The Stink of the Citizenry: Congress Celebrates the Opening of the Visitors Center

The Capitol Visitor Center has finally opened as a symbol of congressional over-runs and poor management. Years late and many millions over budget, the Center is a towering example of the inability of Congress to balance its own checkbook. The only problem may be stinking citizens and rotting souls. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said that members will celebrate that they will no longer have to “smell the tourists” while Sen. Jim DeMint has denounced the building as being Godless.

The building ultimately cost $621 million rather than $71 million — and was completed three years late.
Reid noted that “In the summertime, because (of) the high humidity and how hot it gets here, you could literally smell the tourists coming into the Capitol. “And that may be descriptive but it’s true. Well, that is no longer going to be necessary.”

Realizing that this seemed more suited for the opening of the Roman Senate under Augustus, he added: “My staff has always said, ‘Don’t say this,’ but I’m going to say it again because it’s so descriptive because it’s true.” Methinks that Reid should listen to his staff.

The only thing missing was members with perfumed, lacey handkerchiefs over their mouths prodding citizens out of their way with riding crops . . . and of course Madame Thérèse Defarge stitching a new name into her knitting.

In the meantime, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) is suggesting that the stink is the rotting soul of Congress after denouncing the Center as Godless. He released a statement including the following critique of the false prophet of government:

“The current CVC displays are left-leaning and in some cases distort our true history. Exhibits portray the federal government as the fulfillment of human ambition and the answer to all of society’s problems. This is a clear departure from acknowledging that Americans’ rights ‘are endowed by their Creator’ and stem from ‘a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence.’ Instead, the CVC’s most prominent display proclaims faith not in God, but in government. Visitors will enter reading a large engraving that states, ‘We have built no temple but the Capitol. We consult no common oracle but the Constitution.’ This is an intentional misrepresentation of our nation’s real history, and an offensive refusal to honor America’s God-given blessings.

For the full story, click here .