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DeLay resigned. Now what?

April 04, 2006 12:01 PM

David Chalian, our Deputy Political Director and co-author of The Note offers his insight.

Delay0403 When an email from an aide to the House Democratic leadership arrived this morning saying, "The Republican culture of corruption goes much deeper than DeLay," it became immediately clear that Democrats are a bit concerned about losing their most prominent face of the corruption scandals swirling around Washington as former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) resigns from his seat and removes himself from the ballot for reelection.

Tom DeLay's departure from the scene also seems to indicate that Republicans believe this year's midterm election is going to be extremely close. Control of the House of Representatives very much hangs in the balance. DeLay, a loyal and dedicated leader of the Republican Party, would never want to jeopardize the party's hold on power and clearly believes getting out of the race is the best way to insure a Republican will continue to represent his Houston-area district when the next congress convenes.

"It will no longer be a national race like it was," declared DeLay.

Don't count on Democrats giving up on the corruption argument anytime soon. "Tom DeLay's announcement is just the beginning of the reckoning of the Republican culture of corruption that has gripped Washington for too long. From DeLay, to Scooter Libby, to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, to Duke Cunningham, to Bob Ney, to David Safavian--the list goes on and on," said Karen Finney, communications director for the Democratic National Committee.

April 4, 2006 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (1)

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I don't understand David Chalian's starting point.

This story is about Tom DeLay and his collapsing empire, an empire built on corruption and brass-knuckle politics like only Texans muster. And the entire GOP leadership was behind him -- going so far as to pass an "ethics" bill specifically designed to keep DeLay in power even though he was indicted for criminal behavior.

This story is about the current face of the GOP, and its culture of corruption.

"Democrats 'trying' to keep the story alive"? Man, has David Chalian become a brown-shirt front-man for Drudge, Norquist, and Rove?

I don't get it.

Posted by: Prof. Mark Wheeler | Apr 4, 2006 1:16:15 PM

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