Partisan Politics Help Immoral Politicians Prevail

It's All About Power, Not Morals, or Serving the Public

Newspapers, radios, television and internet sites are exploding with information and misinformation on Congressman Mark Foley. Foley resigned on Friday, September 2006 due to a highly sexual content Instant Message session he had with an underage former page. This incident has brought an onslaught of accusations and calls for House Speaker Dennis Hastert to resign. All of this is interesting news, however what good is it doing? The bickering, finger pointing and name calling are due to the upcoming elections. Partisanship is prevalent at all times but reaches the caustic state as elections near. Don't let anyone fool you. It is politics as usual. It's all about power, not morals, or serving the public.

The House Ethic Committee
Truth is there are enough members in each party to cause us to be ashamed as a nation. Here is the House Code of Official Conduct: Rule 23: "A Member . . . of the House shall conduct himself at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House. The House Ethic Committee official name is Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, however they have not met regularly. The 109th Congress first met in January 2005. Fifteen months later, the House Ethics Committee decided to meet for the first time despite having a potentially full plate with Tom DeLay (R), William Jefferson (Democrat, Louisiana) and others. Reportedly the committee was full of partisan infighting and bickering.

The Honorable Allan Mollohan (Democrat-West Virginia). On April 21, 2006, Mollohan stepped down, temporarily he says, from his post on the Ethics Committee, due to an investigation by federal prosecutors. Allegations charge that Mollohan, used congressional earmarks, provided funding for certain West Virginia non-profits, and that he was able to profit personally. Mollohan's personal financial disclosure forms show that he went from income-producing assets of $179-$562K in 2000 to $6.3 million to $24.9 million in 2004. Mollohan said the charges are "spurious". According to a Wall Street Journal Article