Lowering the ethical bar
Congressional Republicans prove that the "family value" they hold dearest is raw power by amending their own rules specifically to allow Tom "The Hammer" DeLay to keep his leadership position should he be criminally indicted... which seems likely to happen any day now.
I guess that's what you can get away with when your candidate wins re-election with 30% of the eligible voters voting for him.
How much Kool-Aid do Conservatives have to drink in order to rationalize this blatent hypocrisy to themselves?
3 Comments:
So that's the percentage we use now. Funny how no one used the elegible voters percentage pre-Bush.
I am savoring the bad PR on this move by the House GOP a bit. From what I read the rule was adopted as a oneupmanship move when the GOP took over the House. I guess a Dem leader had been indicted. I bet it was Rostenkowski, the Ways and Means Chairman.
So anyway, those supporting the rule removal point out how easy it is to get an indictment via the state.
I guess if he's convicted though, it will be another matter.
The percentage is in direct relation to Cheney's claim that they have a "mandate". And I have consistently criticized any politician who tried to claim any sort of mandate without winning a majority of the eligible vote or at least a lop-sided blowout win of those who did vote. Bush achieved neither.
As for the GOP rule... I think you're right about Rostenkowski. But, I would disagree with GOPers who argue that state indictments are easy to get. There is a certain burden of proof that a Grand Jury typically requires before they'll hand down an indictment. Not as high as in court, of course. But, they don't just hand them out willy nilly. And I've testified before a Grand Jury once, myself. The Assistant DA I spoke to before testifying certainly didn't give any impression that he was expecting a rubberstamp at all.
In any case, it is the rightwing of the GOP, and DeLay in particular, who try to claim the moralistic "Christian" mantle of superiority.
BTW, the scandal with Rostenkowski and a handful of other House Dems played a central role in my voting overwhelmingly for Republicans thru the 90's. I am 100% comfortable with my consistency in holding elected federal officials to the same standard visa vis ethics. Which is to say that it would be a mistake to assume that my criticism of Republicans is intended to make any other party or officials, particularly Democrats, seem better or anything of the sort.
It was a stupid rule that never should've been put up by the GOP in the first place.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home