May 25, 2011
It’s not exactly the type of Facebook engagement Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) may have possibly been hoping for. The Huffington Post reports that hundreds of Elizabeth Warren fans besieged McHenry’s Facebook page after he accused her of lying during a House hearing Tuesday on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which she is helping to set up. Many are urging McHenry to apologize to Warren.
“I ‘like’ the fact that thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of Americans are appalled by your behavior,” wrote Jill Budzynski, according to the Huffington Post. “You are an insult to the title of chairman of any committee. It is out of order to abuse a loyal public servant who is trying her best to accommodate your flip-flopping of schedules. How reprehensible to accuse her of lying. Apologize now.”
The incident began when McHenry wanted Warren to stay to answer additional questions from members of Congress. Warren replied she had originally consented to testify for an hour and had to leave for a previously scheduled meeting.
“Congressman, we had an agreement,” Warren said, according to the Los Angeles Times.
McHenry retorted, “We had no agreement. You’re making this up.”
CNNMoney reports Democrats later apologized to Warren for McHenry’s “rude” behavior.
“Warren is an extremely popular figure among people who think Wall Street and the big banks need to be reined in, and they’re expressing their displeasure on Facebook — even if it galls them to have to become a ‘fan’ of McHenry to do so,” reports the Huffington Post.
“I also clicked ‘like’ under duress. However, I am filled with hope for America after reading all these comments,” wrote Margarita T. Gonzalez-Newcomer. “One thing that is amazing to me is how politicians forget the innate FAIRNESS of the American people. Even when the parties try to [divide] us and pit us against each other, the American people snap out of that fog to stand up for fair play. Thanks to all who have commented on behalf of Ms. Warren.”
Also coming to Warren’s defense Wednesday was Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.
“What happened yesterday was deeply unfair to her,” Geithner said in an interview with Politico’s Mike Allen.
He went on to call the House Republican’s inquiry tactics “political theater.”
Click here to read written testimony from Tuesday’s CFPB hearing.
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