Why Alan Grayson Was Kept Off Benghazi Committee

[Unknown Beatle]

Since the Democrats announced their five members of the House Select committee on Benghazi, I've been researching why Rep. Alan Grayson was left off the list. He publicly said he wanted to be on it and was aided by a Credo petition to push for his inclusion if indeed the Democrats were going to participate. When we look at who makes up the Dems, we notice that there was nobody selected from House Committee on Foreign Affairs, which seemed very odd to me, as well as to others that have also mentioned this. Here are the five that were chosen.

Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight & Government Reform

Adam Smith (D-WA), Ranking Member, Armed Services Committee

Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Committee on Appropriations (Subcommittee on State & Foreign Operations), Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Committee on Ways and Means (Subcommittee on Oversight)

Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Armed Services Committee, Committee on Oversight & Government Reform

The House Democrats were fractured on the whole with many who thought this new committee was a charade and wanted no part of it. Rep. Adam Schiff, who is surprisingly now part of the Committee recently said it was a ‘colossal waste of time’ on Fox News.

Schiff also said that Democratic leaders should not appoint anyone to the committee. "I don't think it makes sense, really, for Democrats to participate," he said. "I think it's just a tremendous red herring and a waste of taxpayer resources."

So why was he included on the committee now? I've been checking around since the announcement was made and a source who wishes to remain anonymous said Rep. Steny Hoyer was afraid that Grayson would be too rambunctious for his taste, and so used his power to keep him off the committee -- despite the fact that Eliot Engel, the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Affairs committee, had already handpicked Rep. Grayson and gave his selection to Nancy Pelosi. Steny Hoyer went crying (to who, we don't know) and Nancy Pelosi then pulled Grayson from the panel.

More: Crooks and Liars

I'm so sick and tired of crap like this. It's driving me crazy.

[G_j]

1. damn!!!

you are right it NEVER ends..

[billhicks76]

31. Steny Hoyer

Steny has never been a true democrat. He's a sell out that infiltrated our party way back on behalf of corporate republicans in order to make us more moderate. Prisons, the drug war, NSA, Middle East wars etc...he supported them all. He like the Clintons made a deal with the devil long ago. He and his ilk are afraid to give Grayson a platform where citizens might see that Alan is the type of guy that will stick up for us and make a great President rather than drinking champagne in DC like Hoyer does. All you doubters out there...Grayson could win because he has a backbone and sticks up for himself. Even independents and conservatives respect that. Betting on those who will do what they are told and not make waves is a loser strategy and won us nothing except figurehead cult of personality shallow crap.

[G_j]

38. they are afraid of him

that is certainly correct. And Hoyer is an a duplicitous hack.

[billhicks76]

39. Too Many Pretenders

I was pointing this kind of thing out today. It's especially pernicious and prominent on anything related to Snowden on DU. People who act like liberals on "soft" domestic issues anyone but a rabid Tea Partier would agree on make it their mission to defile anyone sticking up for our privacy, anyone questioning the war machine or anyone suspicious of hoodwinking. A person who does this often and has 20,000 comments here flagged a comment of mine where I responded " stop pretending to be a liberal". Their thin skin called it a personal attack and I lost in the jury system 4-3. I've never been flagged before but I got two from this person in a month over Snowden. I've seen plenty of personal attacks let ride because they were directed at actual conservatives but I never thought asking for people to live up to their liberal credentials would generate an alert. I believe we need stronger representatives in our party otherwise we just get hijacked by pretenders.

[scarletwoman]

2. Forget it, Jake. It's DC.

[Fred Sanders]

3. Grayson would have brought media attention to the Kangaroo court and the media has for

a change and decided to do the right thing to ignore it until there is actual real new news.....Grayson would create news on his own....and attention.

[Skidmore]

6. This and those chosen also hold positions in other committees

which have oversight responsibilities in the area.

[think]

35. Grayson would have handed Issa his ass

as it should be....

[Cleita]

4. Elijah Cummings might step up to the task.

I hope.

[Gman]

5. It could be that in his zealous desire to discredit the committee

He could indeed bring attention to it. It's best to emphasize the charade and farce that it is. So it may be a good thing Grayson isn't on it. Be careful what you ask for.

I like Grayson but he's likely too much.

[okaawhatever]

9. I thought so too. I though Bernie might make it all about him. I think he'll be running for

POTUS in '16 and might be looking for a few headlines. I can see Bernie as a sort-of play by play announcer on the political shows. He can get wild and crazy there and say things he wouldn't be able to say during a committee meeting.

[Bluenorthwest]

42. Grayson's name is Alan, Bernie's is Senator Sanders, this is a House committee

so who are you going on about being too much?

[savannah43]

20. "...charade and farce..." That pretty much sums up D.C. Well said.

[mylye2222]

7. Disgusting methods!!!!!

[Roy Rolling]

8. Shake things up

Grayson "too much" for the committee?

It's time Democrats play to win and not just squeak out a tie. It's no wonder some liberals are exasperated at the perpetual capitulation by Democratic leadership.

Elijah Cummings has been great, but he needs someone like Grayson with him on the panel so he can appear middle-of-the-road.

[pacalo]

21. My feelings as well.

I'm glad to see Tammy Duckworth on the panel to counter the chickenhawks on the other side.

[billhicks76]

32. Our Party Is a Run By

Champagne sipping sell outs who just want to be part of the club at our expense. They are exactly that....wimps. No one respects cowardly, spineless team players. Cummings is good but as we all know republicans are too racist to listen to a Black man.

[GeorgeGist]

10. According to my sources ...

Hillary is calling the play.

[KoKo]

36. That could be. Because with the possibility of her running in 2016 ...

Democrats, politically, have to be very careful how this goes so that she isn't caught up in a mess with Benghazi fueled by Republican antics and her team would want to make sure that doesn't happen.

Grayson probably would have been "too much" that can't be controlled.

[leftynyc]

41. How do we know

how credible your sources are? They could be you and 3 of your friends who are into Alex Jones.

[babylonsister]

11. Did you ever think he might piss people off?

And his personal life might be called into question; distraction to distract? Could easily happen.

[Unknown Beatle]

12. If he pissed people off with the truth,

then so be it.

[babylonsister]

13. Nah. He's had some great

moments, but I'm not crazy about him. Call me crazy!

[think]

37. Yes, we know there is a double standard

Republicans can spew lies to high heaven but Lord forbid a Dem take a stand and back it with facts.

His personal life? Really? Wow......

[babylonsister]

40. Wow?

We're dealing with rethugs, who are capable of anything. That wouldn't surprise me.

I'll trust Pelosi on this; seems she picked some knowledgeable people to beat back the lies and represent.

[bvar22]

14. Steny "The Weasel" Hoyer...

...carrying water for Big Business and protecting Republicans his whole career.
Thanks, Steny!



Steny was one of the ones Wellstone was talking about when he said this:
[font color=firebrick][center]"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans.
I want a party that will STAND UP for Working Americans."
---Paul Wellstone [/font][/center] [center] [/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]

[butterfly77]

19. And Nancy Pelosi..

[leftyohiolib]

22. fuckin pelosi the paper tiger

[billhicks76]

33. Wellstoned is a term for assassination now

Hoyer is a Trojan Horse type of guy. There to placate, defuse and neuter. He serves the War Machine and Middle East domination. Who voted for this puppet? He has been around way too long. I don't even consider him a democrat.

[nikto]

15. The GOP is RW Conservative, and The Dems are AFRAID of progressivism

That's the damn TRUTH.

This country is doomed by it's fear of Progressivism and reform.


America is Governed by a majority of Cowards.


Will America die of cowardice?

Sure looks like it.

[onecaliberal]

16. So long as we keep voting

For the people we have now, we're going to get what we've always gotten. I am damn sure sick of these supposed adult acting like children.

[savannah43]

24. They act like a pack of well trained toothless dogs.

Grayson is a big cat.

[SansACause]

17. Democrats != Progressives

A reminder that Progressives have to vote Democratic because we have no other choice. But corporate Democrats are only slightly less worse than Republicans.

[leftyohiolib]

23. yes this is our bitter pill to swallow - i believe that removed of their republican restraints the

dems would be willing to be more "demy" but they need to keep their seats. give them the chance to prove it by getting everyone out to vote

[UTUSN]

18. k

[moondust]

25. Adam Schiff was on Rachel's show.

Last edited Wed May 21, 2014, 11:27 PM - Edit history (1)

He said that yes, it's kind of weird that he's on it after scoffing at it, but he's basically doing his duty in the interest of unity.

[Half-Century Man]

26. Cummings and Duckworth are likely to stand firm.

Hopefully Schiff will be pissed and take it out on the rethugs.
Ms. Sanchez seems to be a fire eating democrat. I expect good things.

Mr.Smith looks like the weak link. A 3d way demo, votes like a chickenhawk. Perhaps being surrounded by democrats with cast iron ovaries and balls will lend strength to our mild one.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

27. Hoyer and Pelosi have been around awhile

and are the ultimate game players. I'm disappointed, but not surprised at this outcome. At least 75,000 petitioners acted on their knowledge of what's at stake here and recognize that Alan Grayson is a true representative of people's needs. I do think Tammy Duckworth and Adam Schiff will do OK. Hopefully, lots of VOTERS will be tuned into the hearings and be able to watch them implode on the Rethugs.

[babylonsister]

30. You must have forgotten this

man is also involved: Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Ranking Member, Committee on Oversight & Government Reform

I think they decided we need to be there to fight back the lies. This will work.

[Blue Owl]

28. Let's give the cheaters all the advantage we can...

Fucking pathetic, toothless bullshit.

[BuelahWitch]

29. Grayson isn't one of "The Club"

No Democrat with a spine ever seems to belong to "The Club." Problem is The Club runs everything...

[billhicks76]

34. Exactly

They never criticize their own. It's a game to enrich themselves at our expense. Grayson doesn't need their help.