This is a continuation of my "Target the Corrupt Republican" campaign. With help from some Kossacks, some of my own readers and hopefully the Rapid Response Network, I have started this campaign to publicize the corruption of Congressional Republicans. I have been heartened that even the mainstream media has been picking up the DeLay sleaze stories. In essence, we have already scored a victory against DeLay because now his name is associated with the word "scandal" even in the mainstream media. Don't underestimate the value of doing that. But ideally we would bring him down like we brought down the Gingrinch. And that is possible. So DeLay is still a target and will continue to be.
But it is more than just DeLay. I have been looking to target a series of Republican Congresscritters to expose their ethical lapses.
I want to continue my focus from last week, but I want to do so in a more targeted fashion. I still want to focus this week on Tom Delay and Mike Oxley, two top Republicans in the House who have major scandals.
TOM DELAY:
First, read up on what little Tommy DeLay has been up to:
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/03/12/delay/
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/031505Z.shtml
http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2004/Tom-Delay-Unethical8oct04.htm
http://www.ethicsscoreboard.com/list/gop.html
If you missed last week's action, start by lobbying your Rep. demanding DeLay resigns. The easy way to do this is:
http://www.workingforchange.com/activism/action.cfm?itemid=18721
But even better than this, contact your Reps office directly by looking him or her up on:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/
Then focus on the ethics committee. Let them know you are sick of DeLay's scandals and you want him out:
Here are the 10 ethics committee members you need to call:
- Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA): 202-225-5816
- Rep. Judy Biggert (R-IL): 202-225-3515
- Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX): 202-225-4236
- Rep. Melissa Hart (R-PA): 202-225-2565
- Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK): 202-225-6165
- Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV): 202-225-4172 (Ranking Minority Member)
- Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH): 202-225-7032
- Rep. Gene Green (D-TX): 202-225-1688
- Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA): 202-225-1766
- Rep. Michael F. Doyle (D-PA): 202-225-2135
Or go here for more info on the ethics committee:
http://www.commonblog.com/story/2005/3/8/112531/5955
Now here is the more targeted action compared with last week. Instead of having everyone choose whatever newspaper to write to, I am urging EVERYONE to write to ONE newspaper and ONE website, and, if you get the chance, to do so as often as possible this week. I am choosing for this week USA Today and CNN:
USA Today:
www.usatoday.com and jdrinkard@usatoday.com
CNN:
www.cnn.com
For anyone who lives in Texas or who just wants to write Texas papers, here is a paper from DeLay's district:
Galveston County Daily News: www.galvnews.com
MIKE OXLEY (OH-4):
Mike Oxley (OH-4): Ohio Congressman Mike Oxley, Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, should have faced a serious investigation and sanctions for a seamy transaction in which he offered to drop a much-needed probe of the mutual insurance industry if its Washington-based trade group, the Investment Company Institute, agreed to hire a Republican to oversee its lobbying efforts. House Democrats balked at filing an ethics complaint after Tom DeLay and Company threatened to counter with a volley of ethics complaints against Democrats. Though this tactic finally collapsed with DeLay's own ethical problems, it managed to spare Oxley, so far at least. Here are some links with further info:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/3/9/19274/36787
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A28822-2004Mar3¬Found
=true
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031208/SROXLEY/112070097&SearchID=732034
83665556
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031208/SROXLEY/31207007&SearchID=7320348
3665556
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031207/SROXLEY/31208011&SearchID=7320348
3665556
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031207/SROXLEY/31209005&SearchID=7320348
3665556
Again, contact your Representative and ask that these ethics violations be investigated and punished. And contact the media demanding Oxley come clean and resign if necessary regarding these violations. You can do both through:
http://www.congress.org/
I want to focus on these two guys for awhile, but I am considering my next target. Any suggestions? I am thinking Roy Blount of MO and Conrad Burns of MT. If you have a particular suggestion, I will need help doing the research.
Most importantly, I need you to help me spread the word on this. PLEASE do all you can to get more people in on this?
Thank you!