Reichert reacts

Congressman Dave Reichert has come to the defense of John McKay, a fellow Republican and former U.S. attorney ousted in the White House's recent highly-politicized firings of eight U.S. attorneys.

Reichert, who represents the moderate 8th District of Washington, is constantly pressured to show his independence from President Bush and did so on a few issues during his first term. Now, early in his second term, this is an occasion where sticking his neck out really counts. Reichert doesn't merely lament the firing of McKay. That would be easy enough for a congressman from the independent-minded district of east King and Pierce counties. But he went further by calling for McKay's reinstatement and lent the heft of a former sheriff in defending the program that may have gotten McKay in some hot water.

Reichert said he was particularly concerned about reports that McKay was tossed out at least partly because he championed the Law Enforcement Information Exchange (LInX) system, a Web-based system that allows law-enforcement officers to quickly gain information on people, weapons, vehicles and crimes.

The former King County sheriff knows the value of that system and wins points for going after the White House on this matter.

"John made it a true partnership with local law enforcement," Reichert said.

Reichert picked a good cause and a good time to push back on a White House that clearly blew it by firing McKay.