Arianna Huffington and Henry Waxman

by Denis Campbell

In the mid-90s, Henry Waxman’s California 30th Congressional District was my home. Henry is the anti-LA glitz poster child. In a district that includes Beverly Hill, West Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Malibu, Henry’s the kind of guy who makes accountants look hip. Henry is decidedly not LA. But if you pierce the skin, you see a dedicated family man who bleeds Dodgers Blue and Lakers purple. Still, can’t you hear ‘image consultants’ all over Southern California whining – please Congressman just try the contact lenses? Can we bin that suit for an Armani, pleeeeaaaasseeeee!)

CA Governator Arnold called Barack Obama scrawny? Well then Henry is a refugee by comparison. Locals look at him and scream “Botox, extreme makeover.” Waxman just smiles, makes a joke at his own expense and serves them well, being re-elected two weeks ago to an 18th term by a margin of 100% - 0%. The Republican Party could not even find a candidate to take on the suicide mission of running against him.

As Charley wrote, Congressman Waxman just became head of the powerful Committee on Energy and Commerce replacing John Dingell. To be fair, Dingell never had a chance because the auto industry’s Washington stranglehold forced him to play all sides of the issue representing unions and… auto makers. Now after years of talking out of both sides of his mouth, the whole house of cards is crashing on top of the man who has been a mouthpiece and supporter of the now Jurassic era US auto industry. He and the lobbyists fought every major initiative to improve fuel efficiency because of the cost and they all fiddled as Rome burned.

I was always impressed with Congressman Waxman. He reminded me of an old boss at Price Waterhouse. He has the calm, serious exterior demeanour of a chartered accountant mixed in with an incredible well-tuned BS meter and the dogged tenacity of a pit bull. Waxman has risen from the crowd with his relentless questioning of witnesses on everything from contracts in Iraq to port security. No one wants to come under his stern gaze, incredulous question for which there is no plausible answer or face his dogged point by point interrogation because it is likely to end badly if you pulled one over on the people.

I’ve watched his performance as Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. He has held serious hearings demanding that the Bush Administration provide accounting for the billions of dollars they frittered away in no-bid contracts to Halliburton and others. His questions make the nightly news sound byte loop because he leaves zero wiggle room. 

He has systematically eviscerated Bush team members time and again. Not one to stand for bluff, bluster and non-answers, he comes to the room better prepared than anyone. If politicians feared the late Tim Russert and thought he was tough on Meet the Press, you ain’t seen nothing yet. 

And then watching the Senate side of the same committee, all we can ask is… where was Joe (as in Lieberman from the Connecticut for Lieberman Party)? If Lieberman is truly ready to rejoin the Democratic fold, he’d be wise to take a lesson or two from the thick rimmed bespectacled soft speaking man from my old home district. Joe has work to do to even win back his seat in CT. Not the case with quiet Henry who has served with quiet dignity and distinction the last 34 years.

Now he will be the House watchdog and lead dog on Energy and climate change. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger applauded his appointment as a sign the Bush era is over and automakers will be expected to comply with tough new standards to wean us off of the foreign oil teat. Climate change and carbon will be tackled under this Administration. Memo to New Mexico Senator Bingaman, pay close attention to whom Rep. Waxman calls into hearings. You’d be wise to follow his lead and watch a master at work. His four extra years were during Watergate’s aftermath.

So thank God for boring old Henry. Any man who can keep his feet firmly on the ground in two cities (Washington and Los Angeles) where too many people already think they can fly and are trying to be terribly important needs someone who is very important and cares only about his country and her people. You sir, are very important.