So here we are. Tonight, the House Democrats voted to strip Rep. Bill Jefferson of his seat on the House Ways & Means Committee. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi pushed very hard for this. And it's created a lot of controversy and tension within the Democratic caucus. If you're interested in some of the backstory and play-by-play, see Paul Kiel's on-going coverage.
A couple months ago, a conservative research group scrutinized Rep. Allan Mollohan, Democratic Co-Chair of the House Ethics committee and found a troubling pattern of Mollohan getting earmarks for West Virginians with whom he also had made real estate investments. Shortly afterward, Pelosi forced Mollohan to step down from the Ethics Committee. The Mollohan case is qualitatively different from the Jefferson case. But it was the right decision to ask him to step aside.
Now, isn't it time we detect a pattern here?
That pattern being that Dems take corruption seriously and keep those accused of it out of key positions.
This is a winning stance, people. This is something that can be done to "nationalize" local elections, by tying the Republicans as such to arrogance and criminal behavior.
Hey, Nancy Pelosi, are you (or one of your aides) reading this? Here's some strategy for you. In the November elections, the California Democrats need to embrace a state wide message talking about the culture of corruption run riot in the California Republican delgation. It's not enough to vote a single bastard (Randy Cunningham) out. There is a pattern of collusion and corruption in this group as a whole, and they must be turned out as a whole.
Francine Busby needs that kind of party support. Her campaign for the 50th must become part of a state campaign to root out a corrupt group of people stealing military dollars when our soldiers are fighting to armor and basic necessities.
Just some friendly, partisan advice.
Anglachel
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