Can't have oversight of Wall Street and banks and the mortgage industry!!!! Our free lunch entitlements will be over!

+3 # diwillia 2011-05-28 10:45

Elizabeth Warren is intellent and clear
spoken, an excellent candidate for the 2012 Mass. Senate race. The tea-baggers
and right-wing crazies should fear such a candidate.

0 # mhog jones 2011-05-28 11:17

let's make sure mr mchenry knows when he dabbles in national interests, the nation comes to him!
the dubious McHenry
WASHINGTON, D.C. OFFICE
224 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Telephone: 202.225.2576
Fax: 202.225.0316
home district hickory, nc 28602 http://mchenry.house.gov/

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