As the absurd bi-partisan stir continues over whether the search of Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-La) offices by the F.B.I. was too aggressive or violated the constitutional separation of powers, I think Citizen Hunters should make a stir about how this illustrates, yet again, the need for effective bi-partisan ethics reforms.
Jefferson, if you missed it, is the Louisiana Congressmen who has been at the center of a 14-month investigation for allegedly taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, $90,000 of which the F.B.I. says he stashed in his freezer.
Though many Democrats are drawing the distinction between the acts of an individual and the much broader pattern of corruption within the Republican ranks, which the Washington Post has called "a criminal enterprise operating out of" the Republican Leader's office, they would be smart to focus on what they plan to do to put in place a system that safeguards our halls of power from the influence of special interest money.
Kudos to Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for having called publicly for an ethics investigation of Jefferson, a member of her own party. I wish Republicans would have done the same as they watched a systemic, massive ethics crisis unfold within their ranks. I was also heartened to see that Pelosi called for Jefferson to resign from his seat on the House Ways and Means Committee.
I realize there is due process involved here, but for goodness sake, can we not start holding those given the public trust to a higher standard than whether or not they committed a criminal offense? Pelosi seems to be taking a step in that direction.
Speaking of holding to a higher standard, I am still not satisfied with the Democrats ethics reform proposal. True it goes further than the watered-down, already weak Republican package, but it still only nibbles at the edges of a huge problem. I think Citizen Hunters are too smart to fall for small ideas claiming to be radical reform.
We need real-time reporting for lobbying contacts and serious enforcement of disclosure rules. We need an independent Ethics Commission to investigate congressional ethical misconduct. If zero investigations in this scandal packed year is not proof enough that Congress clearly can not police itself, I am not sure what would be. The revolving door has got to be shut and no gifts or private travel from lobbyists period!
The above would be a great start. But any serious response to these ethics scandals facing Congress must fundamentally change the system by taking money completely out of it. At the root of almost all of the ethics issues, particularly Jack Abramoff's dealings, is the fact that his clients gave loads of cash to members of Congress who used their power to help the clients out, a quid pro quo.
Democrats should acknowledge every politician, regardless of party, has been complicit in making Washington what it is today, and they plan to do something about it by passing real campaign finance reform: "Clean Elections." This form of voluntary public campaign financing is the only proposal guaranteed to make special interest money a non factor in politics.
Let the Republicans oppose this earthquake of an idea and explain to the American people why special interest money is so needed in government.
Take Action by telling our leaders that we want real reform now! A government so controlled by special interests cannot effectively deal with the real needs of our country and her people.
You may have a point about Jefferson's crimes, if they are crimes, But, there is a biger story here about the overreaching of the exec. branch and I think you shoudl include that in your analysis..
Being from Louisiana I can tell you one thing. If they can just manage to keep their pants zipped, their hands clean, and their mouths shut and listen to us just for a minute when we tell them to clean up their act, old King George wouldn't be poking around where he doesn't belong...we'll tend to that later, as he's the lamest duck since Daffy got run over by a pick-up truck.
If they don't clean house, we will clean the House -- and the Senate. As far as King George and Rove-sputin, we'll deal with them once the Congress gets back into responsible hands.
Posted by: BW at May 28, 2006 11:16 PMIt seems that political affiliation out ranks truth and decency.
If Rep. Hastert and Rep. Pelosi could drop their venomous attacks on each other only to circle the wagons for one of their comrades in congress, one must ask, "why can't they do it for something meaningful?"
We citizens are the authors of this. When we accept silly bickering and small minded attacks of party affiliation or cultural differences, we promote them.
There are many things we need to work together on. The list looks like "War and Peace."
Too much time and energy is wasted on the petty posturing and finger pointing silliness, and too little time is used on establishing an effective means of monitoring, in a respectful way, the doings of our elected officials.
I think maybe the ones doing things that are unethical are well served by the name calling and silly bickering. It spotlights something other than the real deal.
Posted by: evolo at May 29, 2006 06:41 AM"Reject the cynicism and shallow posturing that dominate our media. Tune out the shouting and background noise that masquerade as meaningful commentary. Instead, wrestle, wrestle with those complex issues, be respectful of those with whom you disagree and always remember that despite all our differences there is that common bond that draws us together and binds us together as Americans."
(Gov. Mark Warner in his Commencement speech at Wake Forest on May 16th, 2006)
Posted by: evolo at May 29, 2006 07:31 AMPelo-stert's demand to return the documents is just the latest Beltway eye roller. So two bitter rivals put down their weapons and join forces against the purported injustice of executive overreach. A grateful nation sleeps well knowing the Constitution is safe.
Reality check for the Pelo-sterts in Congress: When a judge reviews a warrant request and finds probable cause that there's evidence of a crime in your office, the cops can go in and get it.
Posted by: JSM at May 31, 2006 02:14 PM