House Democrats appoint ethically-challenged House Democrat to lead ethics

[BlueCaliDem]

reform fight???

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/01/house-democrats-appoint-ethically.html

Post by John in DC: Sunday, January 15, 2006

"The House Democrats this week chose a Democrat, who is being forced to explain his own involvement in a trip related to Jack Abramoff, to be their chief spokesman and strategist running the House Democratic effort to pass ethics reform."

<snip>

"Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina, the newly and unanimously elected Chairman of the Democratic Caucus who has lived his life with a commitment to a high ethical standard, will head the Clean House Team."

<snip>

"House Majority Leader Tom DeLay isn't the only politician facing ethics charges. South Carolina's James Clyburn and Mississippi's Bennie Thompson, both Democratic members of the Congressional Black Caucus, also had to answer tough questions last week. In 1997, both men traveled to the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth. The trip -- and an earlier trip to the Marianas by two associates of DeLay -- appears to have been paid for by lobbyist Jack Abramoff. It is a violation of House ethics to accept gifts from a registered lobbyist. Abramoff is now the subject of a federal corruption probe."

ACTION ALERT: Contact your House Democratic representative and ask what's going on! On AMERICAblog in this post you can click on a link to find your representative and click on a link to send an email to Nancy Pelosi as well.

It's as if the Democratic Leadership is purposefully sabotaging any efforts to hold Congress accountable for the corruption clearly prevalent there!

I just don't get it...:shrug:

Why are they handing the RNC this Democrat :spank:???

Makes you wonder if this isn't some conspiracy between the Republicans and Democrats in the House!

[ixion]

1. conspiracy, blackmail... whatever the case, things are not as they seem

on the surface, I'm fairly certain.

They've pretended it's just business as usual with BushCo shreddin' the constitution and all, which leads me to believe that a) they're in on it; or, b) they're being blackmailed; or, c) something I hadn't thought of. ;-)

[BlueCaliDem]

8. I'm baffled about what's happened--absolutely BAFFLED.

Perhaps she chose Rep. Clyburn because he knows where to look; that he knows something that can boost their case for ethics reform in the House, and that he's shown her hard evidence that he's never taken a dime from Abramoff and that Abramoff didn't pay his way to the Marianas?

Yet, for the life of me, I can't understand how our Minority Leader couldn't see the potential of the RNC attack dogs who are undoubtedly going to use the "cloud" over Rep. Clyburn to show everyone what a bunch of hypocrites Democrats are.

I mean, if I can see it coming, I've gotta believe she can too.

[Skidmore]

2. Well, then let's light a fire under Pelosi.

I'm not going to sit back and tut-tut about this. Demand that they put up someone with some integrity.

[Tippy]

3. We need to light fires under everyone who seems to be dragging

their heels on this issue and all of them...Does anyone know if there is a web site that can be used to get around constitutans only contacts? I can not affod to call each and every one of the Democrats in Congress, but I do want to contact them....

[Skidmore]

5. Pelosi is responsible for making Committee appointments.

[auburngrad82]

4. The GOP is trying the magician's best friend- sleight of hand

"Hey check this out! Look at this Democrat while we try to cover our asses in the biggest scandal in the history of the GOP."



http://www.cafepress.com/opposingforces

[BlueCaliDem]

6. Which is why our Minority Leader needs to choose...

...a Democratic Rep they can't use to deflect this serious issue.

I don't understand why Minority Leader Pelosi chose this guy who is about the easiest Democrat on who the repugs can use their "attack the messenger" tactic.

I've sent an email to Minority Leader Pelosi last night, and will call my reps this morning, just to find out what in the heck is going on up there!

[flpoljunkie]

7. Indeed, it does make you wonder what the Dems are up to. Am concerned.

According to The Hill, Senator Feingold has a bill, and is looking at Rep. Marty Meehan's lobby reform bill in the House. Will the "Honest Leadership Act" the Dems will introduce be real reform like Feingold and Meehan's bills or just window dressing? That is the question.

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/060905/feingold.html

Feingold's bill would bring lobby-reform fight to Senate

By Jonathan E. Kaplan

Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) plans to introduce a bill to overhaul lobbying laws, joining House Democratic Reps. Marty Meehan (Mass.) and Rahm Emanuel (Ill.), who already have introduced legislation in the House.

Feingold’s involvement, along with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), could give political momentum to legislation that leading House Republicans consider a political stunt.

Feingold told The Hill he is looking at Meehan’s bill and talking with colleagues on both sides of the aisle.

“I am interested in prohibiting lobbyists from giving gifts to members and in requiring members and campaigns to reimburse the owners of corporate jets at the charter rate when they use those planes for their official or political travel,” Feingold added.

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