Four on Ethics Panel Accepted DeLay Money

[GreenPartyVoter]

WASHINGTON (AP) - Four of the five House ethics committee Republicans investigating Majority Leader Tom DeLay have accepted money in the past from the fund-raising operation involved in the complaint against him.

While leaders in both parties maintain organizations to raise money for candidates, the appearance of a conflict in DeLay's case is enough alone to warrant hiring an independent counsel of the type that investigated dethroned former speakers Jim Wright and Newt Gingrich, watchdog groups said Thursday.

"Mr. DeLay's stature as one of the most powerful members of Congress - with the capacity to extract retribution from anyone - makes it especially difficult for his peers to sit in judgment of him," said Common Cause president Chellie Pingree.

DeLay, who has denied the charges against him, said through a spokesman that an independent counsel is unnecessary. "We have full confidence the ethics committee will handle this in a proper manner," said aide Jonathan Grella.

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20040716/D83RMT1O1.html

Editing to add that Chellie Pingree, who spoke for Common Cause in this article, ran for Senator here in maine a couple of years ago. Bummer that she didn't win but she is doing great stuff with CC.

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. I've always wondered...

Does the corruption trickle down from the federal levels? Or is all politics really local?

Whatever it is, if we can't clean up our federal government's corruption and the sticky ties, how can we ever expect to do it at the state and local level where people of little or no means live day to day in fear of reprisals?

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Well, I think we are doing better in our state legislature

here in Maine because we have voluntary clean elections. At least some of our reps do not feel beholden to anyone but the taxpayers who put them into office in the first place.

If only clean elections were mandatory!

[Kolesar]

3. This should be in the convention speeches

"Let America be America again", yeah ok. Say that. Then start attacking.

[redqueen]

4. Wow

I'm so shocked.

Let's make it easy: which GOPers are NOT possibly subject to a 'conflict of interest'?