Posted on 05/05/2005 8:39:14 AM PDT by CyberAnt
CNSNews.com Morning Editor May 5, 2005
(CNSNews.com) -- A group dedicated to campaign finance reform is demanding that House Speaker Dennis Hastert appoint an outside counsel to investigate Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), who is under fire for the way some of his trips were financed.
"Congress has proven that it cannot police itself when it comes to matters of abuse of power. We call on Speaker Hastert to appoint an outside counsel to investigate Mr. DeLay," said David Donnelly of the Public Campaign Action Fund.
Donnelly spoke after two members of the House ethics committee (Reps. Lamar Smith of Texas and Tom Cole of Oklahoma) recused themselves from an anticipated probe of DeLay's conduct because they have contributed to his legal defense fund.
According to Donnelly, "Any member of Congress who has made a contribution to Tom DeLay's legal defense fund or received a contribution from his political action committee should be ineligible to sit in judgment of Mr. DeLay's unethical behavior.
The Public Campaign Action Fund also is circulating a petition, calling on DeLay to resign.
DeLay is accused of taking trips that were paid for by a lobbyist and a foreign agent, a violation of House rules. DeLay said he believed the trips were properly financed -- paid for by think tanks.
Other lawmakers, Democrats included, face similar questions about the way their trips were financed [BY THE SAME PERSON - ABRAHAMOFF], but DeLay remains the main target of "corruption" charges in these bitterly partisan times. [Yes, DeLay remains the main target - because he's the leader of the repubs]
DeLay's supporters say he is a juicy target for Democrats, given his effective promotion of the conservative agenda. [And .. if DeLay can be unseated - the dems might be able to take over the House (they think) which would provide proper cover for Hillary - to keep her from being impeached - should she make it into the highest office]
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And .. the REPUBLICANS who recused themselves PROVE they have more ethics than the DEMOCRAT PARTY AS A WHOLE.
While these people are so concerned about those who donated to DeLay in any way - I don't see any inspection into who donated to the democrats who have now revealed they too had trips paid for by Abramhoff.
It's the same STINKING double standard - and it's about time for it to come to a screeching halt.
If you see any brackets [ ] - those are my comments.
but...but...I thought CFR was going to take care of all this corruption ;-)
On this subject, recuse = cave
The louder they scream the more I am convinced that DeLay is the greatest thing since sliced microwaves.
National Organizations ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GROUP:
ACORN
AFL-CIO
America Coming Together
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
Campaign for America’s Future
Center for American Progress
Center for Responsive Politics
Common Cause
Democracy 21
Fannie Lou Hamer Project
Judicial Watch
League of Conservation Voters
MoveOn.org
NAACP
National Institute of Money in State Politics
National Voting Rights Institute
Public Campaign
Public Citizen
Reform Institute
Service Employees International Union
Sierra Club
Southwest Voter Registration Education Project
United for a Fair Economy
US Action
US PIRG
WhiteHouseForSale.org
IT'S THE USUAL SUSPECTS!!
"On this subject, recuse = cave"
The 2 are not related and you know it. If you don't know the difference between recusing yourself because you have knowledge others don't - and backing down for no reason - I feel sorry for you. And if you post one more statement about "caving" I'm going to report you.
What, do they want to bring back Ken Starr now?
Why didn't they want an independent counselor to investigate "Chappaquidick" Ted???
What law did Tom Delay break?
I agree - and this move is so indicitive of how they operate. Now that several dems have been found to have taken trips financed by ABRAMHOFF - suddenly the demand is ramped up to focus more on DeLay than anybody else.
All the while - other dems in the senate are writing legislation to help out their family and friends - which is a GROSS ABUSE OF THEIR POWER AS SENATORS.
Boxer wrote legislation to help an Indian tribe - who later hired her son.
Dodd wrote legislation to excuse Arthur Anderson from specific auditing requirements - which ended in disaster for the Arthur Anderson companies.
Reid wrote legislation which benefited his own 4 sons - to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars - and included using federal lands.
Kerry/Dorgan wrote legislation to cover-up the criminal activity of several dems (from the former Clinton admin) by trying to stop the Cisneros Report from being released.
THE DEMOCRAT PARTY HAS BECOME A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION.
It's only when they think they can get repubs that they love the "independent counsel".
As Rush always says, "it's not the evidence, it's the seriousness of the charge".
The "charge" is a figment of the dems immagination.
HOT OFF THE PRESSES ...
RUSH JUST SAID THE KERRY/DORGAN AMENDMENT SA-399 HAS BEEN TOTALLY REMOVED FROM THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS BILL #1268.
THANKS TO TONY SNOW FOR HIGHLIGHTING THIS GROSS ABUSE OF POWER AND BEING SO VOCAL ABOUT IT THAT IT GOT REMOVED.
NOW .. according to Rush .. the report will be completed and released - and at least 10 FORMER MEMBERS OF THE CLINTON PARTY COULD BE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE. Also .. according to Rush, Hillary's lawyers are pouring over portions of the report which have been released.
Hmmmm? Hillary's worried ..?? That can only be good.
"defense - offense"
I believe this action by the House Ethics Committee - is OFFENSE. It took away from the democrats the ability to go on TV everyday and whine about how the repubs were holding up the Ethics Comm to protect Tom - now the dems have to scramble to try to defend the House dems who are possibly in a whole lot more trouble than DeLay.
And .. while DeLay has said from the beginning he did not know Abramoff had paid for a portion of the trip - ONE OF THE DEMOCRATS IS SAYING THE SAME THING - and he is believed.
Whine about the repubs if you want - but this ethics issue was a great move on their part.
Absolutely true. I know Tom Cole personally, and I can assure you he does not "cave."
Thanks for that endorsement .. I believed they did the right thing .. which NO DEMOCRAT WOULD EVER DO.
The Hatch Act. Oh, I'm sorry. That was Algore.
Democrats seem to have one thing in common with many Arabs; tribal loyalty is more important than is standing out or up for a principle.
Translation:
We want a fair investigation which will find him guilty so he should resign now because we know he did it.
Only people who have said he is guilty are impartial enough to sit in judgment and reach the fair guilty verdict he deserves.
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