Here is a summary of what Congressman Issa wants from the Attorney General, Eric Withholder:

281 ATF Reports of Investigation

6 Wiretap application summaries

FBI Investigative summaries

ATF Case Agent File

Emails following Brian Terry’s death (remember him? I hope so.)

License plate recognition e-mails

Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) emails

March 5, 2010 Powe Point presentation

Now, the main talking points from those trying to prevent Congressman Issa’s committee from getting the information they need go something like this:

“This is a fishing expedition.”

“The Attorney General has already been here before this committee a zillion times.” (slight exaggeration in my use of words, but that IS what they are saying.)

“The DOJ and Eric have already given the committee a gazillion documents.” (again the use of hyperbole to make my point.)

Now for a story:

A teenage son comes home from school and is greeted by his parents.  Dad asks to see his report card.

His son says, “Why? Everything’s OK.  You don’t have to see it.  Take my word for it.”

Mom say, “But we’d like to see for ourselves because we are your parents and we are responsible for making sure you are doing what you are supposed to be doing.  If there are problems we are responsible for helping you solve those problems.”

Their son says, “You don’t TRUST ME?! I’ve never been so insulted in all my life!”

The father says, “It’s not that son, we just want to see the report card so we know if we need to take any actions to help you.”

Their son says, “You hate me!  Why do all parents hate their children and try to embarrass them?!”

The mother tells her son that they do not hate him; hate has nothing to do with their fulfilling their responsibilities.  The father says all he wants to see is the report card.

The son then pulls a bunch of papers out of his backpack and thrusts them into his parents hands.  Included are some homework assignments and tests that are marked with grades; one A, a couple of B’s and one C.

They call him out from his room and tell him that although this helps a little they still want to see the report card.  The son stomps off to his room and comes back with some more graded papers and last year’s report card as well as another report card that belongs to the kid down the street that he blames for all his problems.  He shoves them into his parents’ hands and goes back to his room.

They call him out again and he stomps out saying, “How many times are you going to make me come back out here?!  This is harassment!” He then shoves a heavily redacted report card in their hands.  They cannot read one word on the document.

They sternly ask him once again and he stomps off and slams his door.  They ask him to come out again but he won’t answer.  He is on the phone with his Principal, who later sends the parents an email stating that their son does not have to give them his report card as it is protected by Executive Privilege.

The moral of the story?  If you don’t want to get into trouble, just refuse to hand over the documents.

The problem with this is that keeping the Truth from those responsible for finding out what happened in order that they may hold people accountable for their actions as well as show ways to prevent mistakes in the future is that it prevents them from doing just that.

Eric Holder has refused to give the committee what it needs and now potential wrong-doing is hiding behind Executive privilege.  What about the documents listed above makes them “privileged?”

The burning question for anyone who is using critical thought is : “What ARE they hiding?”