Deane F. Lavender – 5/13/05

This page was last updated on May 15, 2005.

Fair and impartial? No way; Deane F. Lavender; Beaver County Times; May 13, 2005.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“So, U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart believes that the attention centered on Tom DeLay’s ethics is just a product of media hype.”

[RWC] All you need to do is read the press and you know this is a reasonable assessment. For example, in a period of four weeks, the Beaver County Times alone published four editorials attacking Rep. DeLay despite admitting there’s no evidence he did anything illegal.

“That certainly qualifies her to be an impartial chair of the committee appointed to investigate the matter. Hart is a good little soldier of the Republican right wing. She has received money from Tom DeLay’s PAC.”

[RWC] If Ms. Lavender believes Ms. Hart represents the “right wing” of the Republican Party, Ms. Lavender has never seen a true conservative. In action, Ms. Hart is barely right of JFK Democrats.

Regarding receiving contributions from Rep. DeLay’s PAC, I personally don’t like the practice of politicians contributing to each other’s campaigns. My primary objection is that if I contributed to a politician’s campaign, I would expect the contribution to be used only by that candidate. My second objection is that the practice gives the impression that one politician is beholdin’ to another. That said, this is common practice by members of both parties. The donations – a total of $15,000 – were for the 2000 and 2002 races. For her 2000, 2002, and 2004 races, Ms. Hart raised a total of $4.4 million. Therefore, Mr. DeLay’s contributions were fairly inconsequential.

“For these reasons, she is unlikely to stir up trouble for her majority leader, and we can look for a whitewash of the whole affair.”

[RWC] Ms. Lavender certainly has a low opinion of Republicans. In a previous letter, Ms. Lavender accused President Bush of corruption. At least she is consistent.

Ms. Lavender must also have a low opinion of Democrats on the Ethics Committee. You see, there is an equal number of Democrats and Republicans on the committee. A “whitewash” can occur only if members of both parties participate.

Ms. Lavender also appears to forget the same committee “admonished” Rep. DeLay last year despite conceding Mr. DeLay did nothing illegal and broke no House rules.

“Pressure is beginning to mount for the appointment of an independent counsel to head up the investigation. That seems to be the only hope for an honest probe.”

[RWC] Pressure from whom? I don’t want to accuse Ms. Lavender of making things up, but her letter is the first time I heard anyone mention an independent counsel. Ms. Lavender also fails to note no one has accused Mr. DeLay of doing anything illegal.