2008 Woodie Awards
The Right Left: Delay's Dismay
Joshua Benesh
Issue date: 10/7/05 Section: Opinions
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Rep. DeLay is accused of utilizing PACs to "clean" money donated by business interests and channel it to necessary candidates for office within the state of Texas, an act that when taken directly is against election laws, laws conveniently avoided by the actions cited in the political conspiracy charges.
In our nation of representative government, a nation built on an elected official's ability to represent the interests and philosophy of a majority of citizens, elected officials must also be held accountable for being representative of the code of ethics of the citizenry. This very code of conduct and ethics is not solely represented by the masses through the turbulent institution of public opinion, but is solidified in our laws, crafted by a nation, in congress, for the betterment of all.
Rep. DeLay in this manner has violated the trust of not only his district in suburban Houston but of the national constituency of the Republican Party and the American people at large. Such outrage and harsh rhetoric on my part is not the result of a slow news cycle with nothing better to talk about. It is the result of shock and disgust at the misuse and outright abuse of power and the system by Rep. DeLay.
This is certainly not the first time Rep. DeLay has faced similar abuse of power issues, last year facing criticism from his peers in the House of Representatives that led to ethics violations. In this case the legal ramifications of the allegations do not stop at the water's edge but instead manage to cross into it blindly with an utter disrespect for the law by one who is entrusted to craft it for us. Through his actions, Rep. DeLay has demonstrated that he finds himself to be above the law and faces the allegations with indifference, framing them as politically motivated and the result of a sleazy leftist cabal.
Rep. DeLay's actions have reinforced the necessity to check back the legislative branch and maintain transparency within all aspects of the government. By abusing the trust of the American people, Rep. DeLay has managed to place himself and his party in a rather precarious position. As the most powerful man in the majority party in the U.S. House of Representatives the implications are shocking. Not only has Rep. DeLay through his disregard for ethics and lawfulness managed to make a fool of himself and risk his own political future but as the House Majority Leader he risks political fallout beyond his wildest imagination.