Modern Vespa

so, i'm watching the smart people that run our country via the congressional hearings today.

everytime i see people testify to congress, congress people ask stupid questions, and the people testifying always are all demure/meek and say "yes sir, yes mam, etc." very polite.

what would happen to you if you were testifying, they asked you a dumb question, and you said, "sorry congressman xxx, you're obviously an idiot and don't understand what i'm talking about."

do you get "contempt of congress" or something? does something bad happen to you if you call them on their grandstanding?

Chad-

It's been many years since I studied legislative law in grad school, but IIRC, a house of congress can only issue a contempt citation for refusing to testify or obstructing a congressional inquiry.

It is not the same as contempt of court, where a judge can discipline virtually any disrespectful behavior.

There are numerous instances of witnesses making light of a congressional committee, for example the hearings into organized crime in the 50's and 60's, that were incorporated into one of the "Godfather" movies.

And, of course, there was the famous comment of attorney Joseph Welch to Senator "Tailgunner Joe" McCarthy during McCarthy's witch hunt for communist sympathizers in the Army. McCarthy accused Welch, the Army's defense lawyer, of hiring a communist sympathizer at his firm. When McCarthy failed to offer proof, Welch rejected the accusations, making the damning statement, broadcast on newly popular TV, "You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?" A flustered McCarthy tried to continue his tirade, and Welch simply cut him off and told him to call his next witness. Welch's words were met by wild applause from the chamber's gallery. This effectively ended McCarthy's career.

No, it is not contemptuous to call a dumb congressional question dumb. It's just that most people testifying are more civilized and sophisticated than the congress critters asking the questions.

Al

al, thanks for the info.

these people testifying are more than polite, better people than i could be. there's no way i could sit there and be insulted for hours with a smile on my face.

wasn't aware of the mccarthy thing, i'll have to look it up

Chad,

Exactly as Aviator said above. The questions during these sessions are either about a) Grandstanding as you say or b) making a case.

The later, which is much more common, is similar to a lawyer asking questions of a witness or expert. The lawyer knows the answer but is trying to direct testimony in such a way as to prove a broader point or to close off discussion along lines that they would deem unfavorable to their position.

In these cases the politicians are essentially trolling for corroborative evidence that they will use against their opponents in a future legislative session.

But then you probably knew this from your city council days.

It is in the self-interest of those testifying to behave in a civil manner as to do otherwise would be to discredit them as an authority.

Tom

wouldn't it drive you crazy though?

btw, i saw you on tv the other night looking all serious

But, and correct me if I am wrong, Tom (I assume you are trained in the law), but I do seem to remember one of my law profs commenting that if a trial attorney conducted himself in the same manner as a posturing congress critter, the attorney would probably be held in contempt of court! There are limits to courtroom behavior. Not so in congressional hearings.

Al

Al,

Honestly I don't know. I have no formal training in the law -- my training is in economics. In one of my jobs I am a city alderman.

That said, I wasn't referring to what the law says but rather the intent of the process.

In my experience legislators must appear to "draw blood" on these issues because that is what the public demands. Even so I believe that the broader intent is generally to direct a line of questioning.

Tom

I think you would get a standing ovation from the general public.

Chad,

Yeah, actually I have testified before the WI State Legislature before (As an economist). Sheila Harsdorf (Senator from the Hudson area) tried to get me worked up. (It was a hearing on collective bargaining.) I like to think I stayed cool.

As for TV we were doing budgets last week -- serious stuff.

Tom

I have had the dubious honor of testifying on several issues in the New Mexico State Senate and generally treat it as a game.

Yes, most questions are pretty bad and when I have the time and wit about me to formulate an appropriate answer, I do the best I can to point out the 'offenders' lack of intelligence in subtle ways (for those who I don't like of course )

It keeps me entertained anyway!

Desi B.