Mr. Smith Leaves Washington [On the Medicare Arm-Twisting]

Washington Post ^ | 12/31/03 | Editors

[TastyManatees]

Mr. Smith Leaves Washington

THAT SOMETHING UGLY happened to Rep. Nick Smith (R-Mich.) on the long night of the House Medicare vote last month seems beyond dispute. With his party lacking the votes to muscle the prescription drug bill through, Mr. Smith was subjected to intense -- and quite possibly criminal -- pressure to induce him to abandon his opposition. As Mr. Smith related it the next day, "members and groups" offered financial and political support for his son, Brad, who is running for his father's seat, if only he would vote for the bill.

"The first offer was to give him $100,000-plus for his campaign and endorsement by national [GOP] leadership," Mr. Smith elaborated a few days later. When he refused, he said, he was threatened, "Well, if you don't change your vote . . . then some of us are going to work to make sure your son doesn't get into Congress."

Mr. Smith has since recanted, rather unconvincingly. ...

[TastyManatees]

The Washington Post's editors are about the most incompetent group of wanna-be intellectuals I have ever seen. Even so, they have stumbled onto what should be a huge story, the recent Republican arm-twisting on the Medicare bill. While I have no doubt that the Post has picked up on the story for the most partisan and shallow reasons, conservatives should also be paying attention when their principles are offered up to AARP on a plate. I know, it shocks you that people are making backroom threats and deals over legislation in Congress (of all places!), but the Medicare bill was the nastiest example many people in Washington have seen for quite a while. The Administration's and party leadership's actions deserve serious contemplation by conservatives who remain loyal to their principles.

Tasty Manatees

[88keys]

From the article:

House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) was among those importuning Mr. Smith in the final hours of the Medicare vote, though Mr. Smith has said he was not referring to Mr. Hastert. But Mr. Hastert has been resolutely incurious about -- and seemingly unperturbed by -- what has been reported to have occurred on his watch, and by the reported activities of his lieutenants. "Well, they looked and there was nothing of substance there," Mr. Hastert said, referring to an inquiry by his own staff.

The problem I have, is, who is the one saying there is a "there", there? I'm suspicious of the motivation for writing this story and/or pursuing this alleged "quite possibly criminal" so-called "arm-twisting"...Hastert says there's no "substance" to the charges, and simply saying Mr. Smith's recanting of the story is "rather unconvincing" is, well, "rather unconvincing" in itself!!

[optimistically_conservative]

This reminds me of the story about the CIA analyst that claimed he was pressured to change his analysis, then admits he didn't change his analysis and the pressure he perceived wasn't even related to Iraq.

Talk about trumping up a story!

If the WP wants to find any quid pro quos in the Medicare "arm-twisting," how about asking the four Democrats that switched their votes in the wee-hours of the historically long open vote - since apparently no Republicans had their arms-twisted adequately to actually change their votes.

[Wolfie]

Does any of it really matter? Even if the charges turn about to be true, it will just end up being a case of "they do it too" excuse making anyway.

[NittanyLion]

If Smith is so bothered by this, I suggest he resign his seat, refuse to run in 2004, or stick to his original story. That's what I would do...but it appears he's recanted his story in order to remain in his elected position.

[David75]

Smith isn't running in 2004. That decision was made long before this vote. His son is one of the candidates running to replace him, and the supposed wrong-doing involves his son's campaign.

Anyway, his retraction still looks bad.

[The_Eaglet]

I'm not a Washington Post fan, but given other accounts of how the GOP has threatened other conservative Republican candidates, I don't see a reason to doubt this article.

[TastyManatees]

It's not in doubt that conservative lawmakers were pressured directly by the White House. Rep. Smith's situation is entirely independent from the pressure exerted on many members of Congress.

I would urge you to ignore the WaPo's clear partisan goals here. I think that whether you think that this pressure served the long-term goals of the conservative movement is an entirely different question.

Tasty Manatees

[jagrmeister]

Campaign support in exchange for a vote....well I never!

As for his son, that certainly is hardball.