I don’t usually write on Sunday’s, but this is just too important to wait until tomorrow. In an apparent attempt to keep the partisan bashing of New Mexico’s Republican Congressional Representatives alive, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) earlier today released the official transcripts of the now infamous call between former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias and U.S. Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM).
Under a little known section of the Patriot Act, the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence has been recording all conversations between its members and other branches of U.S. Government. When the Senate was under Republican control, this information was only used to keep the caucus voting as a block. However, now that the tide has turned, and the Democrats control the Senate, the Democratic Senatorial Congressional Committee (DSCC) is on record as saying they will shamelessly use the information as often as necessary to win additional seats in the Senate for Democrats.
In what will most likely go down in the history books as the beginning of a new dawn in American politics, Senator Schumer, at the urging of former New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid, has released the transcript below from that fateful day in October:
5:04 p.m. October 27, 2006
U.S. Senator Pete Domenici: Hello, this is Pete. I want to –
U.S. Attorney David Iglesias: Just a second, Pete. Honey, can you turn up the volume.
Heard in the background: “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!”
U.S. Attorney David Iglesias: Ah, I love that scene. Pete, did I ever tell you the movie a Few Good Men was based on my life?
U.S. Senator Pete Domenici: Yes, David. Now listen, I have something important to ask you?
U.S. Attorney David Iglesias: Pete, hold on a second. Sweetheart, where’s the suntan lotion? Oh, thanks. Pete, have you ever been to Bali Bali?
U.S. Senator Pete Domenici: No, David, I haven’t. The reason I’m calling –
U.S. Attorney David Iglesias: Me neither. I can’t thank you enough for getting me this job. The foreign travel perks have been FANTASTIC. I’ve seen more of the world in this job than in my whole time in the service. In fact, if it wasn’t for the all this legal stuff they keep asking me to do, I’d say this was the best darn job in the whole world.
U.S. Senator Pete Domenici: David, that’s why I’m calling. You see, people are calling me, and complaining about –
U.S. Attorney David Iglesias: Oh, Pete, don’t worry about that. You’re so old school. People call me all the time. I just have them put straight into voicemail. After all, a guy can only listen to so much whining about voter fraud. This is New Mexico, of course we have voter fraud. Pete, you got to learn to just ignore folks.
U.S. Senator Pete Domenici: David, are you going to file indictments before your next trip abroad in November?
U.S. Attorney David Iglesias: No.
U.S. Senator Pete Domenici: I’m sorry to hear that.
Sound of line going dead.
U.S. Attorney David Iglesias: Pete, Pete, are you still there? Huh? Honey, where is that travel itinerary? Oh, and bring me my antacids. You know how I always feel sick to my stomach before traveling.
5:07 p.m. October 27, 2006
New Mexico Democratic Party Chairman, John Wertheim, held a press conference today in front of the Bernalillo County Courthouse, in which he stated:
I’m glad the good Senator from New York, Senator Schumer, released this transcript today. People were beginning to lose focus. Too much emphasis was being placed on the indictments against my good friend and a New Mexico treasure, former State Senator and fired Highlands University President, Manny Aragon. So, what if former Senator Aragon took a little bit of money for himself. He worked tirelessly handing out New Mexico taxpayers’ money to his friends for years. Is it really a crime that he should finally keep a bit for himself? Do you realize that our state legislators don’t get paid?
No, what’s really important is the total disregard Senator Pete Domenici showed when he violated U.S. Attorney David Iglesias in his own home and emasculated him in the presence of his wife.
The transcripts clearly show that the Senator doesn’t understand that the work day ends at 5:00 p.m. Maybe back in the old days people put in long hours, but this is the 21st century, and we have rights. The U.S. Attorney is not a greeter at Walmart. He doesn’t even get overtime. No, my friends, Senator Pete Domenici stepped over the line, and showed little regard for David Iglesias.
The transcripts clearly showed that the Senator did not even once ask David how long he would be gone? He didn’t even think to ask if he should send someone to check on David’s house while he was traveling. He didn’t even have the courtesy to say goodbye before ending the conversation.
Let us not lose sight of what it truly important. Another New Mexico kickback scandal is nothing compared to a Senator who answers the phone when his constituents call and then proceeds to take action. Senator Domenici set a very dangerous precedent here for all New Mexico politicians.
In fact, I have it on good authority, that in 35 years of service, Senator Pete has never even taken a kickback. No, this cannot go on. We must unite and take back this U.S. Senate seat. In the name of Manny Aragon, Michael Montoya and Robert Vigil, our future, the future of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, depends on it.
Stay tuned for more on this developing story.