NEWS: Congress Protects Its Own

POLITICS: Congress Protects Its Own

It turns out that if you happen to be in the majority, you don't have to let a pesky thing like indictment in your home state stand in the way of your Washington duties. Republicans voted to do away with such a rule in order to protect Tom DeLay, the veteran majority leader. To be fair, he hasn't been indicted yet but this certainly leaves him free of any repercussions at all in the event that he is brought up on charges.

Considering that the rule was put into effect in order to pinpoint the legal troubles of Democrats, this smacks terribly of partisan slimery. The case involving Tom DeLay may be relatively benign, but this could turn into a real mess if other members of Congress see it as an open invitation to ignore the ramifications of serious legal allegations. This wiggle-room is just another chip away at the bedrock of accountability. Before long, leaders may not have to step down if they've been convicted.

I can definately see how both having this rule and not having it could be easily exploited by one group of people or the other....I dunno.
Fucking politics...

rule shouldnt of existed in the first place.

Ha yeah I dont remember any in the GOP of claiming lawyer bias during the Ken Starr debacle for white water. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander I think. Fuck the GOP! Its biased and unfair. Just like Fox News

So, are you opposed to the whole "innocent until proved guilty" crap, too? An indictment is by no means a guilty verdict. I certainly wouldn't want to lose (temporary or otherwise) my job just because my enemy decides to accuse me of something.

Agreed that the rule should never have been there.

It also reflects a very unAmerican attitude towards our justice system.

Yeah.. but that's not why they changed it:

From the NYtimes:

"Lahood, elected with the 1994 Republican class that captured control of the House, opposed the change but understood the outpouring of support.

``It was the result of the fact that he increased our numbers, he takes care of members when they need legislation passed, his fund raising and, in Texas, his drawing people a good district,'' LaHood said."

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There are greater problems that should have been fixed before this one.. NPR has been reporting all week on the U.S. imprisoning foreigners for absolutely no reason other than past felony convictions.. go complain elsewhere.

[Edited on Nov 18, 2004 by Kbear]

Oh, I never meant to imply that the Republicans weren't slimey, self-serving bastards. It's the biggest thing they have in common with the Democrats!

Didn't they create this same rule during the Clinton years?

Yeah, guess they don't think they need it now that they control every branch of government. Fuckers...

Where you when Clinton was under impeachment for perjury?

Playing Zero Wing

It would almost be funny if it wasn't so wrong.

Drinking beer, playing fullback, and chasing cheerleaders. they same can be said of Clinton during his impreachment. With the exception that the judge issued a finding of fact and forced him to surrender his law license for five years

As anyone who has read Blinded by the Right, or a newspaper, it is absolutely sublime hypocrisy that any Republican, ever, would complain about politically-motivated prosecution. These fuckers spent 9 years and millions of dollars with their Federalist Society lawyers and their "Elves" fishing for something - please God - anything - to hang Clinton with. I wonder if *anyone* is so clean that a 9 year witch hunt wouldn't find something.

You know I remeber when Clintion did some moraly wrong stuff and all the Republicans cried and screamed. (I didnt but then again I hate Mrs. Clinton)

So all the Liberals here crying about protection etc where were you when bill was getting a hummer in the oval office and then had purgery?

Lets put this in persepctive here. Why don't we just admit both sides would do this, the guy is not guilty yet and wait for the out come.

I dont think anyone is running around the issue here s5. Infact I think you dragged out the clintion card when you said

"republicans love to blame "attorneys" and "trial lawyers". whatever happened to personal responsibility? do something illegal, and you should expect legal trouble."

So I think it is right on topic to bring up clintion and his impeachment.

Was the law right, probably not. Does it matter nope. If hes convicted he will be out anyways.

Crying makes you no better then the republicans, that cried during clintion.

It is relevant to bring up Clinton, but Bill was the least shady of everyone involved in that mess. Tom Delay, however, has already been rebuked THREE TIMES by the Senate Ethics Committee made up of members of HIS OWN PARTY.

You are missing the point. The Democrats didn’t attempt to change the rules after the during Clinton’s scandal. The Republicans are trying to change the ethics rule that would force DeLay to resign his leadership position if he is indicted. A rule that was created to force Democrat Dan Rostenkowski’s resignation in 1993. Wanna guess who led the charge to put that rule in place? Tom DeLay. So this issue just isn’t his severe ethical (and likely criminal conduct) but also the duplicity of DeLay and GOP to change the rules when they might not favor them.

You make a good point. I still think its not huge of a issue, the democrats have done similar stunts as well. Then again I dont think they should change it. I dont think eather person should loose there job (dont know if the previous guy did).

Had to add this as well. No the liberals are crying just as much as the republicans. Over this whole issue when it has been done a number of times before.

I have been studying politics for over 5 years now. I haven't seen laywers being the big evil, on just one side. Neather deomcrats or Republican's like laywer banging on their door. You maybe right I'll have to look around more. I just dont see it.

Basicly this is another thread about the BIG EVIL GOP. I remeber hereing republicans crying about Clintion's domination and the democratic party being so evil. No one cares to put there biest down long enough to see this is what both parties would do if they could. Its political manuvering the thread shouldnt be Congress protecting its own, to Why are they doing this.

If the guy is found guilty what will happen? If hes innocent what have they gained. I never found politics and ethics to be to buddy buddy maybe that is just me.

[Edited on Nov 19, 2004 by InfernoMDM]