04 Nov 2011 President Obama: Subpoenas for Thee But Not for Me

From CNN.com:

The White House counsel refused Friday to comply with a subpoena issued by a House panel regarding the failed solar energy company Solyndra, claiming the initiative “was driven more by partisan politics than a legitimate effort to conduct a responsible investigation.”

It appears to be the position of the Obama Administration that Americans can lawfully refuse to comply with federal subpoenas if the recipient of the subpoena believes it to be politically motivated.

What might law enforcement look like if every Republican got an exemption from federal subpoenas while a Democrat is in office, and vice versa?

Just as there shouldn’t be a prohibition against investigating Republicans at the Eric Holder Justice Department (and there isn’t one), there shouldn’t be a prohibition on investigating Democrats among Republicans in Congress.

The White House should cough up the Solyndra documents, unredacted. National security is not involved here, and the American people are entitled to know how their tax dollars are being spent. Meanwhile, Congress should stop appropriating funds for federal departments to lend to private business. The executive branch can’t waste funds it isn’t given to spend.