GOP moves could silence complaint against DeLay

WASHINGTON -- House Republicans are trying to block U.S. Rep. Chris Bell's ethics complaint against House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, with Democrats saying the GOP is trying to silence any criticism of its chief.

Republicans denied they were trying to muzzle allegations against DeLay. But in the escalating partisan warfare touched off by investigations into DeLay's political dealings, Republicans' maneuvers may prevent Bell's complaint from being examined by the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Ill., took steps Thursday to throw out the complaint by Bell, a Democrat whose Houston-area district borders DeLay's.

LaHood said that because Bell is a lame-duck congressman, after losing the Democratic primary this year in his freshman term, he "has no stake in the institution" and should be disqualified from filing the charges. Bell's term expires at the end of the year

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If they keep it up, we just might be rid of a lot of deadwood eventually.

Then Gephardt, Kucinich, or someone else should file the charges instead. Seems no one but Bell wanted to stick their necks out. I mean, aren't ALL representatives "lame duck" this close to an election...technically?

Not that I think that wuss would have the guts to do it, but since Gephardt is retiring, he wouldn't be able to file the charges either. But where is Kucinich on this matter? If he is unwilling to support Bell on this matter, than his whole run for President has been a sham.

Remember it was the lame duck right wing congress that impeached Clinton? The Democrats told them it would be more legitimate to wait for the new congress to be sworn in, but Delay and the rest of the rats would have none of that.

Now, they are crying about lame duck actions! How unsurprising.

the reasoning given by lahood distills down to the bizarre thesis that Bell is not really a congressman anymore.

next step would be to deny bell other rights granted by the institution he serves. voting, for instance.

words and ideas have consequences. lahood's stance is another example of the right-wing's systematic attack on the rights of standing members of the house of representatives to carry out their duties as they see fit.

this is not an attack on bell alone. it is an attack on the rights of all members of that body, and thru them, the american people.

it is a radical, right-wing revolution that is sodomizing the constitution and its value.

I am in the Washington 3rd, and urge everyone here to do the same:

Dear Congressman Baird:

Once again, the Rebublican leadership of the House of Representatives is hypocritically working to hide the truth. The fact is, to quote a character from "A Few Good Men," they can't handle the truth.

Just this week, Congressman Chris Bell from Texas filed ethics charges against Tom DeLay, the most unethical, petty, and partisan congressman ever to lead either party. DeLay's ethical violations are the stuff of legend. It would be a serious moral lapse of Congress to ignore the unethical and underhanded way in which he has thwarted and manipulated the work of this august body.

Now, Rep. Ray LaHood, is trying to quash this ethics investigation because Rep. Bell, being a lame duck. has "no stake in the institution." This is, simply, hogwash. I am not familiar with the rules governing the filing of ethics compalints. I do know one thing, however; every American has a stake in the institution of the House of Representatives.

I implore you to do everything in your power to see that this complaint against Rep. DeLay is pursued without delay. Do not let this matter be swept under the rug. If necessary, please file this complaint under your own name with or without the addition of other Democrats.

Sincerely,