Replies

Last week, the House Ethics Committee revealed that for the past two months it has been investigating an allegation by Rep. Nick Smith, a Michigan Republican, that party leaders offered him a bribe in exchange for his vote on the Medicare bill. Mr. Smith voted against the bill and later said unnamed members of his party had said they'd contribute $100,000 to his son's congressional campaign if he had voted in favor. If not, Mr. Smith said, they told him they'd see that the younger Mr. Smith lost his race. Mr. Smith later recanted, saying his claim of bribery was "technically inaccurate" and has since refused to discuss the matter further. (Either a good lawyer has advised him to keep his mouth shut or the GOP thugs offered to overlook his opposition to a bill that's already passed and help his son out PROVIDED he dismiss his charges)

But other GOP members stood by their stories of strong-arm tactics. South Carolina's Rep. Jim DeMint said contributors threatened to withhold donations for his upcoming Senate race unless he voted for the Medicare bill, while Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri said a state legislator threatened to run against him. Rep. Tom Feeney of Florida was told his path towards a party leadership position would be blocked if he voted against the bill.

Republicans should view such tactics and the bidding war for Mr. Tauzin on K Street as warning signs of ideological dry rot.(FR demonstrates this clearly. There are many posters who consider conservative values as hampering.)

The speaker of the GOP legistlure in Floriduh in 2000, now holding a House seat, strongly opposed the Pill Bill.

Since it passed by only a few votes, Rove had Bush calling the last few votes to pressure it personally.

The congressman said something like "I'm a conservative and I came here to cut spending, not expand it."

Bush snapped (as I recall) "So did I" and slammed down the phone.

Bush/Rove found their last few votes, no doubt by pork distribution and/or intimidation. The Floriduh legislator got sent to the back benches, their future in the GOP now in question.

And people claim he's conservative. I guess this is one of those times where the 'compassionate' overwhelmed the 'conservative'.

Merely an anecdote but an example I think is not isolated.