GOP moves could silence complaint against DeLay
Silly me. I had hoped that Chris Bell's ethics complaint against Tom DeLay would be evaluate based on the merits and the evidence. God, I can be SO horribly naive sometimes. In the end, whether or not Bell's case sees the light of day depends on what sort of Parliamentary games DeLay's supporters can play. Since the House is controlled by the Republican majority, you bet your sweet @$$ that DeLay will be protected from sunup 'til sundown.
Republicans denied they were trying to muzzle allegations against DeLay. But in the escalating partisan warfare touched off by investigations into DeLay's political dealings, Republicans' maneuvers may prevent Bell's complaint from being examined by the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., took steps Thursday to throw out the complaint by Bell, a Democrat whose Houston-area district borders DeLay's.
LaHood said that because Bell is a lame-duck congressman, after losing the Democratic primary this year in his freshman term, he "has no stake in the institution" and should be disqualified from filing the charges. Bell's term expires at the end of the year.
So, let me see if I have this straight. Chris Bell is a member of the House, but because he lost his election campaign and is a "lame duck", he really isn't a member of the House? Are the rights of membership of the House now only conferred upon those fortunate enough to have won re-election? Can Republicans really be so arrogant and venal? Apparently so.
Understandably, Bell, who at last check was still a member of the House until his term expires, is rather angry.
"I think its outrageous that they would try to take away the rights of a representative," replied Bell. "I see this as part of the process to represent my constituents and represent the average people."
I don't know why you should be so shocked, Rep. Bell. You've dealt with these power-hungry zealots for the past two years. By now, you should be well-acquainted with their slash-and-burn, take-no-prisoners politics. This is just merely the latest iteration.
Meanwhile Tom DeLay and his staff are once again taking the "high road":
In DeLay's office, spokesman Stuart Roy said he did not know of any organized attempt to mute Democratic criticism.
"Chris Bell and other Democrats love to moan and whine and play the victim card because they have nothing else to offer," Roy said.
Right. When you have no defense, resort to insults and personal attacks- the hallmark of the morally and ethically bankrupt. Then again, these are Republicans we're talking about here. These are the same people who are not above using their "respect" for House rules to stifle any discussion of the charges against DeLay on the floor of the House.
What are Republicans so afraid of? What harm would be done by allowing a little light to shine on these charges? Of course, if the Republicans allowed an open discussion, they might not be able to manage the results.
"We're trying to make sure people follow the rules. We always do that," said John Feehery, spokesman for House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.
U.S. Rep. Janice Schakowsky, D-Ill. -- after speaking about the DeLay case on the House floor -- was warned Thursday by a presiding Republican that the chamber's rules prohibit discussion of ethics complaints on the floor unless they are pending before the full House....
Republican lawmakers are closely monitoring Democrats' floor speeches and other public communications for possible rules violations. And there has been speculation that Republicans are looking into the fund-raising practices of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
"I'm not worried about the Republicans at all. Morning, noon and night, their modus operandi is the threat," Pelosi said. "We are used to that atmosphere here."
In my more naive days, I used to think that being a public servant meant doing what the name implies- serving the public. In reality, it's about power, and whenever it's about power, that means it's really about money.
So who says that Congress doesn't function by the Golden Rule? He who has the gold really DOES make the rules. It's just too bad that some of these maroons have forgotten what it was they were elected to do.
