The past is never dead. It’s not even past.
--William Faulkner
William Faulkner’s words came to mind as I read Rep. Alcee L. Hastings’ brief that his past should not disqualify him from chairing the House Intelligence Committee (and here).
Hastings recently released a batch of documents to support his argument that his impeachment and subsequent removal from the federal bench was more about “politics” than the “evidence.” In an open letter to House Democrats, Hastings said:
Because I know you and because many of you are mindful of my 14 years in Congress, and in order not to stoke a simmering fire which had the potential to adversely affect Democrats in the ’06 election, I elected not to participate in the “discussion” about whether I should be appointed Chair of the HPSCI.
The noise and misleading, poorly informed, misinformed, and sometimes venomous attacks on my integrity and character by pundits, politicians, and editors screaming the word “impeachment” (ignoring a Not Guilty verdict in a court of law) in a frenetic attempt to justify denying me a position I have certainly earned and am completely competent to perform requires now that I set the record straight.
House Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi reportedly will announce today that Hastings is not her choice to chair the House Intelligence Committee. If so, it would be foolish to pick a fight over Hastings with so much at stake and the Republican echo chamber poised to pounce on every Democratic move.
Hastings dismisses his critics as “misinformed fools.” But it’s evident that his past is enough to cast reasonable doubt on whether he’s “completely competent” to lead the intelligence panel.
