GOP bait -- no thanks.

[quiet.american]

We know the drill, don't we? No matter how unlawful/slimy GOP behavior is, they can always divert the moment of their accountability by forcing the conversation into one in which Dems are on the defensive, and in which their own illegal/unethical actions quickly fade into the background.

It's time to "reject the premise," as someone posted on here a few weeks ago. So, when the question is asked, are Dems going down, my answer is, Democrats have repeatedly called for just this kind of investigation into the rampant corruption in Washington, only to have their requests sneered at by the GOP. Let's see what Sen. Reid (D-NV), the Senate Minority Leader and former prosecutor who took on the mob in Las Vegas, has to say on his website:
http://democrats.senate.gov/issues.html

It's Time to Clean Up Washington
Doing Right by America
The American people deserve a government as good at its people. These days, people look at Washington and they see corruption and cronyism run amok. With each passing day, additional reports of fraud, waste and abuse are made public and indictments are handed down. They are tired of special interest giveaways at the expense of the American people. Democrats are tired of the corruption too and that is why we are offering new ideas to clean up Washington. We are committed to closing the revolving door to K Street that puts special interests before the peoples interests. Democrats want to end the culture of cronyism and corruption and get back to the people's business.

Further:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051218/pl_nm/congress_ethics_dc

"America can do better than what we've done," said Reid. "The most corrupt Congress in the history of the country. We have such significant problems with what's going on in this country."

Most of the federal investigative focus is now on Abramoff, whose lobbying activities, particularly on behalf of Indian tribal clients, are also being examined by Congress.

Appearing on Fox TV, Reid said, "Abramoff gave me no money. His firm gave me no money. He may have worked (at) a firm where people have given me money."

A Reid aide later explained that the senator received money from a political action committee affiliated with a firm where Abramoff had worked, but Abramoff did not contribute to it.

"I feel totally at ease that I haven't done anything that is even close to being wrong," Reid said.

Here's House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on the culture of corruption (Dec. 2005):
http://democraticleader.house.gov/press/releases.cfm?pressReleaseID=1318

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer released the following statement on the story reported in The Hill newspaper today that Chairman Doc Hastings of the Ethics Committee is reneging on his promise that he and other Republican members of the Committee would vote to undertake an immediate investigation of Congressman Tom Delay:

"After an entire year without a functioning House Ethics Committee, it is clear that the Republicans’ culture of corruption and cronyism is alive and well in the House. If the story in The Hill is true, House Ethics Committee Chairman Hastings is showing a complete disregard for his own credibility and an utter contempt for the honor and dignity of the House by refusing to pursue a timely investigation of Congressman Tom DeLay.

"While in the past the Committee has deferred action when criminal investigations of Members are underway, in light of the diversity and depth of allegations facing Mr. DeLay, Mr. Hastings previous willingness to immediately investigate and Mr. DeLay’s personal offer to appear before the Committee provides more than sufficient cause for an investigation to proceed.

"This is not the first time the Chairman of the Ethics Committee has raised questions about whether he is more focused on protecting Mr. DeLay than upholding the highest ethical standard in the House. In October, Chairman Hastings told his hometown newspaper that Mr. DeLay’s criminal indictment was a ‘political vendetta’ and that the Ethics Committee would not take up an investigation.

"If the Chairman of the House Ethics Committee is unwilling to investigate a Republican who faces an array of credible allegations of corruption, then the ethics process in the House is beyond broken – it is nonexistent, and a stain on the honor of this House.

"As the leader of the entire House and not just his political party, it is long past time for the Speaker to make it clear that the Ethics Committee must immediately fulfill its responsibilities to the institution and the American people."

Rep. Pelosi knows the moment she publicly calls for an investigation, the GOP will go after her and others in the Democratic leadership like a pack of jackals. Yet, call for the investigation she does. Why? She's got nothing to hide.

On the other hand, we have (for starters):

• Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois), House Majority Leader, upon the announcement of Jack Abramoff's plea bargain, suddenly decides to donate the $69,000 he received directly from Abramoff to an unnamed charity.
  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10692635
  
  
• According to court papers, Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio), House Administration Committee chairman, took payoffs from Abramoff in exhange for "Ney’s agreement to use his office to aid Abramoff clients."
  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10692635
  
  
• Republican David H. Safavian, former GSA chief of staff in the Bush administration resigned on a Friday, and was arrested on the following Monday for obstructing the federal investigation into Abramoff.
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/19/AR2005091901859.html
  
  
• George W. Bush called off a 2002 investigation into Abramoff by demoting the federal prosecutor leading the case. George W. Bush also never paid Abramoff back $314,000 -- essentially writing it off as an under-the-table campaign contribution.
  http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/2/103145/544
  
  
• Tom DeLay (R-TX), charged with "criminally conspiring with two political associates to inject illegal corporate contributions into 2002 state elections that helped the Republican Party reorder the congressional map in Texas and cement its control of the House in Washington."
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/28/AR2005092800270.html
  
  
• Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) Senate Majority Leader, currently under investigation by the SEC for insider trading.
  http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=aIjrjAzr4RiY&refer=us

It has to be said again -- Democrats have repeatedly called for just this kind of investigation into the rampant corruption in Washington, only to have their requests sneered at by the GOP. Let this go where it may. As the saying goes, America can do better.