Stop the Pendulum

House GOP enact Congressional Criminals Protection Act

In practice among the Republican leadership, the rule of law has given way with the rule of the lawless. When the GOP took the majority in both Congressional houses in 1994, they promised to uphold and enforce strictly the rule of law, starting with a rule that required indicted Congressional leaders immediately to resign their leadership posts. It worked fine for them, provided the accused leader was a Democrat. Dan Rostenkowsky (D-IL), the then House Ways and Means Commitee chairman, was indicted for mail fraud, which spurred this automatic step-aside rule.

Article I, Section 6, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution reads: "The Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place. [boldace emphasis is mine]

Fast forward to 2004. Problem: one of theirs has been under criminal investigation, namely Tyrant Tom DeLay. Tyrant Tom has already been reprimanded for illegally meddling into Texas State politics, including sicking Homeland Security on Texas State Democrats who have fled the state rather than allowing a re-redistricting scheme to be rammed through the State Legislature. He's being accused of, among other things, bribery, illegal fundraising, and money laundering. Three of his associates have been formally indicted on charges of " improperly using using a political action committee to collect corporate donations that were then used in state legislative races." Tyrant Tom not only denies any wrongdoing, but has the temerity to accuse Democrats of launching a partisan witch hunt ( STP to DeLay: if you think strong evidence of criminal activity against you is a partisan witch hunt, then you're the partisan witch). Texas DA Ronnie Earle is trying to do the job he was elected to do, prosecute criminals, even if the criminal's name is DeLay, and DeLay calls it "politically motivated." As if the Hammer never persecuted Democrats.

The gall of Republicans to judge politicians by blatant double standards. Now that one of their own may face felony indictment, they move to protect him from the consequences of his own actions. " The old rule required GOP leaders and committee chairmen charged with a felony to relinquish their positions. The new language orders a case-by-case review, with the leaders retaining their posts until all House Republicans decide their fate." Translation: House Republicans will arbitrarily decide who has to step down due to indictments, and who does not. Tom DeLay will get to keep his leadership post, but a Democrat who might do 1/10 of what Tyrant Tom can get away with, will not. According to these new rules, it's not what's done; it's who does it.

They will not afford such protection to Democrats--this, I guarantee. In fact, they sic the Ethics Committee on his accuser, outgoing Rep. Chris Bell (D-TX), for reprimand. I don't know what will be next. Will Republicans change the rules to protect DeLay if he's convicted of a felony, even if he never spends one day behind bars? That would be blatantly unconstitutional, but I don't think even the pesky Constitution will stop these gangsters.

posted by Sue B. @ 11/19/2004 11:40:00 AM