HOME | POLITICS | SPORTS | LIFE | SCI/TECH | OPEDS | HELPFUL TIPS
|
Apr. 18, 2005 In recent weeks, and in fact going back several months, Democrats in Congress have been barking at House Majority Whip, Tom DeLay, (R-Texas) and calling for his ouster from his leadership position in the Republican caucus. Almost no one is taking these Democrats very seriously since the so-called "ethics violations" they are claiming he's guilty of aren't even really ethics violations...by Congress' own definition. What's behind this campaign, then. Congressman DeLay first put himself in the sights of the Democrats by succeeding in pushing forward the redistricting of Congressional districts in Texas on the occasion of the first GOP State House majority in the last century. Tired of the so-called "safe" districts gerrymandered for decades by Democrat majorities, he sought to have Texas House members push for redistricting...successfully, as it turned out. The Democrats, you may recall, were so incensed by this effort that a bunch of them went AWOL and hid themselves in neighboring States--twice--rather than lose the vote on the issue. All of that was to no avail. Add to that, the antics of a highly partisan District Attorney in Austin, Texas, who has sought indictments of Congressman DeLay on trumped-up nepotism and other ethics charges, and you have the makings of theater of the absurd. Congressman DeLay has not been indicted for ANYTHING by this screwball in Texas, yet DC Democrats have been calling for his removal from his leadership position on the basis of vague accusations alone. That he's being attacked in this fashion should be proof enough that he's highly effective at his job and that worries Congressional Democrats no end. He's been accused of "bullying," as though that's not the real job of a party whip. Let's hope that Congressional Republicans have the cajones to tell their Democrat counterparts where they can put their complaints about DeLay. Democrats have been all over the major media accusing DeLay of nepotism on the basis that he'd hired his wife and daughter to work on his campaign staff and for his PAC. Never mind that it's both ethical and legal according to House rules to do so provided the relatives actually DO work and that no public money is used to pay them. The two women earned a total of $500K over 5 years. That's $50K each per year--not exactly a fortune--and both women DID work at the campaign and PAC during that period. Also, nevermind that half the members of Congress--Democrats included--practice the exact same thing. If it were unethical or illegal, does ANYONE believe that the practice would be that widespread? The Democrats are currently boycotting ethics committee meetings, they SAY, in protest of changes in ethics rules, but, in reality, because they know that won't be able to "get" Tom DeLay by allowing the committee to meet. With the exception of Congressman Shays, the Republicans have stood behind Congressman DeLay consistently. What we need now is a strong, unequivocal statement of support from others in the House and Senate leadership and from President Bush. Anything less will give the Democrats the excuse they need to continue to press for the ouster of a very effective Congressional leader. ------------ About the author: David A. Jared is a news junkie, semi-retired and an avid golfer who's been writing his first book, "4000 years of chopsticks" for the last 20 years. Email: Pappadave@sbcglobal.net ------------- All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
||||||
|
|
|||||||
|
