Other Columns by Doug Patton
Doug Patton Bio

Printer-Friendly Version

"The issue here is the abuse of power. And it's not just Tom DeLay...it's Republican abuse of power. It's abuse of power in the House rules. It's abuse of power in the ethics process. It's abuse of power in threatening judges...But certainly Tom DeLay, as the leader of the majority, has abused the rules of the House, has abused the rules of law in our country...So abuse of power is the issue that is at issue here." - Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-MD
Minority Whip, U.S. House of Representatives
Fox News Sunday, April 17, 2005

If money is the mother's milk of politics, then "stay on message" is its primary mantra. High-powered consultants are paid ridiculous sums of money to pound that point into the heads of politicians at all levels.

However, as Steny Hoyer's repetitive remarks clearly illustrate, House and Senate Democrats have raised the talking point to an unprecedented art form. Never ones to display much respect for the intelligence of the American people, they have learned to hammer home their message with a mind-numbing redundancy that would put us to sleep in any other venue.

This creates "news" for the mainstream media. The talking heads are all abuzz about the latest Democrat accusations leveled at Tom DeLay, as well as the perceived cracks in his GOP support. (It seems that a few Republicans are running for cover after the latest barrage from their Democrat "colleagues.")

Among the paragons of virtue discussing the House majority leader's alleged ethical lapses on the Sunday morning shows -- in addition to the above-quoted Hoyer -- were New York Senator Chuck Schumer and the always-ethical Rep. Barney Frank, D-Massachusetts. You will recall that when one of the Honorable Mr. Frank's boyfriends was caught running a male prostitution ring out of the esteemed congressman's apartment a few years ago, a slap on the wrist was the order of the day. Apparently, Tom DeLay taking a lobbyist-paid junket or hiring a member of his family for campaign work is a far worse offense.

I first met Tom DeLay in 1994 when he campaigned on behalf of the congressional candidate for whom I was working that year. It was quickly evident to me that this fiery Republican congressman from Texas was dead serious about the fiscal and social conservatism he was espousing. When he spoke of undoing a half-century of liberal activism, you knew he meant it.

After the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress, DeLay rose to majority whip under Speaker Newt Gingrich, and later to majority leader under Speaker Dennis Hastert. Each step of the way, he enjoyed the support of his GOP colleagues, who knew him to be a man of his word and a man who could get things done in the House of Representatives.

The charges against DeLay are not new, of course, but the ferocity of the attack is definitely intensifying. Apparently, the Dems have decided that the gentleman from Texas who has dared to criticize the arrogance of the federal judiciary must be brought down.

>> Continued -- Page 1 2