Nov. 8, 2006
Column #1,315
For Release Nov. 9, 2006
Corruption, not Iraq, Drove Vote
by Michael J. McManus
Republican corruption – not the Iraq war – drove more to vote Democratic in the
election.
Exit polls indicate that two-thirds of voters claimed the war in Iraq prompted
them to vote for Democrats; however, three-fourths voted for Democrats out of a
disgust over "corruption and scandals" exhibited by Republicans in power.
More than half of voters were dissatisfied with the way Republican leaders dealt
with Rep. Mark Foley for his liaisons with Congressional pages. These voters
chose Democrats by a 3-1 margin. This column urged Speaker Dennis Hastert to
step down as Speaker. Had he done so, rather than appoint a commission which
has yet to report its findings – results might be different.
In 1887, Lord Acton wrote, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts
absolutely." Hastert had absolute power, but did not use it to expose Foley a
year ago or to resign when the issue surfaced. In a democracy, such power is
short-lived.
There have been many recent forms of corruption:
1. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas, #2 House Republican, was forced to
resign over indictments for improper fund-raising and taking favors from
Lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Similarly, Rep. Robert Ney (R-OH) pled guilty Friday to
conspiracy and false statements for trading official acts for campaign
contributions and lavish meals by Abramoff. In both cases, Republicans who
stood in for DeLay and Ney were defeated by Democrats.
2. Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) took money from Abramoff to pressure the Interior
Department to award a $3 million grant to an Indian tribe, an Abramoff client -
dismissed its importance, saying "We are just moving on." Right. On to forced
retirement, after being defeated narrowly by Jon Tester.
3. Tester said a sexual scandal was partly responsible for his easy primary
victory over a better-known, better-financed rival, two-term State Auditor John
Morrison, after the Billings Gazette reported Morrison had an affair with a
woman who married a man investigated by Morrison.
4. Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA), apparently in a safe district, was defeated 57-43
percent after being investigated by the FBI for performing favors for
foreign-controlled business that employed his daughter. Another safe
Pennsylvania Republican, Don Sherwood, lost after his former mistress charged
that he choked her. Similarly, Rep. John Sweeney of NY, fell after being
embarrassed by a police report that he had roughed up his wife.
5. Ohio Gov. Bob Taft, great-grandson of a President and Supreme Court Chief
Justice, grandson and son of U.S. Senators, squandered his family reputation by
pleading no contest to four misdemeanors involving a failure to report gifts
from lobbyists. The scandal "provided blowout wins for Democrats" Ted Strickland
trouncing Republican J. Kenneth Blackwell for governor and Sherrod Brown over
U.S. Senator Mike DeWine, said The Cincinnati Enquirer.
6. The Republican named to compete for Foley's seat was defeated.
7. Republicans were unable to use similar scandals to defeat two Democratic
Congressmen being investigated for wrongdoing. Alan R. Mollohan of West
Virginia coasted to a 2-1 victory and Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson, who hid
$90,000 in a freezer. The FBI seized it. Yet Jefferson defeated opponents..
Before the election, The Wall Street Journal commented that what made the
Abramoff bribery scandal "especially striking - and worrisome for members of
Congress - is that some of its elements include transactions that occur in
Washington every day. It is commonplace for lawmakers to solicit campaign
donations from lobbyists, who routinely offer them in hopes of gaining
advantage." What set Abramoff apart was his extravagance, such as lavish trips
to Scotland for golf.
A CNN exit poll of voters reported corruption as the top issue compared to
terrorism, the economy and Iraq.
The stench of scandal by conservatives helped defeat the first state marriage
amendment in Arizona by a 51-49 vote. However, seven states passed them,
making a total of 27 states who voted to preserve marriage as being limited to
one man and one woman. The votes were Colorado, 56-44 (and a 53-47 defeat of
domestic partnerships); Idaho, 63-37; South Carolina, 78-22; South Dakota,
52-48; Virginia, 57-43; Wisconsin, 59-41 and Tennessee, 81-19, which helped
Republican Bob Corker narrowly defeat Rep. Harold Ford for Senate. The Virginia
amendment has made the race between Democrat Jim Webb and Republican George
Allen too close to call.
On Wednesday, Speaker-in-waiting Nancy Pelosi promised, "Democrats intend to
lead the most honest, the most open and the most ethical Congress in history."
Sorry, I've heard that before - by House Republicans who made the same
pledge when they took over in 1994.
END TXT Copyright © 2006 Michael J. McManus
Michael J. McManus
syndicated columnist
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