Illinois Democrat Phil Hare Doesn't Care About the Constitution? (UPDATED)

By Karl Klockars in News on Apr 2, 2010 6:20PM

If you've ever wanted to watch a media-ignorant politician grab a shovel and dig his own grave, meet the Democratic Representative from Illinois' 17th Congressional District, Phil Hare. He's the right wing blogosphere's Favorite Congressman Ever (Today) now that he's been caught on tape saying that he "doesn't really worry about the Constitution" when it comes to health care reform. Guerrilla pajamahadeen Sharp Elbows brings us this:

We can't believe we have to say it in this day and age, but take an ear, politicians - we're about to drop some science on your ass. When someone is shoving a camera in your face and pressing you about issues, they are drooling in anticipation that you're going to say something stupid. See, there's this thing called YouTube where people can take things that otherwise wouldn't make it past the walls of the community rec room you appear to be in, and put it in front of the whole world. When the guy behind the camera said "Jackpot, brother!" at :52 seconds in? Yeah, that's him acknowledging that he understands you're going to be all over the internets as soon as he uploads it.

This is exactly why media consultants get paid ridiculous amounts of money. Because they exist to tell politicians and CEOs to not say things like that they don't care about the Constitution. In addition to that, if you're in Congress and think you can cover by throwing out a handy "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness" and assume that people won't know that that's from the Declaration of Independence and not the Constitution, well...you did know that, right Mr. Hare?

Say something like "the constitution is a living document" or something about the Commerce Clause, or "I believe that the constitutional questions will be settled by the court and I believe this legislation will stand up to the suits brought by the Attorneys General." Something less stupid than "it doesn't matter to me."

Hare's opponent, pizzeria owner Bobby Schilling, has just recieved the political equivalent of a slow pitch down the middle of the plate. He's already responded to the comments in the local press, but if ideas for campaign advertising aren't already formulating in his brain, then maybe he needs the help of Chicagoist Strategies Incorporated.

UPDATE: Hare has responded with a rebuttal/apology YouTube clip of his own.