An anonymous Democratic member of Congress is behind a tell-all book meant to give the public a “devastating inside look at the dark side of Congress,” according to Minnesota-based publisher Mill City Press.
“The Confessions of Congressman X” is an 84-page proclamation of what actually takes place inside the U.S. Capitol, lawmakers’ offices and on the campaign trail.
The congressman complains about his colleagues’ addiction to special interest money, and obsession with re-election over their constituents’ concerns.
“Most of my colleagues are dishonest career politicians who revel in the power and special-interest money that’s lavished upon them,” the lawmaker said. “My main job is to keep my job, to get re-elected. It takes precedence over everything.”
The complaint also bashes constituents for caring more about pop culture and Facebook updates than the country’s democratic principles.
“Voters are incredibly ignorant and know little about our form of government and how it works,” the Democrat said. “Voters claim they want substance and detailed position papers, but what they really crave are cutesy cat videos, celebrity gossip, top 10 lists, reality TV shows, tabloid tripe, and the next f***ing Twitter message.”
“I worry about our country’s future when critical issues take a backseat to the inane utterings of illiterate athletes and celebrity twits.”
The lawmaker admits frustration because lawmakers live on the taxpayers’ dime and don’t do much to cut costs, but complain about deficits and debt it when it’s convenient to add as a talking point.
“Fundraising is so time consuming I seldom read any bills I vote on. Like many of my colleagues, I don’t know how the legislation will be implemented, or what it’ll cost,” the lawmaker said. “We spend money we don’t have and blithely mortgage the future with a wink and a nod. Screw the next generation. It’s about getting credit now, lookin’ good for the upcoming election.”
The lawmaker even describes how members make a joke out of the House’s voting process, voting with the party at all times, but sometimes in such an odd fashion that they have wiggle room to defend their decisions later.
“My staff gives me a last-minute briefing before I go to the floor and tells me whether to vote yea or nay. How bad is that?” the lawmaker said. “I sometimes vote ‘yes’ on a motion and ‘no’ on an amendment so I can claim I’m on either side of an issue.”
“Things are so partisan today most folks vote the straight party line, even though they don’t know s*** about who they’re voting for. They just don’t want the other guys to win,” the lawmaker said.
No one is exempt from the unnamed Democrat’s exposition of life inside the beltway, including constituents, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, President Bill Clinton or presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
“Some contributions are subtle,” the lawmaker said, referring to the Clinton Foundation. “Donations to a member’s nonprofit foundation. Funding a member’s charitable pet project. Offsetting the costs of a member’s portrait to adorn the committee room he or she has so faithfully served.”
“It’s all a bunch of bulls*** to get around gift bans and limits on campaign contributions. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Set to be released Tuesday, May 24, Washington insiders are already up in arms over which of the 188 current Democratic members of Congress could be behind such a betrayal.
But one man knows whose life experiences inspired the book. Robert Atkinson, a former Hill staffer for two House Democrats, wrote the book as a result of private talks he had with the lawmaker.
Atkinson is not divulging the identity of his informant.
