MyDD :: The ethics fight can't end with Tom DeLay

The ethics fight can't end with Tom DeLay

by Chris Bell, Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 04:06:02 PM EST

Chris Bell is a former Democratic Congressman from Houston now running for Governor of Texas. His website is www.chrisbell.com.

Like all of you, I was extremely pleased to see the Travis County Grand Jury indict Tom DeLay this morning. Today's indictment makes it obvious that the House Ethics Committee needs to finally launch a full investigation of the ethics charges I filed against DeLay last year.

When I broke the so-called `ethics truce' and took on Tom DeLay last June, there were even a few Democratic leaders who asked me to back off. But now it is clear that the corruption in Texas goes all the way to the top and that his cash & carry criminality has infected all levels of Texas government.

But we need to remember that the need for ethics reform will not end with the criminal indictment of Tom DeLay or even his conviction. Here in Texas, we know that this is just the first step. Insurance companies bought themselves a legislative majority here to stifle long-overdue reforms, and big donors of all stripes have long since put the bit in Rick Perry's mouth. Texas is the national case study for why reform is such a powerful issue right now.

Like all of you, I will be watching the DeLay proceedings with great interest, but we can't afford to just sit back and wait on the sidelines while this drama plays itself out. We need to view today's indictment as a call to action to start getting serious about ethics reform here in Texas. That's why I'm committed to making ethics reform a central issue of this campaign.

I urge you all, Texans and non-Texans alike, to join me in this fight. The fight for real reform can't be waged in Washington, DC alone. We need to fight in every state capitol and in every precinct, and I can't think of a better place to start taking out the trash than right here in Texas.

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Permalink :: 12 Comments :: Post a Comment

Kinky for Governor (none / 0)

Why the hell not?

by craverguy on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 04:46:11 PM EST

Re: Kinky for Governor (3.00 / 1)

how rude! lol... Chris Bell for Governor!

by KainIIIC on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 10:12:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Are you kidding? (none / 0)

The GOP is looting America and EVERYBODY can see it..

Even rank-and-file GOPers are starting to freak.. now you know its bad..

by ultraworld on Thu Sep 29, 2005 at 02:06:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Kinky for Governor (none / 0)

Forget Kinky.

Chris Bell for Governor!

by v2aggie2 on Thu Sep 29, 2005 at 12:53:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Kinky for Governor (none / 0)

In a recent Hamilton-Beattie poll of 700 likely Texas voters, Chris Bell got beat by Felix Alvarado.

If Chris Bell can't beat a no-name high school principal from Fort Worth, why should we believe he can beat the sitting governor of Texas?

by craverguy on Thu Sep 29, 2005 at 01:45:22 AM EST
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Re: Kinky for Governor (none / 0)

You're not in Texas

by v2aggie2 on Thu Sep 29, 2005 at 03:26:29 AM EST
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Re: Kinky for Governor (none / 0)

I was born there, I lived there for twelve years, and my family lives there. I am a Texan, my friend.

And I'm telling you, as a Texan, Chris Bell has no chance to win. Zero. Zip. None. He's getting beat in the primary by a high school principal with no money and he's getting beat in the general by a singer/author with no party.

by craverguy on Thu Sep 29, 2005 at 03:33:06 AM EST
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Re: Kinky for Governor (none / 0)

There is still over a year left also.
I wouldn't put any stock in polls now.

by v2aggie2 on Thu Sep 29, 2005 at 03:27:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Damn right! (none / 0)

Across the nation we have to fight corrupt Republicans. Here is my blog on Targeting the Corrupt Republicans. Please stop by and participate. And if anyone wants to contribute an article, send it to me and I will consider it for inclusion on the blog (with full attribution, of course). We have to bring down the corrupt bastards!

by mole333 on Wed Sep 28, 2005 at 10:23:57 PM EST

Thanks Chris! (none / 0)

It was a pleasure meeting you at the Rural Texas Democratic Summit in Tyler in August.

You took on Tom Delay in the House.
We will help you become the next Governor of Texas.

Also, kudos to Ronnie Earle.
It reminds me that justice can still prevail in our society.

by v2aggie2 on Thu Sep 29, 2005 at 01:00:00 AM EST

Democrats need to defend Earle better (none / 0)

I know Chris Matthews is no better than Tim Russert when it comes to political honesty. But even I was flabbergasted watching yesterday's show where he had Delay as a guest and he pretty much kissed his ass the entire segment. Not only did I have to see Delay predictably badmouth Earle, but he was being encouraged to do so by Chris himself. It was as bad as watching Brit Hume talk to a republican.

Chris kept bringing up or implying points like

Earle's prosecutions numbers for democrats were skewed because early on in his career, he was pretty much surrounded by democratic politicians, so he had some democratic enemies since there were very few republicans in his region at the time.
Earle is incompetent. He failed during the Kay Baily Hutchinson prosecution.
Earle has a vendetta.
Delay : what you did wasn't really that bad, even if one ignores the legality of it.
You are innocent until proven guilty.(as if there was a need to belabor that point).

There was not a single democratic politician called on after this segment to give a counterpoint. Democratic politicians need to grow a spine and refuse to give MSNBC, CNN information if they are not being given equal chances on these networks.

by Pravin on Thu Sep 29, 2005 at 10:33:19 AM EST

Ring the Chris Bell (none / 0)

Bell is ringing an alarm that we should heed. The british, at the dawn of our country - attempted to shoulder us with corruption - they laid government of the colonies at the feet of the east india corporation on a deal that guaranteed money to a select few while king george was pissing blue.

I happen to believe Frist is ok, but Delay is a freaking crook. And there are many others - Abramoff, Norquist, and probably in particular those "business council" leaders that do fundraising.

by turnerbroadcasting on Thu Sep 29, 2005 at 12:25:40 PM EST

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