Welcome to MichaelMoore.com!: "April 11th, 2005 12:22 pm
DeLay In Step With Republicans



[Student op-ed from University of Texas at Austin]


By Phillip Lovegren / The Daily Texan


If you go to Tom DeLay's bedroom and can't find any shady buisness practices, check under the covers.

And if you are surprised that the house majority leader would jump into bed with some of the seediest elements of politics, don't be: The methods that DeLay has used to enrich himself and his party are not out of step with the ethical standards of the modern Republican Party. Rather, they are often essential elements in the Republican rise to power.

DeLay's recent troubles have centered on the allegation, currently being investigated by Travis County D.A. Ronnie Earle, that the House Majority Leader funneled corporate money to Republican candidates for the Texas Legislature. One of Texas' few campaign-finance laws is fairly straightforward: Don't take campaign money for personal use.

But the violation of this law and the subsequent massive cash advantage gained by the Republicans was instrumental in allowing the Republicans to make historic gains and take control of both legislative chambers in 2002."