McDermott Pays $1 Million For Leaking Tape But Still Claims Victory

It is official, the check has finally been written and cashed.

Rep. Jim McDermott has paid more than $1 million to House Minority Leader John Boehner, ending a decadelong dispute over an illegally taped telephone call.

"Every last penny will be used to help elect Republicans," Smith said, calling it ironic that McDermott — an outspoken partisan — "is helping fund the defeat of his fellow Democrats. I wouldn't expect he'll receive a lot of thank yous come November."

Meanwhile, McDermott still does not get it...

"While the amount of damages assessed in this case is significant, I submit that defending the First Amendment is beyond measure and worth every penny," he said.

If it was truly "worth every penny" then why is he not out each and every day breaking laws in a constant effort to defend the First Amendment?

Why? Because he was not defending the First Amendment, he was proving that if you can come up with enough cash, ideally from other people, you are free to violate the law and do what you want.

Multiple calls to Rep. McDermott's office asking for an explanation of how he was defending the First Amendment have gone unanswered.

UPDATE:
Another call into the office and we have an explanation. It seems new case law was created and the court ruled that Rep. McDermott did nothing wrong. When asked why then was he paying over a million dollars, I was told that it was because the court said he should not have turned over the tapes. I was also told that I needed to read the ruling to understand that he did not "lose" the case.

What was the word he used to describe the ruling... "nuanced". I kid you not.