Remember last week?

Democrats were threatening to issue subpoenas of White House officials. But the White House had that killer response: Beware The Sinister Spectacle.

Press Secretary Tony Snow offered these variations on the talking point:

• "Do you want to get at the truth, or do you want to create a political spectacle?"

• "Is this pressure on transcripts and everything, is this really something where somebody thinks that there's going to be a fact that they're not going to receive? The answer is, no. The question is whether you are trying to create a political spectacle, rather than simply the basis of getting at the truth."

• "If they don't accept [our]offer, it lifts the veil on some of the motivations, which means that people are less interested in the truth than creating a political spectacle."

• "I think you've always got a temptation [of] somebody sort of waving a piece of paper"
  

It wasn't a terribly strong argument from the get-go.

But after yesterday's testimony from Kyle Sampson, the White House line is even more ridiculous.

The hearing was not a spectacle, nor a theater or a circus.

It was a hearing. Senators asked questions. The witness testified. He was under oath.

We could watch. We learned some things. We have more questions. We're a little closer to the truth.

Some call it democracy.

As it stands, the relevant House and Senate committees have authorized subpoenas of White House officials, but have not yet issued them.

Presumably, the authorization is intended as a bargaining chip to pressure the White House to agree to voluntary public testimony.

Now, coming off of a well-managed hearing, is the time to step up the pressure and force the issue.

And, to reiterate an earlier post, if that means going to court, so be it.