Republican Representative Henry Hyde, Chair of the Judiciary Committee and lead prosecutor, in his opening statement on the impeachment proceedings of Democratic President Bill Clinton at the House of Representatives:
“Mr. Speaker, my colleagues of the people’s House, I wish to talk to you about the rule of law. After months of argument, hours of debate, there is no need for further complexity.
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The matter before the House is a question of lying under oath.
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The personal fate of the president is not the issue. The political fate of his party is not the issue.
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What we’re telling you today are not the ravings of some vindictive political crusade but a reaffirmation of a set of values that are tarnished and dim these days, but it is given to us to restore them so our Founding Fathers would be proud.”
And WWFS (What Would The Founders Say)? What we know from the one of the major documents of the Founders, the Federalist Papers, starting with Federalist #1:
“I am well aware that it would be disingenuous to resolve indiscriminately the opposition of any set of men (merely because their situations might subject them to suspicion) into interested or ambitious views. Candor will oblige us to admit that even such men may be actuated by upright intentions; and it cannot be doubted that much of the opposition which has made its appearance, or may hereafter make its appearance, will spring from sources, blameless at least, if not respectable - the honest errors of minds led astray by preconceived jealousies and fears. So numerous indeed and so powerful are the causes which serve to give a false bias to the judgment, that we, upon many occasions, see wise and good men on the wrong as well as on the right side of questions of the first magnitude to society. This circumstance, if duly attended to, would furnish a lesson of moderation to those who are ever so much persuaded of their being in the right in any controversy. And a further reason for caution, in this respect, might be drawn from the reflection that we are not always sure that those who advocate the truth are influenced by purer principles than their antagonists. Ambition, avarice, personal animosity, party opposition, and many other motives not more laudable than these, are apt to operate as well upon those who support as those who oppose the right side of a question. Were there not even these inducements to moderation, nothing could be more ill-judged than that intolerant spirit which has, at all times, characterized political parties. For in politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by prosecution persecution.”
[Editor Note: Sorry for the typo.]
In his opening impeachment speech, lead prosecutor Henry Hyde told us that his actions were above partisanship, that he was working in defense of the “people’s trust” and for “justice.” Perhaps he believed he was. But like any good con, Representative Hyde offered us a bit of truth and insight. His reference to the Founders told us, ‘go see what the Founders have to say about this.’ You don’t have to read far in the Federalist Papers to get an answer - and a solid critique of the actions, and legacy, of U.S. Representative Henry Hyde.
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