by Eyck Freymann
Going into the 2006 midterm elections, the Republican party controlled the White House, the Senate, and the House. The party was frought with scandal and corruption, and between pedophile Mark Foley and golf-with-Jack-Abramoff Bob Ney the Democrats had a field day. All in all, the Republicans lost control of both houses of congress to the order of six senate seats and thirty house seats. 2006 marked the end of the Reagan era, ushering in a new period of Democratic dominance.
In the past several months, however, we have seen the Democratic party turning into the Republican party of pre-2006. Allow me to cite some examples:
- Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich tries to sell his senate appointment to the highest bidder
- Rep. Jesse Jackson junior takes him up on the offer
- When the story leaks, Blagojevich picks Roland Burris, who looks clean until it comes out that he raised money for Blago.
- New York Governor Eliot Spitzer - a man who made his name breaking up prostitution rings - resigns in disgrace after being found consorting with prostitutes.
- New-New York Governor David Paterson slanders with trumped up or imaginary charges to remove Caroline Kennedy from the field of possible senate picks.
- New York Congressman Charlie Rangel admits to tax issues over his beach house in the Dominican Republic, then claims that he was justified in not paying them because he doesn't speak Spanish (pathetic excuse for someone who's district is 55% Hispanic)
- Louisiana congressman Bill "Cold Cash" Jefferson is caught with $90,000 in bribery cash in his freezer. Upon questioning, Jefferson claims he has no idea how the money got there. He is promptly reelected.
- A slew of Obama cabinet appointees - including former Senate Majority leader Tom Daschle - withdraw for cheating on taxes.
- Commerce secretary nominee Bill Richardson pulls out for questionable deals with special interests
Now that Obama is inaugurated and the Democrats have these large majorities, we are beginning to see the unpleasant side effects of one-party rule. Now is the time for Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to start walking the walk when it comes to corruption. Any Democrat in congress with an ethical violation should be expelled. On principle. Without question. I like Rangel a lot: he's my congressman and has done a lot of good for his district and for the nation as a war hero. But by cheating the government he has disqualified himself from his office and should be given a choice between resignation or expulsion.
The Democrats have the numbers now that they can afford to do this. In a body of 435 House members, the party won't miss the handful of corrupt ones. They create more problems than they solve. Now that the Republicans are in a state of major disrepair - not to mention with a President devoted to bipartisanship and compromise - the only thing the Democrats have to fear are themselves.
I am a Democrat, but my principle comes before party, not the other way around. And it's once again time to throw the bums out.
3 comments:
Democrats have the numbers in the house, but the senate is a different story. We have seen that even 58 seats is not enough to effectively push through President Obama's agenda. So it is much easier for Speaker Pelosi to "walk the walk" than it is for Sen. Reid. You are correct when you say that any member of congress who has an ethical violation should be expelled, but don't expect it to happen. Sen. Reid would never expel a Democratic senator, especially when the majority barely passed their first test. The majority needs as many votes as it can get, especially since more emergency legislation will soon come before the congress. For example, Sen. Burris lied about important information regarding his dealings with the former Illinois Governor, but I doubt major disciplinary action will be taken by the majority leader. Unfortunately, the number of votes Sen. Reid needs to push through the President's agenda, trumps better ethical standards.
And Realistguy lives up to his name.
Local politics update: the Massachusetts Speaker of the House resigned on the 27th facing corruption charges.
Though we may disagree on a multitude of issues, this is one that we both find common ground. Corruption should not be tolerated at any level. I don't care if a particular politician represents all that I personally stand for; corruption should not be tolerated. Period.
Thanks for shedding light on this issue.
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