More Ethics troubles in Congress.

[Rex Kickass]

Apparently a handful of Congressmen accepted trips to Korea, on behalf of a foreign agent. Three of them Dems, including Pelosi. This is, apparently, a violation of House Ethics rules. All of those who took the trips are pleading ignorance at the time that they accepted the trip.

 

Here's the story.

 

Jan W. Baran, a former general counsel for the Republican National Committee, said that although he was uncertain whether this trip violated the rules, "it's a problem" likely to trigger an investigation by the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, known as the ethics committee. DeLay was admonished three times last year by the ethics committee.

 

An aide to DeLay who asked not to be named said DeLay staff members had general discussions about the trip with the ethics committee before leaving and received verbal approval.

 

A veteran House official familiar with the case, who declined to be named because of DeLay's involvement, said verbal approval is not granted by the committee on such matters.

 

So DeLay seems to be caught in a lie here, everyone is admitting to taking the trips - out of ignorance - but DeLay's camp is saying that they got approval beforehand, even though they apparently didn't. This would be the House Majority Leader's fourth ethics violation within a twelve month time span.

 

With Ethics violations, how many strikes until you're out - of the leadership at least? Apparently, there is no limit.

[Texsox]

 

DeLay has a huge target on his back after the mid decade redistricting strategy he pushed through. I feel bad for the big guy. However, I don't think the press will be able to bring down a tower of a Texan. I'll bet they are just making this stuff up.

[LowerCaseRepublican]

Gotta hand it to the prominent Republicans to stand up for their tenet of personal responsibility instead of handing off blame via lies or diffusing it to other people.

[Rex Kickass]

 

DeLay has a huge target on his back after the mid decade redistricting strategy he pushed through. I feel bad for the big guy. However, I don't think the press will be able to bring down a tower of a Texan. I'll bet they are just making this stuff up.

 

Are you filling in for Nuke while he's on maneuvers?

[YASNY]

Apparently a handful of Congressmen accepted trips to Korea, on behalf of a foreign agent. Three of them Dems, including Pelosi. This is, apparently, a violation of House Ethics rules. All of those who took the trips are pleading ignorance at the time that they accepted the trip.

 

Here's the story.

So DeLay seems to be caught in a lie here, everyone is admitting to taking the trips - out of ignorance - but DeLay's camp is saying that they got approval beforehand, even though they apparently didn't. This would be the House Majority Leader's fourth ethics violation within a twelve month time span.

 

With Ethics violations, how many strikes until you're out - of the leadership at least? Apparently, there is no limit.

 

 

Everyone else is using the Barry Bonds defense.

[Texsox]

Everyone else is using the Barry Bonds defense.

 

LOL

 

Barry is gonna be famous

[Rex Kickass]

I don't think anyone's defense is all that excusable, but why is DeLay trying to cover this up and lying about getting approval beforehand?

 

Maybe its because he's the only Congressman who has a history of ethics violations and may be staring at a felony indictment because of illegal political fundraising activity.

 

He's the majority leader of the GOP and wields a lot of power and apparently shows little to no respect for the rules of his own institution.

 

It didn't fly for Rostenkowski and it shouldn't fly for DeLay. The GOP and America deserves better.

[Texsox]

When stuff like this happens, the DEM and GOP labels should be tossed out the window and let them face the music. Partisan politics being what it is, some peole feel compelled to defend "their" guy.

[LowerCaseRepublican]

When stuff like this happens, the DEM and GOP labels should be tossed out the window and let them face the music. Partisan politics being what it is, some peole feel compelled to defend "their" guy.

 

Correct. If they were idiots -- they should face the music. I just get an extra kick that Delay is one of the biggest proponents of "personal responsibility" yet it always seems to evade him whenever he's got his back against the wall.

[Rex Kickass]

When stuff like this happens, the DEM and GOP labels should be tossed out the window and let them face the music. Partisan politics being what it is, some peole feel compelled to defend "their" guy.

 

I agree.

[southsider2k5]

Bury them all. The only way to start to stop corruption is to actually punish people who are caught in the act. Make an example out of them.

[Rex Kickass]

I think there oughta be an investigation - and if the ignorance defense is true, the dozen other congresspeople oughta get some sort of censure....

 

But DeLay is facing his fourth ethics violation within a 12 month time span. That's just ridiculous. And he's under investigation for a possible felony indictment too.

[Texsox]

I think there oughta be an investigation - and if the ignorance defense is true, the dozen other congresspeople oughta get some sort of censure....

 

But DeLay is facing his fourth ethics violation within a 12 month time span. That's just ridiculous. And he's under investigation for a possible felony indictment too.

 

That's nothing by society's bias against Texas :rolly

 

What I find distressing is someone proposes to fly you to Korea for a couple day junket and it is such a routine act, there is nothing but either an internal vetting or a "hey, there are other people going so it must be ok?"

[EvilMonkey]

I think there oughta be an investigation - and if the ignorance defense is true, the dozen other congresspeople oughta get some sort of censure....

 

But DeLay is facing his fourth ethics violation within a 12 month time span. That's just ridiculous. And he's under investigation for a possible felony indictment too.

 

I can't find the story, but I thought I read that this trip in question was in 2001. Not that it makes the trip itself any better, but this 'violation' would have taken place 4 years ago.

[CubKilla]

Apparently a handful of Congressmen accepted trips to Korea, on behalf of a foreign agent. Three of them Dems, including Pelosi. This is, apparently, a violation of House Ethics rules. All of those who took the trips are pleading ignorance at the time that they accepted the trip.

 

Here's the story.

So DeLay seems to be caught in a lie here, everyone is admitting to taking the trips - out of ignorance - but DeLay's camp is saying that they got approval beforehand, even though they apparently didn't. This would be the House Majority Leader's fourth ethics violation within a twelve month time span.

 

With Ethics violations, how many strikes until you're out - of the leadership at least? Apparently, there is no limit.

 

Let's see..... you're comparing DeLay to the President..... both liars an both caught. But you're only holding the lower to a higher standard.

 

Hypocrisy?????

[Rex Kickass]

I don't follow how I'm comparing the President to the House Majority Leader.

 

If you're referring to Bill Clinton, I believe he was held accountable.