...and write a few letters to the editor on the rotting core of the Republican party under Delay's leadership. The recent Time article on Delay's latest troubles, and all of the stink arising from the series of news articles over the last few months should have gotten more attention in our neck of the woods, but thus far hasn't meant squat in my local papers or on local broadcasts in WV. I say where there is smoke, there is fire -- and WV reps. (and the rest of the folks around the country) need to wake up and realize that we see a big blaze where Delay is concerned. (More below the fold.)
Specifically, for WV, Alan Mollohan sits on the Ethics Committee and has received campaign contributions in the past from Delay's PAC. In my experience, his main motivation tends to be reelection, and if he begins to see a move toward anger toward Delay, then his votes and actions may have a little more spine if WV-ians in his district keep pressure to actually oversee the ethics problems with Delay, the link to his former aides arranging illegal oversees junkets, and all of the rest of the contribution mess. But he will need continuous pressure from constituents in order to maintain this spine. This is especially important in the face of the attempted rules change by the GOP to require a full majority of the Ethics Committee to vote to investigate ethics violations, something that would further cement an atmosphere of tyrranny of the majority in the House. Any kossack with a Rep. on the Ethics Committee (or really the House at large) should be on this rules change and contacting their reps. regularly in opposition to this move.
Shelly Moore Capito is another issue altogether. She owes a lot of campaign contributions to Delay and his PAC buddies. She could never have done the fundraising that it took to achieve her first election victory against multi-millionnaire Jim Humphries without Delay's assistance, and she has remained loyal to him despite the ever-increasing stink eminating from Delay's office. Rumor has it that she is mulling a run against Sen. Byrd in 2006 and/or that she is definitely gearing up for a run at the Senate if Sen. Byrd decides to retire. (For that matter, Mollohan has always considered himself Byrd's heir apparant, and needs to show some spine on this issue to prove his worth for the position.) WV residents, even those outside her district, should contact her office immediately to register disgust at her support of Delay and to express anger about the proposed rule change for ethics investigations. She needs to hear from every WV resident loud and clear that behavior DOES count, and that we all have long memories. (You'd think that she would know this after everything her father went through in office with his ethics problems and subsequent conviction for them.)
I'm not as familiar with Nick Rahall and his committee assignments, but the same goes for him -- and for all the rest of the Reps. nationwide. Call on the phone. Send handwritten letters. Call the local offices. Raise your voice and shout that Delay's days are numbered -- no one should be allowed to milk their public office to that extent for their own power and privilege while preaching ethics and morality and not be called on it. It's absolutely shameful. I'm planning on raising this issue with my local Democratic Women's group and getting all of them to write letters to the editor and to their reps., and I'm hoping that we can all do the same. Imagine the joy of piling up letter after letter against Delay on Shelly Moore Capito's desk.