We know that politicial battles leading up to the 2012 elections are heating up, but a congressional hearing is not the place for incivility and rudeness.
Rep. Patrick McHenry’s exchange of angry words with Elizabeth Warren at Tuesday’s House subcommittee on TARP, Financial Services and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs spawned a backlash against the congressman that has thousands of people demanding an apology.
Congressman McHenry owes Warren an apology as well as the voters of the 10th District.
Warren, a Harvard law professor chosen by President Obama to head the new Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, had been asked to testify about the new governmental body and its authority.
Tuesday’s confrontation erupted when Warren said she had to leave to get to another appointment. She said this after testifying for more than an hour. She said McHenry’s staff had rescheduled her apprearance several times and she found herself in a scheduling bind.
“You are causing problems,” Warren said, when asked to stay longer. “We had an agreement for a later hearing. Your staff asked us to move around, so we had to change everything on my schedule to try to accommodate you.”
She said she had to leave by 2:30 p.m.
McHenry disagreed.
“No, congressman. We had an agreement,” Warren said.
“You had no agreement — you’re making this up, Ms. Warren,” McHenry said. “This is simply not the case. This is not the case”
McHenry said she lied, and she, essentially, said the same of him.
However, since he is the congressman, we expect a higher level of decorum than he displayed.
The congressman can do his job without being rude. It’s unacceptable for any member of Congress, especially a subcommittee chairman, to treat witnesses in that manner.
You do not have to look far to see that public discourse has degenerated into vitriolic he-said, she-said. This episode added more fuel to that fire.
That’s apparent in reading many of the comments on McHenry’s Facebook page.
If we are to have any chance at meaningful civil discussion in our public life about our differences, it is incumbent on our leaders – no matter what side of the hearing table or the aisle they sit – to remember we can disagree without being disagreeable.
So Rep. McHenry you should apologize. It’s the statesman-like thing to do.
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