Posted on 04/16/2005 1:20:34 PM PDT by ambrose
Posted on Thu, Apr. 14, 2005
Souder backs DeLay, concedes GOP fallout fears
By Sylvia A. Smith
Washington editor
WASHINGTON – No one has proven that the No. 2 Republican in the House has done anything unethical or illegal, Rep. Mark Souder, R-3rd, said Wednesday, but “there is widespread nervousness” among Republicans.
“Part is political,” he said of the allegations against Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, that have dogged the House majority leader for a year. “But the truth is, we’re all reading this stuff and saying: ‘Why did you do that? Did you cross the line? Did your staff cross the line?’ We don’t know.”
The edginess stems from concern that if the public becomes dissatisfied with DeLay as a leader within the Republican Party, their uneasiness would spill over to GOP candidates in next year’s congressional elections.
Rep. Mike Pence, R-6th, chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, has been mum on DeLay. A spokesman said Wednesday that Pence was “jammed up” and wouldn’t have time to talk about DeLay.
Souder said he supports DeLay, would vote for him as House speaker if there were an opening, labeled the media accounts as biased and politically motivated and doesn’t think any allegations against DeLay have been proven to be true.
Nevertheless, “he doesn’t have much more room, even if something isn’t proven,” Souder said. “At some point you say, ‘What if you can’t move your agenda?’ ”
He said the ethics committee might need to reopen an investigation of DeLay or the Republican House members might investigate internally. He said, however, that it’s “very difficult for us to agree to have an ethics investigation when all they’re (the Democrats) interested in doing is smearing. There isn’t any ‘Let’s do a quiet analysis of ethics.’ It’s a takedown of a Republican leader.”
Souder said even if none of the allegations of ethics missteps is proven, Delay’s fate might be threatened if House Republicans detect he is a political liability.
DeLay was scolded three times by the House ethics committee last year and has been the subject of recent news reports involving trips he took that were indirectly paid for by lobbyists or foreign agents, a violation of House rules. DeLay has also been criticized for his association with a lobbyist who is under federal indictment.
Articles have pointed out that DeLay’s wife and daughter are on the payroll of a political action committee he controls. Other accounts have quoted people who were raising money for DeLay’s political activities linking donations to legislation. DeLay also made headlines when he said judges involved in the Terri Schiavo rulings will “have to answer for their behavior.”
Most Republicans publicly support DeLay, although recently several have voiced criticism, including two Republicans from Connecticut.
Souder said that’s an indication that those lawmakers are in Democratic-leaning districts and will face tough re-election battles next year.
On the areas where DeLay has garnered headlines:
Souder said if trips DeLay took were secretly financed by lobbyists or foreign agents against House rules, the entity wouldn’t have been “stupid enough” to tell DeLay. “Who paid for the trip is irrelevant to the member (of the House) if the group has misrepresented itself to the member. … In retrospect, people should have asked questions.”
Souder said anyone reading news accounts of the lobbying firm linked to DeLay would be “appalled” at the firm’s conduct toward its American Indian tribe clients. “I personally believe Tom’s appalled,” he said.
Putting family members on the payroll of a campaign fund or PAC isn’t illegal, “but it’s a gray ethical area,” Souder said. “I believe you need to be more cautious, and he isn’t cautious enough.”
Most members of Congress and the people who raise money for them make linkages between donations and legislation, Souder said. “I hear them do it on the Democrat side as well as the Republican side. … I don’t believe he’s a more flagrant abuser than the big Democrat fundraisers.”
DeLay’s comment about the judges in the Schiavo case were “harsh,” Souder said, but nothing that he hasn’t said about judges for the past decade or more.
Souder is one of five Republican House members who voted against impeaching Clinton.
Let's see..., how many Democrats said this about Der Schliekmeister during his haydays.
Souder voted for the obstruction of justice count, which was the one with merit. His comments here seem quite candid.
good info... thanks
http://partners.nytimes.com/library/politics/122098impeach-mavericks.html
You're right. I believe that was a last minute flip flop on his part, having early pledged to vote against all counts.
A few votes switched when the critters read that embargoed stuff about Clinton. I am not sure if it was about Broderick or what. But Doug knows.
One thing DeLay has going for him is that this is still early 2005. I am sure many Republican House members are willing to be patient and see if he'll ride out the storm. They may grow more restless as the '06 cycle approaches.
If DeLay ever becomes Speaker, he may rank up there with the likes of old Uncle Joe Cannon, in terms of power.
Several of the Republicans who were leaning against the impeachment vote changed their mind after they read about what the rapist had done. Some of them were sickened by it. It solidified enough GOP house votes to send it to the Senate. And we know what Trent Lott did there.
I agree that there will be a wait out. DeLay won't be chosen speaker. The Pubbies have the right forumla in having an avuncular front man, with teflon qualities. The Dems made a mistake with Pelosi.
Just one more subordinate dog hoping to move up the pack, it seems the Alpha male is in the way. Leadership is a blood sport among wolves. If Delay wants a friend he needs to get a dog.
If a Republican sneezes the lying news media and the criminals in the Democrat party go after him. The problem is the Republicans - all of the wimps, need to tell the truth about our corrupt, arrogant and ACLU loving judicial system. It is a disgrace. Stop sucking up. We put you in office and you act like a bunch of scared rabbits. Get on the right track or you are going to hand the entire government over to the Clintons again.
This in from the pant-wetter wing of the GOP.
Very well stated. They're nervous even after winning 5 straight congressional elections!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.