When Pete Seeger fought Congress

Following the death of folk singer and Occupy Wall Street participant Pete Seeger, we'd like to look back on how Seeger fought back against an out-of-control Congress.

Congress of today is awash in partisan obstructionism and the culture of corruption. But in 1955, it wasn't that much better. That year, Seeger was called to testify before the hated House Un-American Activities Committee - but he refused to name names. As a result, he was indicted in 1957 for contempt of Congress.

Contempt of Congress. Think of how silly that is. Congress holds America in contempt, yet they're afraid of being contempted themselves. Wikipedia defines contempt of Congress as "the act of obstructing the work of the United States Congress or one of its committees." Then shouldn't Republicans in the current Congress be charged?

Moreover, according to Wikipedia, the President can't pardon anyone charged with contempt of Congress, since it's not considered an "offense against the United States." Of course it isn't, since Congress itself has so many members engaged in a Tea Party war against America.

After Seeger's indictment, the government prohibited him from even leaving southern New York. He went on to be convicted in 1961 and sentenced to 10 years. But the following year, a court overturned his conviction because the indictment was hopelessly flawed.

Pete Seeger stood up to Congress. Today, more people remember Pete Seeger than most of those in Congress who persecuted him. I have nothing but contempt for Tea Party members of Congress, and I too will fight them.