House GOP Changes Rules To Protect DeLay

[Lady Effingbroke]

~snip~

WASHINGTON - House Republicans demonstrated their loyalty to Majority Leader Tom DeLay on Wednesday, changing a party rule that would have cost him his leadership post if he were indicted by a Texas grand jury that has charged three of his associates.

DeLay watched from the back of the room but did not speak as GOP lawmakers struggled in closed session before ending a requirement that leaders indicted on felony charges relinquish their positions. Republicans will now decide a House leader's fate in a case-by-case review.

The change received overwhelming but not unanimous approval in a voice vote that showed Republicans' eagerness to protect the leader who raised countless campaign dollars for them. He also engineered a redistricting plan in Texas that caused five Democratic losses through retirement or election defeats.

The dilemma was to shield DeLay in a case that he views as political, while not giving blanket protection to any leader indicted for a crime that clearly has no political overtones. During the closed debate that spanned four hours, with breaks, someone even questioned whether a leader charged with murder could retain his or her post, according to a House aide who was present. Such questions would be handled in the case-by-case review...

~snip~

more from yahoo

[indepat]

1. That absolute power corrupts absolutely is absolutely manifested

in absolutely every action undertaken by some. And that's absolutely the absolute truth.

[aprillcm]

2. Proof

That this is the most crooked bunch on the planet, I am so sorry for all those people who were convicted of felonies and straightened out there lives and still can not vote hearing should piss them off royally. Republicans think this is right?? What Planet are we on or should I say what Country do we live in? I thought it was America I must have went to sleep and woke up in on of them there 3rd world back words countries, were government is entitled to way more rights than the citizens.

[Technowitch]

3. Let it never again be said that the GOP is the "party of ethics"

Of course, I never said that... it's just their hypocrisy is so much more glaringly obvious now.

I sure would love to see Mr. DeLay do some good old Texas prison time...

[Lady Effingbroke]

4. Me too...especially since I live in DeLay's district.

x(

[_testify_]

5. Anyone recall Bush's inaugural speech in 2000?

Wasn't there a line about avoiding 'even the appearance of impropriety' ?

[mother earth]

6. Delay & his group are disgusting!

Do those fools that voted for W see these people as the criminals they are? What are they smoking?

[dflprincess]

7. There's some moral values for you.

n/t

[Only Me]

13. I guess they only have morals during an election. There all hypocrites. nt

[Deja Q]

8. Morals, ethics, fiscal responsibility, spiritual, uniting America...

How many more two-faced lies will the public believe from them?

[CRK7376]

9. Can you spell

FLIP FLOP boys and girls....hypocritical jackasses!

[malmapus]

10. Yup, talk about the "moral majority"

Digusted

[go west young man]

11. The guys a snake......

and the republican party call themselves moral! ha! Disgusting. Its ok though they have pissed all over the U.S. Constitution and people anyway. Whats one more blatant bending of the rules? America the beautiful right down the drain.

[TheFarseer]

12. How did this ass clown become king of the world?

The only thing he does really well is parrot Rush Limbaugh and raise money so that he can launder it. Is there seriously anyone who doesn't believe the charges against him??

[young_at_heart]

14. I hated that arrogant smile on his face

CBS showed him walking down the hall with others and he had an enormous grin, as if to say, "No one can touch me". What has happened to this country?

[dave502d]

15. What in the water,don't we have any balls.n/t

[daleo]

16. Like the 2000 Supreme court ruling for Bush

The ruling only applies in this case. No precedent. You know things are getting very corrupt when this kind of legal reasoning begins to arise frequently.

[burrowowl]

17. Ethics and morality

Republicans!?

Can you say HYPOCRACY?!

Sleaze, scum, slime, corruption, etc. and they get away with it! They are making Grant's administration look pure.

[Piperay]

18. So much for morality, decency and ethics

LYING HYPOCRITES!!!!

[Speed8098]

19. I don't get it.

:wtf:

Can you imagine the outrage if this were a Democrat??!?!?!

They CHANGED THE RULES to accomodate a freaking FELON?!?!?! :puke:

This is an extremely important story. How can the re:puke:'s justify this?

This story needs to be blasted all over the mainstream. Let's see how the religious right defends this.

Please keep this kicked.

Here's the link.
http://www.optonline.net/News/Article/Feeds?CID=type%3Dxml%26channel%3D32%26article%3D13050329