The Hammer Gets Hit

The Nation: Reign Of Corruption Catches Up To DeLay

(The Nation)  CREW helped former Representative Chris Bell file an ethics complaint against DeLay in June 2004, which led to three unprecedented admonishments by the previously defanged House Ethics Committee: for blackmailing a lawmaker to support the Medicare "reform" bill, for trading campaign contributions for legislation and for illegally ordering the Federal Aviation Administration to track down Texas legislators who protested his controversial redistricting plan of 2002. That plan, which DeLay rammed down the throats of the legislature, boosted the GOP House majority. More than a few conservative Republicans owe their rise to DeLay.

Consequently, last November House Republicans repealed a rule mandating that a member of the leadership step down if indicted. Fearing backlash from party moderates and voters, the House leadership quickly reinstated the rule. But old habits die hard: House majority whip Roy Blunt, recently dubbed one of the thirteen "most corrupt" members of Congress by CREW, will temporarily replace DeLay.

DeLay's iron-fist ruling style was said to be an integral part of the GOP's successes. Unprecedented party loyalty, powerful connections to big business and lobbyists on K Street, fundraising prowess, and backing from the White House and Senate leadership reinforced the perception that DeLay and his cronies were untouchable. Lawmakers who didn't vote with the leadership were thrown off committees. Those who didn't meet annual fundraising requirements were blocked from ascending the party ladder. Lobbyists who didn't identify as Republicans were told to take their business elsewhere. The arrogance of power now seems to have come full circle, with DeLay and Frist as prime examples.

Sixty percent of respondents in a recent Democracy Corps poll say the country is moving in the wrong direction. A generic Democrat running for Congress in 2006 beats a generic Republican by 9 percent in polls. Congress's approval is at an all-time low, and so is Bush's: 45 percent of respondents in a recent Democracy Corps poll are "finished with him." More and more Americans will learn about Congressional leaders through the lens of scandal and sleaze, underscoring the impression that Republicans care more about special interests than average Americans. "DeLay's name ID spiked as the scandals grew," says Karl Agne of Democracy Corps. "Now it's up to Democrats to distance themselves from the mess in Washington and articulate what they're going to do differently."

Bush promised during the 2000 presidential campaign to "change the culture of Washington." His Republican majority succeeded — for the worse.