Fast and Furious

June 16, 2012
An Open Letter to the United States House of Representatives:

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I watched with dismay your attempt to demand the Attorney General’s resignation. Once again, politics triumphs over truth.

Clearly this was a witch hunt to discredit the Attorney General and the current administration. But the question is, have you served your constituencies and the American people? With the evidence disclosed thus far and nearly 150,000 Department of Justice documents being contemptuously withheld from you, are you absolutely certain the Attorney General did or did not have complicity in the Fast and Furious covert operation? Defending or convicting anyone before all the evidence has been presented is nothing less than contempt for the rule of law and leaves truth as the most serious casualty.

Sadly, witch hunts have become an effective political maneuver. I submit you have succumbed to this practice to the detriment of your individual honor, character, integrity, and the people's confidence in our democracy. How can the American people trust a body that subverts the truth for political advantage? Is this the legacy of public service you envisioned for yourselves when you took your oaths of office? Please thoughtfully consider the following points.

First, the individual at the helm of any endeavor, regardless of its size and scope, must accept responsibility and be held accountable for the actions of their subordinates. This is a resolute principle of effective leadership. The moral and ethical culture of any organization must be clearly articulated and enforced on a consistent and continuing basis. To do otherwise is an implicit endorsement of irresponsible behavior and encourages more of the same. Leaders who ignore or fail in this essential duty must be forced to relinquish command. However, when such a culture has been clearly established, leaders should be insulated from the fallout from incompetence and unauthorized activity on their watch. We must expect the highest standards from those who willingly and voluntarily seek increasing levels of responsibility.

Second, the strength and enduring value of any legitimate collaboration must be larger and stronger than the actions of any individual. If we believe the institutions we have created are all perilously at risk because of the bullies among us, then our great nation has been nothing more than an illusion, doomed from the outset. And here's the irony -- trust is earned when the search for truth is unimpeded by ulterior motive, and when leaders accept risk to themselves when doing the right thing. Those leaders who were unafraid of a public display of dirty laundry were emboldened by their respect for the American people to recognize and honor trustworthiness. In other words, if the Attorney General is forced to step aside even without due process, it does not signal the end of the Democratic party or the current administration. Instead, it reaffirms the nobility of our great nation. The people don't necessarily believe in you, they believe in our form of government and the principles upon which it was founded.

Third, every member of the House of Representatives is obligated to demand the immediate release of all evidence related to this very grave matter. To do otherwise borders on dereliction of duty and is deserving of the harshest allowable penalty. If you haven’t the ability to think for yourself, the courage to stand alone, or a good measure of self-respect , then know you are a big part of the problem and not part of the solution.

Ladies and gentlemen, I implore you to forsake the political tricks, games and maneuvers you have so skillfully devised and employed. Please set aside your affiliations and embrace your individuality. Give us a reason to believe this great nation is in good hands and that our best days are yet to come. And lastly, for the most crafty and cunning among you, if you condescendingly dismiss this letter as altruistic naïveté, then admit to yourselves you have given in to the corrupting effects of influence, power and prestige.

Respectfully,

Bill Monroe

Southlake, TX