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Cross examination
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Posted on May 10 1999
Although President Clinton emerged from scandal without much of a hitch, Independent Counsel Ken Starr still did a very respectable job of exposing the sordid facts. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a special prosecutor investigating some of our most hardened detractors.
Independent counsel: Congressman Bob Finks, isn’t it true that you accused CNMI garment factories of “using abused and ill-treated indentured labor?”
Congressman Finks: Yes, sir, I sure did–and I am damned proud of it. I also made it a point to throw in the loaded term “sweatshop” on several occasions, just for good measure.
IC: I am glad you brought that word up, Congressman. Are you aware that our own OSHA inspectors have jurisdiction over the CNMI’s garment factories?
The Honorable Finks: Why, yes, of course, I am fully aware of that fact.
IC: Very well, then in your opinion, would it be possible for sweatshops to, as you suggest, flourish under direct OSHA inspections?
Congressman Rat W. Finks: Ah, well, I don’t quite know. I suppose, maybe . . . ah, if there were not enough OSHA inspectors and–
IC: Congressman Finks, are you aware, sir, that there are probably more CNMI OSHA inspectors and/or inspections, per capita, than in virtually any other US jurisdiction under the American flag?
Finks: Ah, yeah, I suppose that’s true . . . Um, I heard that the US Department of Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, even went so far as to directly subsidize OSHA inspections in the CNMI.
IC: So would you then say, sir, that it is quite possible–indeed, likely–for CNMI sweatshops to flourish under direct OSHA, US Department of Labor, FBI, and US Department of Justice oversight?
The Honorable Rat Finks: Uh, I am sorry, I am afraid I still have to stand by my CNMI sweatshop garment position.
IC: Sir, are you aware that the government of the Republic of the Philippines, along with our own OSHA people, recently declared the CNMI to be sweatshop free?
Finks: Well, I honestly don’t know about that.
IC: Mr. Finks, are you suggesting, sir, that the Philippine government is lying–that it doesn’t care about its own people, if they should be, as you claim, slaving under CNMI sweatshop conditions?
To be continued . . .
