Cut Issa Some Slack!

At first blush, it might seem inexplicable; why would the lead congressional figure behind the investigation into Fast and Furious not call for Eric Holder's resignation? If he's the lead guy, shouldn't he be on point? Think about it. Isn't he on point every time there's a House Oversight or Judiciary committee hearing in session? In many ways, it would be foolish for him to run to the front lines right now. The list of congressmen and senators is growing, albeit slowly, without Issa's involvement.

In fact, at last count, there were 51 congressmen and 2 senators calling for Holder to resign. Based on everything Issa has done so far, why should he be one of them? Where are the rest of the Republicans in Congress? They would be easing Issa's burden on the eve of a House Judiciary hearing on December 8th that promises to be one of the most compelling in recent history.

Via the Washington Times:

Rep. Darrell Issa, who has been investigating the Fast and Furious operation for nearly a year, declined on Friday to call for Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. to resign over the botched undercover probe that led to hundreds of weapons being “walked” to gun smugglers in Mexico. 

Mr. Issa, California Republican, said the operation is not about Mr. Holder or Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer, the head of the Justice Department’s criminal division, both of whom he has criticized strongly over their handling of the failed Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive’s (ATF) investigation.

Look, Issa is already being accused of leading a partisan witch hunt. On November 8th, Chuck Schumer tried to assert that Issa's committee only has interest in pursuing Fast and Furious (Obama) and no interest in Wide Receiver (Bush). It's a red herring and if Issa called for Holder's resignation now, the likes of Schumer would just put another coat of red paint on that herring. Issa continued:

“It is not about one person,” said Mr. Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, during a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor. 

“It is about a failure that seems to be pervasive within Justice that investigations play fast and loose with the expectations of what is right or wrong when it comes to what I am going to call collateral damage,” he said.

If you're inclined to slam Issa, read between the lines. First of all, this ISN'T about one person. It's about several agencies, bureaus, and departments, including the FBI, DEA, DHS, ATF, ICE, and State (yes, Hillary's State Department). Issa is already being alienated by a avery angry establishment power structure. Why would he stick his neck out further when there are still countless Republicans in both the House and the Senate who have yet to chime in?

Issa in the House and Grassley in the Senate, have done far more than anyone in Congress when it comes to getting to the bottom of Fast and Furious. It is an operation of unprecedented proportions. It's not only shaping up to be Watergate with murder but Watergate with murder.... on steroids. Think about this. This scandal is not just about Holder so why should Issa go 'all in' now? This scandal potentially implicates DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, FBI Director Robert Mueller, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and possibly the Oval Office (Obama).

Issa is already going to be in the congressional equivalent of a cage match next Thursday, December 8th when he has Round #2 with Holder (Issa won Round #1 on May 3rd). Instead of people getting angry with Issa, they should get angry with Congressmen and Senators who have yet to get on the bandwagon.