[Crossposted from Green Mountain Daily]
At her press conference on Monday, Republican Congressional Candidate Martha Rainville feebly tried to distance herself from her national GOP benefactors in the US House leadership. With everyone from Speaker Dennis Hastert on down the leadership rolls seemingly either indicted or implicated in some scandal or other, Rainville confirmed that while she would of course support Republicans for House leadership, she may not endorse the current crop.
Rainville laid out her own leadership dream team of Republicans who "...can get something done without waiting for a perfect bill or a perfect plan." Who makes up her ethically superior slate? Why, Nancy Johnson (R-CT), Heather Wilson (R-NM), and Charlie Bass (R-NH).
First of all, it should be stated that none of these Reps to my knowledge has indicated an interest in leadership. It should also be pointed out that, given the polling in their districts, it's possible that not a one of these incumbents will survive re-election. Nevertheless, for those who aren't familiar with these relatively "clean" republicans, here's a primer:
Nancy Johnson:
As the author of legislation to crack down on sexual predators who use the internet, Rep. Nancy Johnson should be among the most vocal critics of the GOP's handling of the Mark Foley imbroglio.
But the dean of the Connecticut Congressional delegation has been remarkably soft spoken about the scandal - the single statement posted on her homepage is nothing more than an effort to deflect criticism from her colleagues in the Republican leadership.
A little odd?
Not!
Johnson apparently was financially involved with Foley, whose penchant for online chats with semi-nude pages threatens to topple the GOP leadership. Before the Florida representative was publicly disgraced, the congresswoman privately teamed up with him to raise thousands of dollars for her campaign, FEC documents show.
Heather Wilson:
Reminiscent of the still-unfolding scandal involving Rep. Mark Foley -- and what many, even on the right, see as a Republican cover-up -- is an earlier scandal involving Republican Rep. Heather Wilson (NM-01) and her husband, Jay Hone. The video above shows a KOAT-TV7 (Albuquerque) news story prompted by one of Wilson's first actions when she was appointed to head the NM Department of Children, Youth and Families. Wilson served as Department Secretary from 1995-1998. On her third day in office, she removed a sensitive department case file, which had been opened on her husband, from the agency's central records repository in Albuquerque. Although Wilson initially denied doing so, she later changed her story and admitted removing the file. In other words, she lied.
Charlie Bass:
A top aide to Rep. Charlie Bass resigned yesterday after admitting he used a government computer to post misleading messages on liberal Web sites.
Tad Furtado agreed yesterday to resign as policy director, the number-two job in the Republican congressman's office.
That click clack sound you hear is former Vermont National Guard adjutant Martha Rainville reloading her M16, as she has shot herself in the foot so many times now, it's time for new ammo...
[Democratic candidate Peter Welch's contribution page... come on folks, don't fool yourself because this is Vermont we're talking about - this is a 5 or 6 point race, and the GOP always closes the deal better in Vermont than we do, hence our Republican Governor and Lt. Governor]