The Sandspur

Issue date: 10/7/05 Section: Opinions

Media Credit: Brian Hernandez

My liberal counterpoint, an otherwise honorable man, chose our topic this week, and it is quite a topic indeed (coughs sarcastically). It is not his fault, really. The world is just currently a highly uninteresting place. It must be for Tom DeLay to be the best topic that we can conjure up.

Two committees that U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay created, Texans for a Republican Majority and Texas Association of Business, were indicted on five felony accounts between the two of them for political conspiracy.

Texans for a Republican Majority allegedly accepted campaign funds illegally. The Texas Association of Business was charged on four accounts, including unlawful political advertising, unlawful contributions to a political committee, and unlawful expenditures.

Rep. DeLay was at first not personally charged. However, he was eventually indicted, along with his committees and two other individuals involved. Rep. DeLay insists innocent, seemingly playing off the charges and confidently declaring that they have no grounds to charge him.

I do not know if Rep. DeLay is innocent. I do not have all of the evidence. I am not a lawyer. I am not a judge. I am not a member of the jury. I cannot decide his guilt or innocence fairly.

What I can decide is that news must be extremely slow for this story to be on the front page of every newspaper in every city every day.

Politicians, unfortunately, are not always the most honest citizens. I know it may surprise to you hear that, but somebody has to say it. I am not saying that this behavior is acceptable, and I am not saying that it should not be prosecuted. I am only challenging how newsworthy it is.

We are updated on every footstep taken within the confines of this case. We are confronted with it everywhere. You cannot turn on the radio or television or read the newspaper without seeing the name Rep. DeLay.

The story has been sensationalized several times over due to the lack of interest that the story would hold without it

For example, the New York Times ran a story on their front page that week with a headline that read, "DeLay is Indicted in Texas Case and Forfeits G.O.P House Post."

While not an entirely inaccurate headline, it is misleading. When considering the word "forfeit," the connotation is generally one of permanence. It also suggests forced submission at a point of desperation when there is nothing more that can be done.

Continued...

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