Posted on 01/09/2006 11:27:53 AM PST by conservativecorner
This weekend, Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX) announced that he would not seek to regain his post as Majority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives. DeLay was forced to step down temporarily from his leadership position because he is currently under indictment by Texas Democrat District Attorney Ronnie Earle. DeLay has not been convicted of anything, but the rules for the Republican Caucus in the House are different from those of the Democrats, and the mere indictment is sufficient for a Republican member to step aside from a leadership role.
Unfortunately for DeLay, the Republican Party has once again shown that when the heat is on, the first course of action is not to fight back against bogus charges by the Democrats or misleading spin by the media, but rather to throw current leaders overboard. Abandoning ship is a skill mastered by Republicans, yet it is not a winning strategy. For as long as Republicans continue to back down, Democrats will continue the attack.
As noted in the story DeLay Steps Down As Other Republicans Step Up, following DeLay’s announcement that he would permanently not seek to regain his post as majority leader, a number of House Republicans announced their plans (either publicly or behind the scenes) to seek the position. A number of Republican leaders commented that DeLay’s action was the “right thing to do.”
For the past 11 years, Tom DeLay’s leadership has helped reduce taxes and expand our economy, strengthen our national defense, provide hope to millions through welfare reform, and improve our nation’s schools. Today’s decision, although difficult, continues Tom DeLay’s commitment to put his nation, his constituents, his colleagues and his party first. – RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman
It would have been a pleasant surprise to have the leader of the Republican National Committee actually spend his ink blasting the Democrats for their ongoing attacks and lack of vision rather than trite comments of putting the nation first. The fact of the matter is that Democrats don’t care about real trials or real verdicts. For them, it’s enough to throw out accusations in the court of public opinion, because they know that’s all it takes for Republicans to retreat.
When former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) made a few comments honoring Sen. Strom Thurmond on his 100th birthday, Democrats pounced on the “insensitivity” of the remarks and called for his ouster. What Republicans should have done was collectively say, “Give me a break!” but rather they let Sen. Lott twist in the wind until he had to step down. In this case, Republicans again allowed the Democrats to manipulate the system, and now we are facing yet another leadership void.
Republicans should denounce corruption at every turn. We should also learn to call the Democrats on their tactics and rally behind our leaders rather than using them as chum for the sharks. It’s time to fight back. That would be the action that would be put the nation and the conservative agenda first.
Comparing Sen. Trent Lott's media problems to Sen. Tom Delay's legal problems is comparing apples and oranges. It's clear that Sen. Delay needs to focus his energy on his upcoming criminal trial.
Once again the Republican Party forms a circular firing squad.
Theese charges against him are odviously bogus, but I have to say though, that he is not cut out to be our house leader. After his "no pork left in the federal budget" fiasco, I dont see him as fit to lead.
However I believe this should have been done later and quietly instead of giving the democrats an apperant victory.
Got to agree with Bobby on this one.
Good points.
Whether he actually broke the law is only relevant to whether or not he does some jail time. But he broke the spirit of the law in ways that would have every Freeper here up in arms if he had been a Democrat. The guy is bad news and is a black mark on the reputation of the Republican party.
The thing to remember is that Republicans have to hold up to much higher scrutiny than Democrats (thanks to the liberal MSM), and so we must be much more honest and open than any member of the other party. It's not fair, but that's the way it is. Tom Delay did not live up to that standard.
I think Delay was being sarcastic, but not too many people seemed to get the joke.
Mr. Troll? New on 2/10/06.
Comparing DeLay to Trent Lott should be all we need to know about DeLay...
Once again, it may well be that the GOP emerges from this stronger and with better leadership.
Remember how DeLay famously stated that, in the aftermath of Katrina, that there wasn't a single dime that could be cut from the federal budget?
Remember how vigorously he has fought a sane policy on immigration?
He won't be missed in conservative circles.
"New on 2/10/06."
Check again
There ain't going to be a trial - the Dems got what they wanted - look for the charges against DeLay to be quietly dismissed or settled with zero media coverage.
Right. That is exactly what will happen.
Come on, you can't really think that Tom DeLay is a good posterboy for the Republican Party? I would much rather see Blunt or Pence in charge.
Aren't there term limits for leadership positions on the Pubbie side as well?
I disagree. There WILL be a trial and it won't be pretty.
Maybe we will get a tougher republican leader now ... delay is weak .. same with frist.. we need someone who will fire back to the left side of the aisle.
Please enlighten me as to when a Republican leader that was tossed under the bus by his fellow Republicans was replaced by a STRONGER, BETTER leader? Why don't we just let the Democrats pick the Republican leaders and then they won't have any reason to threaten the cowering Republicans to toss another one and replace them with someone they think is better suited? It seems to me that we've reached the point where this is the only sensible solution instead of repeating this behavior over and over again.
The Republicans are not the only ones with certain repeated habits. Look at what Earle has done in the past and you will see that's his modus operandi when going after his political enemies. He's already accomplished the ends the Democrats planned. Now they will throw as much mud at Delay and hope he goes down in next November's election. Regardless, once the election is over, he will then drop the charges because there is no case. Delay knows it; Earle knows it; the Judge knows it; the Democrats know it; most Republicans who pay attention know it too.
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