Conyers Caves To GOP On Whistleblowers Website

[EV_Ares]

Conyers admits Justice Dept. whistleblower website was 'premature' after GOP complaints.

Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) altered the content of a website launched Wednesday to securely elicit reports of politicization of prosecutions from Justice Department staff. The move came in response to complaints issued by his Republican counterparts on the House Judiciary Committee that the whistleblowers website was set up in violation of Congressional rules.

"In an ongoing effort to create a sideshow and a distraction from these serious matters, some have raised allegations about a webpage that was designed to give Department whistleblowers a mechanism to securely communicate with the Committee," Conyers, the Judiciary Committee's Chairman, said in a statement late on Thursday. "The webpage was launched prematurely, but the content of it represented a good faith interpretation of House rules. Within three hours of learning about a different interpretation of the Rules and to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, the website was edited - removing one word - and is now, under any interpretation, in full compliance with the rules."

Rep. Conyers ordered the replacement from the website of a statement that "Communications will be received and reviewed by a select group of members of the majority staff of the Judiciary Committee." Now, the webpage states that the committee staff generally will receive the information, implying that both Democratic and Republican staff will be privy to the whistleblowers' complaints.

"We are glad the majority responded to Congressman Smith's concerns, and the congressman feels they are good first steps," Beth McGinn, a spokeswoman for Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), the Ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, told RAW STORY Friday morning. She did not say what additional steps the Republicans on the committee were hoping for.

Rep. Smith had been unaware of the website's existence before his office was contacted Thursday morning by RAW STORY.

During the day's hearing with Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty, the Texas Republican warned that a nonpartisan House parliamentarian had concerns about the website as it was established.

"The Minority was not notified about this website, which is paid for with taxpayer funds. We have talked to the House parliamentarians and they are 'very troubled,' as well," he said in the hearing. "Let me say I hope that this website was not set up with Members' knowledge and I trust that it will be taken down immediately."

(((entire story @ link below)))

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Conyers_admits_Justice_Dept._whistleblower_website_0622.html

[soothsayer]

1. "We need time to put a sniffer on the lines, re-route the submissions to the secret gov

for censorship, etc."

[Matariki]

2. Conyers didn't 'cave' to the GOP

He changed the wording in one paragraph on the site. Maybe you should change your subject line? It seems inflammatory towards Conyers.

[EFerrari]

6. Mr. Conyers doesn't cave, period. n/t

[EV_Ares]

11. He caves, has done it before,.

Conyers Caves: Impeachment is "off the Table"!
Submitted by Frank Ranelli on November 16, 2006 - 7:36pm. Impeachment - Congress John Conyers
This is from John Conyers's website blog, dated November 15, 2006:

We need to put aside any thought of anger or payback. Instead we need to focus on identifying and correcting abuses and pass legislation which serves the interests of the American people.



That is not a promising start. I thought Conyer's would have a little more moxy and independence than this. It appears that Nancy has already whipped the troops in line and impeachment is a "non-starter."

Conyer's says he has "nothing but respect for those who might disagree" but how do we change "where he comes out" and help him to understand that impeachment is not revenge; its a remedy?



From: http://www.democrats.com/node/11050

[EFerrari]

12. That's just silly. That was Nancy's talking point. n/t

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

3. Great Publicity for the site...

... an extra day of media exposure. :smoke:

[sandnsea]

4. Changing a word constitutes "caving"???

the whole place has gone cuckoo today.

[dsc]

5. I like to use the Clinton rule, which works both ways,

we would have screamed, justifiably, if the GOP Congress did this under Clinton. Conyers had no right to say that the info would only go to Democrats.

[baldguy]

9. Sure he did.

You don't get a fox to guard the hen house.

[ShortnFiery]

7. Representative Conyers is intellect, fairness and grace personified.

He fights for his constituents and I wish he had a rougher edge. But nobody can doubt that he is a true *gem* within our democratic party. ;)

[IChing]

8. Please edit your subject line "caves" is inaccurate.

you still have time

[EV_Ares]

10. Thats a matter of opinion. I agree with this site and others that see

it as caving. I respect your opinion, but your opinion is not the sole authority. Thanks for the input however.

http://www.rawstory.com/

[EFerrari]

14. You don't know Mr. Conyers, do you?

I'm curious as to why you'd post such a misleading subject line.

John Conyers is a fighter, one of the very best.

[EV_Ares]

15. Misleading is your opinion.

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.

What are you going to do, go to all the other blogs or wherever there is an opinion he caved.

You have a right to your opinion & I respect that, however, you don't dictate what my opinion or others is & how they read something.

I certainly don't disagree about the congressman in general. He is a very nice person and is trying to do the right thing for all of us.

Thanks for your comments however.

[EFerrari]

16. Exactly. We are entitled to our own subject lines but not to our own facts.

Good luck tarring John Conyers.

[EV_Ares]

17. Nobody is tarring him, he did that himself or that is your opinion.. Get out of your thin skin

I really don't give a dam if you don't agree with me or others that have seen it differently than you.

[EFerrari]

18. Please say more about Mr. Conyers.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[EFerrari]

20. People like me apologize for your discomfort.

lol

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[EFerrari]

22. No reply needed, indeed. n/t

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[EFerrari]

25. Enjoy your stay at DU.

:)

[EV_Ares]

26. Thank you and I plan to. You do the same.

[mmonk]

13. Whistleblowers.

I know one being ignored right now. Her promised chance to talk denied. Denied by silence and no explanation. Who calls the shots?

[Orsino]

24. Nice try. n/t

[WilliamPitt]

27. Conyers is a DINO enabler.

Or not.

:eyes:

[EFerrari]

28. Maybe this is some completely OTHER John Conyers.

[EV_Ares]

29. Other John Conyers

And who might that be?