Issa tweets triumph over W.H. gathering of ‘fishy’ e-mails

The ranking Republican of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee declared victory on Tuesday over the White House regarding its effort to gather anti-healthcare reform information on the web.

Yesterday, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) sent an e-mail to White House counsel Greg Craig raising questions about the Obama administration’s request to supporters to forward “fishy” claims about health reform proposals to a White House e-mail account called flag@whitehouse.gov.

Later in the day, the White House disabled the e-mail address.

Issa tweeted triumph today, replete with “fish” puns:

Some interesting Oversight coverage of the White House fishing expedition: http://bit.ly/dwvT9, http://bit.ly/1H8Sc, http://bit.ly/BUDsm

Did the White House catch any keepers or did the big one get away? http://bit.ly/14Oen9 #tcot

In his second tweet, the California Republican also took aim at another White House e-mail snafu.

Republican congressman and some media outlet questioned unsolicited e-mails sent out from the White House advocating for healthcare reform. White House new media director Macon Phillips said yesterday that a third party was responsible for the e-mails and apologized for the incident.

Issa’s original e-mail about the “flag” account expressed concern that the initiative could have a “chilling” effect on free speech.

“To help ease these concerns, please tell us what actions take place or have been discussed in regard to e-mails deemed ‘fishy’ and what safeguards the White House has put in place to insure [sic] no retributive steps are taken against those who express dissent,” Issa wrote.