You've already read on this blog how Rehberg and his staff proved themselves liars when Jed Link, a clown and a liar for Rehberg, said he "doesn't believe" a different kind of alcohol policy would have prevented the accident that seriously injured two members of Rehberg's own staff.
"The staff members "were not working."
Rehberg's hack "doesn't believe it" because it is a blatant lie.
Some friends of mine from DC were in town this weekend visiting, and over dinner we were talking about local politics. Both friends had worked for members of Congress in years past--one for more than 10 years. They found the recent story about Rehberg, the accident and the alcohol issues "absolutely mind-blowingly ludacris."
They filled me in on what it means to work for a member of Congress and why Rehberg's actions then and now are indefensible.
The part of the latest Rehberg story infuriated them the most was the claim that the staff "weren't on the clock." They told me that when they were staffing their "member," they were always on the clock - and not just because they are salaried. It was their job to stick to her or him like glue, no matter the time, place or situation. That's they whole reason they were hired.
They said it doesn't matter whether or not it was a "working dinner." When a staffer is with the "member" - s/he is working. Reporters are welcome to ask this of any congressional staffer anywhere. Apparently, this is how it is in every state. Period. End of story.
Second, Rehberg has a responsibility for his staff, he shouldn't put them in dangerous situations where they really can't walk away. He obviously doesn't want to admit his staffers were obviously staffing him, because according to the Department of Labor: "Employers also have a general duty under the Occupational Safety and Health Act to provide their employees with work and a workplace free from recognized, serious hazards."
What kind of choice were those two staffers offered? Get in the boat being driven by a drunk, or abandon the Congressman, embarrassing him in front of Barkus, and then figure out how to get back to Bigfork on foot? Risk their jobs?
Rehberg put his staff in serious danger and he has never taken responsibility for it. Apparently, in no other state would Rehberg have been allowed to get away with this. But here in Montana, when you combine Rehberg's absurd sense of big-fish-in-a-small-pond entitlement, with a compliant editorial corps that wants its reporters to function as stenographers rather than journalists, you get a big ol' liar and the merry band of liars with whom he's chosen to surround himself.
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