BCT Editorial – 5/8/05

This page was last updated on May 9, 2005.

Perfectly legal; Editorial; Beaver County Times; May 8, 2005.

This is the fourth editorial in fourth weeks – and the second in five days – insisting, “the problem is not DeLay,” yet all of the editorials mention Rep. DeLay repeatedly and none mention anyone else. Does the author not believe his agenda isn’t 100% transparent? The previous editorials were entitled “Power failure,” “One master,” and “Bring it on.”

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“In regard to the House Majority Leader Tom DeLay fueled ethics brouhaha that is bubbling in Washington, it’s important to remember one thing:

“To cite columnist Michael Kinsley, the real scandal isn’t what is illegal, it’s what’s legal.

“For example, The Wall Street Journal reports that in January Delay and his wife flew to Hawaii where they stayed at a hotel with views of what has been called America’s No. 1 beach.

“The trip cost $10,000, the Journal reports, and the DeLays didn’t pay a dime. The tab was picked up by corporation and trade organizations that represent U.S. airports and airlines - and it was all perfectly legal.

“What made it so are House and Senate rules that allow corporate funded trips for lawmakers, their staffs and often their spouses to attend industry seminars, tour plants and speak at annual meetings. DeLay’s sole obligation during his five-day jaunt to Hawaii was to participate in a panel discussion on the first morning of the annual aviation conference of the American Association of Airport Executives.”

[RWC] Why pick solely on “corporate funded trips?” Lest we forget, labor unions and non-profits also fund a lot of privately financed trips. It’s my personal opinion no one in government should be allowed to take trips paid for by private groups of any kind.

“As we have written before, it is a mistake to focus on DeLay. Although his position enhances his opportunities, much of what he has done is standard operating procedure, albeit pushed to the legal limit in his case.”

[RWC] I hope you didn’t miss the “drive by” allegation. In not one of its four recent anti-DeLay editorials has the Times presented any evidence of its claims.

“The trip to Hawaii reflects that. DeLay was not alone. The Journal reports more than 40 lawmakers and staffers from both parties also attended the conference.”

[RWC] Yet Rep. DeLay was the only person mentioned in the editorial.

Why no mention of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) failing to file a report about a 2004 trip to South Korea? The report was not filed until recently and only after The Washington Post alerted her office to the “oversight.” So far, no one has accused Rep. DeLay of failing to file trip reports.

“The companies know what they are doing. ‘Rising budget deficits have increased competition among rival corporations for a shrinking pot of federal dollars, making it more important for companies to stand out,’ the paper reported.

“All lawmakers have a voting constituency and a money constituency. Which one do you think gets most of their attention?”