Jim Geraghty of NRO’s Campaign Spot has some very good advice.

Dear Republicans on the House Oversight Committee:

Please do not grandstand. Please do not take the time before the television cameras to tell us how outraged you are, even though what you are investigating is, indeed, outrageous. There will be plenty of time for that after the hearing. All day Wednesday, give us the facts, and then more facts, and then more facts.

Just ask the questions of the witnesses. Let them speak and don’t cut them off. Do not give the Obama administration any cover to claim that this is a partisan witch hunt from unhinged political opponents. Don’t waste time complaining about the media’s lack of interest or coverage so far. Just give them — and us — the facts to tell the story, a story that will leave all of us demanding accountability.

I know that it’s the most tempting thing in the world to perform for an audience.  But it is a temptation that absolutely must be resisted.  What happened in Benghazi was grim, intolerable, and above all, serious.  So don’t be outraged.  Be angry.  Don’t be histrionic; be relentless.  Don’t complain; just sit there, and let the witnesses fill the uncomfortable silences on their own.  Simple questions; take notes; refer back; and never forget that people died last year because this administration… well.  Let the whistle-blowers themselves tell that story tomorrow about the administration.

And once the testimony is over?  Then, by all means, go nuts.  The topic deserves a bit of righteous indignation.

Moe Lane (crosspost)