# Charged with a felony? - It won't stop you from leading the GOP **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 18, 2004, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413 "2004-11-18T03:49:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/1 "2004-11-18T03:49:30Z")
> [@](#): > > House Republicans demonstrated their loyalty to Majority Leader Tom DeLay on Wednesday, changing a party rule that would have cost him his leadership post if he were indicted by a Texas grand jury that has charged three of his associates. More fine leadership on law and order from the morality party. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/2 "2004-11-18T03:56:42Z")
Well, see, when those God-forsaken liberals do stuff like this, it just shows how immoral they are. When fine, upstanding Republicans do it, it’s merely the ends justifying the means. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/3 "2004-11-18T03:58:46Z")
Geez people. No one hates what the repug party is doing more than me. We can all agree on that right? Here’s the link… [http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041118/ap\_on\_go\_co/delay\_20](http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041118/ap_on_go_co/delay_20) Read the last sentence. ---
**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/4 "2004-11-18T04:00:40Z")
Sorry, I meant to post the link. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/5 "2004-11-18T04:19:49Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > Geez people. No one hates what the repug party is doing more than me. We can all agree on that right? > > Here’s the link… > > [http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041118/ap\_on\_go\_co/delay\_20](http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041118/ap_on_go_co/delay_20) > > Read the last sentence. Alright, so fuck dems too. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/6 "2004-11-18T04:20:43Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > Alright, so fuck dems too. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/7 "2004-11-18T04:27:14Z")
Never did much like this rule – makes people too vulnerable to BS political indictments. I’m glad the Republicans are getting rid of it and equally glad they’ll take some political shit over it since they put it up in the first place in a fit of misplaced sanctimony. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/8 "2004-11-18T04:30:48Z")
> [@manhattan](#): > > Never did much like this rule – makes people too vulnerable to BS political indictments. I’m glad the Republicans are getting rid of it and equally glad they’ll take some political shit over it since they put it up in the first place in a fit of misplaced sanctimony. You’re too harsh. Sanctimony is _never_ misplaced in the Republican party. It’s a core value. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/9 "2004-11-18T05:28:30Z")
> [@Kel Varnsen - Latex Division](#): > > More fine leadership on law and order from the morality party. Sorry… I agree with this change. Indictments are too easy to get. It essentially leaves a chairman or other leader at the mercy of any ambitious DA. Conviction is another story. But a mere indictment shouldn’t be enough to remove leadership. And the Democrats already understand this. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/10 "2004-11-18T05:39:29Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Sorry… I agree with this change. Indictments are too easy to get. It essentially leaves a chairman or other leader at the mercy of any ambitious DA. > > Conviction is another story. But a mere indictment shouldn’t be enough to remove leadership. > > And the Democrats already understand this. Well perhaps. But this wouldn’t even be an issue if it wasn’t for the fact that this is a rule they themselves (and DeLay was a part of the group that did? It’s not entirely clear to me either way) put in place as an act of political grandstanding. If there’s any justice, they should be taken to task over this. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/11 "2004-11-18T09:02:27Z")
Despite the fact that yes, the rule was stupid in the first place, if the Democrats did this, then revoked the rule when one of their own was under fire, how long do you think it would take before we heard the shrill cries of “hypocritical, loose-moralled librul fucks!”? (Then again, they have a chance to live up to the GOP’s sterling example of moral steadfastness, according to the article…) ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/12 "2004-11-18T09:21:14Z")
Some of you may remember me saying “Watch DeLay. That will tell you which way the wind is blowing.” Tom DeLay (R, Undead) is not well beloved, he is well feared, many is the rep who would secretly cheer to see him come crashing down. If the extreme wing of R’s is truly in charge, they will bend over backwards and bite their own asses if he requires that they shall do so. But if there is any hope that conscience might be gnawing at the moderates within the Pubbies, this is when you will know. Those with guts and integrity will come forward. If you need more than one hand to count them it is cause to stand up and cheer for the Grand Old Party. And I promise to be the first to do so. At this moment, the future of our nation rests with the sane wing of the Republican Party, on their courage and integrity. God help us. ---
**Author:** ![BJMoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@BJMoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BJMoose)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/13 "2004-11-18T16:34:58Z")
Politicians will be politicians. The bastards. Besides, Mr. Delay hasn’t done something truly horrific like shoving a cigar up someone’s snatch or something. Has he? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/14 "2004-11-18T18:13:51Z")
An indictment is just being charged, right? Folks shouldn’t be punished until they’re actually found guilty of charges, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/15 "2004-11-18T18:36:39Z")
**Ludovic** wrote > [@](#): > > Despite the fact that yes, the rule was stupid in the first place, if the Democrats did this, then revoked the rule when one of their own was under fire, how long do you think it would take before we heard the shrill cries of “hypocritical, loose-moralled librul fucks!”? About as long as it took this thread to be opened. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/16 "2004-11-18T22:42:38Z")
This is from memory so don’t get to prissy with me about this. The rule about indictment rendering a Congressman ineligible for a leadership position is a party rule, not a House Rule. The GOP adopted it when Dan Rostenkowski (scum bag, Illinois) was in trouble some years ago. Its adoption allowed any number of Republican politicians to stand up on their hind feet and declare their moral superiority to those morally derelict Democrats who condone criminal behavior by allowing, nay, encouraging, felons to hold high office. It was a public relations move, nothing more, nothing less. There was no substance to it and it was embraced at a time when the principal motive was to throw dirt at Democrats and especially at Bill Clinton. The GOP doesn’t need to be sanctimonious any more, it having won all the marbles and one of their own facing the possibility of being unconvinced by their own rule. When confronted with the possibility of being hoisted on your own petard the opportunistic seek to defuse the petard. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2004, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/17 "2004-11-18T23:06:11Z")
For those of a sardonic taste in entertainment, your humble correspondent from the conservative wing of the extreme left recommends, once again, Mr. Josh Marhsall’s Talking Points, without which no citizen can hope to remain well-informed. [http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/](http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/) He has been gleefully trying to find congresscritters who will own up to this droll little piece of political chicanery. You see, it was done by a voice vote, a favorite tactic when distasteful proposals must be passed by persons who yet retain a twinge of conscience. And so the efforts to sustain the wise counsel of Rep. Tom Delay (R-Undead)… > [@](#): > > A little side note on the DeLay Rule vote. > > If we can go by comments released by congressional offices, quite a substantial number of Republican members of congress happened to have stepped out of the room (to get food, go to the bathroom, attend to constituent business, etc.) right about the time they did the voice vote on the DeLay Rule. > > Presumably they still had a quorum… Another proud moment for our Republic! ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/18 "2004-11-19T06:06:42Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Sorry… I agree with this change. Indictments are too easy to get. It essentially leaves a chairman or other leader at the mercy of any ambitious DA. That’s certainly the line Republicans are taking. A Republican indicted: it MUST mean that the DA is some sort of crazy monster on a vendetta! No evidence for such slander required. Of course, there is the tiny issue of a leader having the power to try and attack and influence the justice system for personal gain, at the expense of the credibility of the party, turning his own legal troubles into an abuse of power at, again, the expense of the party. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/19 "2004-11-19T06:16:11Z")
Please explain the line the Democrats are taking. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2004, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413/20 "2004-11-19T06:18:46Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > That’s certainly the line Republicans are taking. A Republican indicted: it MUST mean that the DA is some sort of crazy monster on a vendetta! No evidence for such slander required. No, that’s the vast left-wing conspiracy at work. Get with the program! :dubious: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charged-with-a-felony-it-wont-stop-you-from-leading-the-gop/275413.md?page=2)