Raum: DeLay Leaves Troubling Legacy

Tom Raum is back with his rose-colored glasses analysis of Washington, this time focusing on Tom DeLay's resignation.
Tom DeLay leaves a troubling legacy for Republicans as they face re-election. The Texan, once one of the most powerful and feared leaders of Congress, joined Newt Gingrich in helping to lead Republicans to power in 1994. But he became a symbol of the widening ethics scandal that now clouds GOP prospects for continued control. Republicans face voters weary of corruption allegations and the heavy-handed tactics DeLay came to personify.
Raum's making the same mistake that most Democrats make. They think that accusations of corruption against a man Democrats hate will move mountains of voters from the GOP into the Democrats' column. That isn't just wishful thinking; it's political naivete.

Sadly, most Americans think that all politicians are corrupt. Republicans found out how well corruption worked against Bill Clinton eight years ago. It went over like the proverbial lead balloon. And that was with Clinton perjuring himself. DeLay's accused of cozying up to a lobbyist. Shocking behavior it isn't.
"I'm not stupid," he said in an interview on MSNBC's "Hardball." He said he had checked with lawyers to make sure every one his actions was within the law and House rules. "My lawyers have been told I'm not a target of the investigation," DeLay said. He said he managed his congressional office "by trusting the people I hired. Evidently, they mishandled that trust."
That won't hardly be a blip on November's radar.
The Texas congressman said hoped to travel around the country to help unify the conservative movement and hoped to remain influential in Republican politics, something he suggested he could do better outside Congress.
That's something that should scare the daylights out of Democrats. They can't defeat a unified Republican Party.

Take that to the bank.

Cross-posted at California Conservative

Posted Wednesday, April 5, 2006 3:06 PM

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