With many in Washington still in shock over the death of Tim Russert last week, members of Congress took to the floor of the House to celebrate Russert's life by passing a resolution honoring him.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) spoke eloquently on the floor of the House yesterday about Russert.

Here's what he said:

ISSA: We are going to miss Tim Russert when it comes to the people on both sides of the issue of why we have $5 oil — $5 gasoline and $135 oil.

 

I think Tim Russert would have been just the right guy to hold people accountable, who would talk about the 68 million acres that are, quote, inactive, while in fact 41 million are under current lease and use and are producing millions of barrels of oil and natural gas a day. […]

 

So, Madam Speaker, I am going to miss Tim Russert because this debate is too important not to have a fact-oriented, unbiased moderator who could in fact bring to bear the truth that we need to have.

Wait, did he just politicize a memorial about Tim Russert by turning it into a screed about the importance of offshore drilling? Yup, he sure did.

Rep. Issa has received over $75,000 from the oil and gas industry during his time in Washington, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, including over $13,000 in 2008 alone. Oil and gas barrons would benefit big if the ban on offshore drilling is rescinded.

Instead of choosing to honor Russert yesterday, Rep. Issa chose to honor big oil.

Stay classy, Rep. Issa.