LTTE about Leach in Muscatine paper

Don’t buy Leach’s claims of integrity
By David Bradley, West Liberty, IA

Since the choosing of a new majority leader for the Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives, I have been giving some thought to Jim Leach and his claims of integrity that he made a focal point of his last campaign. It was such a focal point that his advertising obscured the fact that Leach is a Republican. In the past year, the Republican Party has been rocked by scandal after scandal. One of these scandals cost Tom DeLay his job as majority leader. The choice of replacement came down to two men whose credentials were almost as bad as Tom DeLay’s. Why wasn’t a man of self-proclaimed integrity, Jim Leach, among those to seek the job? At the very least, why didn’t Mr. Leach speak out about the lack of integrity of those who sought the job? This got me to thinking about some of the other ongoing scandals and Leach’s response to them. The sitting president illegally spies on his own citizens without court permission. Jim Leach’s response is ... nothing. No comment either on the president declaring through signing statements which laws he will follow. This almost makes Congress unnecessary. How about the Valerie Plame outing? We are still waiting for a comment. Leach also brings his integrity into question with votes to uphold most of the Tom DeLay’s agenda over the past six years. Much of this agenda has given tax breaks to the rich while taking much-needed programs from the poor. Integrity is not something that comes and goes according to the issue. When injustices are committed, those who claim integrity must speak up and speak loudly. Mr. Leach’s silence speaks volumes. I wonder if Mr. Leach will try to hide his party affiliation in the House race this year as he did last time. I would if I were him. Not much to be proud of there. Will he also tout his so-called integrity this year? Let us hope that the good people of the 2nd District are no longer fooled by this unwarranted claim.

I didn't like him 20 years ago. He always pretends to be the moderate sweater-wearing country gentleman who empathizes but really he votes lockstep with all the other repugs when the votes (for big biz etc. ) count and blows us a few insincere kissed with his meaningless votes on some issue he knows is not going anywhere. The ISEA only endorses him because they have to endorse some repuglican to quell the worries of the GOP teachers in its ranks.

Loebsack is the right man for the job. The ISEA should either endorse Loebsack or get out of the race and choose to not endorse.

If you watch this clown he always has some totaly obscure question (Leach insider) like this asked at almost every "press conference" he has. Look for it it-