If you're from New York, you'd know that Mafia kingpin John Gotti used to be called the Teflon don, because of the way nothing incriminating could stick to him. It seems now that the nick name can suit Tom Delay as well. Not because he'll escape his charges (though I bet he will), but because no one seems to care whether he's a criminal or not. Or, at least, Texas Republicans don't seem to care.
In his first election since his charges, Delay beat out three other Republicans to get his party's nomination for reelection, garnering 62 percent of votes. Delay has been in Congress now for 22 years.
I'm sure there are many reasons why Texans would support this crook and creep. Perhaps it's loyalty, or maybe its their way of slapping Democrats and the liberal media. But regardless it seems that there's this infection in the minds of voters, and especially Republican party voters, to stick with the wrong person, reminds me of the old story about the person who cut of their nose to spite their face. I'm not sure when this infection began, but its undoubtedly negative for America. I mean there's nothing wrong with spirited debate or ideological differences but this adherence to corrupt officials has grown into madness, and sadly it seems that this infection, like the several corruption scandals that have arisen in recent months, is a Republican trait. And before you can mention Clinton, let's just recall that his scandal didn't bankrupt Indian tribes and help maintain a system of forced prostitution and abortion in an American province. Delay is a scoundrel and a bane on American politics. I only hope he is defeated by his Democratic challenger and beaten badly. Should he be reelected his victory will be a mandate of corruption in Congress, and that will be a loss for us all.
2 comments:
It probably has more to do with pork than politics. As the #2 guy in the House, and possibly in the top five most powerful people in America - he's in a position to bring home the bacon. (At least theoretically, of course - Republicans who don't want to see Delay's face in their opponents' ads may not be as cooperative as they used to be.)
I used to live in Dick Gephardt's district when I was in law school, and the stuff you'd hear him talk about on the Sunday news shows as a Democratic leader never came up in local campaigns - he ran on his ability to deliver jobs, as measured in government contracts for the local Boeing plant. Even though Gep's political positions were at odds with his essentially conservative district - they kept voting for him because of that reason.
In a corruption case - party activists may be in for a surprise in the general election - Dan Rostenkowski sailed through the primary only to have his 90% Democratic district toss his thieving ass and let a Republican hold the seat for 2 years.
Thanks for the retort. Sometimes looking at things from a Federal level erases the pragmatism at the local district. Of course if they're coming out for Delay in such large numbers he must not only be bringing home the bacon, but the whole pig.
Well see how the Democrats far in this one, although if they can't get their platform set we'll be in for another Delay term.
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