"DeLay Blasts Lauer on Craig Coverage "
This is funny. Tom DeLay lecturing on morality.
Let's examine his claims, one by one. Yes, Jefferson was briefly on the Homeland Security committee. However, as the investigation progressed, he was eventually taken off all of his committees. Just like the Republicans did with "Duke" Cunningham. It was only after the Dukester was indicted that the Republicans took him off his final committees. And Bruce, along with other Republicans, stayed in Congress until the day they were convicted or pled guilty.
So much for the Republicans cleaning house.
Personally, I think that Congresscritters should be taken off of committees well before the indictment is handed down. Probably as soon as the investigation is announced. But, for the Republicans to complain about this is the pot calling the kettle black. They never did that, and still don't, so why should they expect the Democrats to do the same?
As far as the case of Alan Mollohan, the investigation was over his reporting of his assets. It looks as if most of the claims of mis-reporting were actually wrong. And the few remaining items were not considered serious and the amended reports were considered sufficient to close the case.
Personally, I consider these sort of things pretty serious, but it is a routine thing with the Republicans. At least none have gotten kicked off committees for similar infractions in the recent past. Nor did any lose their seat over those issues. So, again, DeLay is complaining that the Democrats don't operate to a higher standard. While he has a point, to have someone like Hot Tub Tom complain is hypocrisy of the highest order. Sort of like Hitler complaining about Stalin massacring the Ukrainians.
And then there was the case of Barney Franks. For one, that happened 17 years ago. To a openly homosexual Congressman. So the fact that a male prostitute was involved is not nearly as big of a surprise as it is with the recent spate of Republicans cruising in public restrooms. In addition, the whole furor was not over him hiring said prostitute, it was over another issue. And it never was ever proven that Franks knew about the activities.
And, finally, there is the issue of Gary Studds. Who left Congress 10 years ago. His affair with the page happened some 35 years ago. He was censured for it in 1983, apparently to add a little balance to Dan Crane being censured for banging a page of his own in 1980.
Talk about ancient history.
And all of this ignores the fact that since January of this year, the Democrats have Jefferson being indicted while 12 Republicans have gotten caught with their hands in various cookies jars or slid down various pants. Including the entire Alaskan congressional delegation. To bring even a semblance of balance, you have to go years back to find an equivalent number of Democratic malefactors, and you can only have a balance if you then ignore the Republican scandals during that period of time.
Like DeLay. Who was only "hounded" by the media because it was brutally obvious he was involved in a whole host of scandals himself. |
