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Gingrich the Second
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11 October 2004
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Congressman Delay Admonished for Ethical Shortcomings, Again
Tom Delay may be one of the most effective members of Congress. However, that comes at a price, it would seem. The House Ethics Committee has rebuked the Majority Leader not once, not twice, but three times. Mr. Delay has blamed the Democrats in the House, and the Democrats are demanding his resignation as Majority Leader. Both sides are being silly, but the Democrats are being unwise as well.
Mr. Delay’s career was on target for the Speaker’s chair when Congressman Hastert decides he’s had enough. However, it will be much harder now that the ethics committee has reported to Mr. Delay, "In view of the number of instances to date in which the committee has found it necessary to comment on conduct in which you have engaged, it is clearly necessary for you to temper your future actions to assure that you are in full compliance at all times with the applicable House rules and standards of conduct."
The 5 Republican committee members voted along with the 5 Democrats in criticizing Mr. Delay, which proves his protestations of partisan intrigue so much piffle. He wrongly used his influence with the FAA to track a private plane with Texas state legislators on it during the recent redistricting of Texas in which Democrats in the state legislature fled the state to avoid a quorum. He also was rapped on he knuckles for taking campaign donations from Westar Energy Inc. in exchange for “a seat at the table” when legislation affecting the company was drafted. A third count, involving Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee, is being held in abeyance while indictments in Texas are investigated. An earlier admonishment involved campaign contributions to certain legislators in exchange for the endorsement of Mr. Delay’s son in his own political campaign.
The Democrats in Congress have begun the usual whining to try to force Mr. Delay from office. Sometimes, one wonders how these people ever got elected if they don’t understand political actions any better than this. Mr. Delay has an image problem, at very best. He is the nearest thing the Democrats have to a target since Newt Gingrich walked out of the Speaker’s chair. If American democracy stands for nothing else, it stands for running against someone – ideally someone loathsome, ethically weak, or just plain stupid.
The problem, of course, is that outside the Beltway and Texas, no one knows who Mr. Delay is and no one cares right now. So to force his resignation now would be a pointless victory. If he really is as twisted as some Democrats believe, let him stay where he is and let his own penchant for the spotlight build him up before he gets taken down. As journalist Finley Peter Dunne had his character Martin Dooley say, "Polytics [sic] ain't bean bag.” Someone should tell the House Democrats.
© Copyright 2004 by
The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without
written consent.
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