Tom DeLay defended, rebuked
Edd Hendee, conservative morning talk show host for KSEV-700 radio, pens an op-ed for the Chronicle today on Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle's indirect pursuit of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R, Sugar Land). I'm going to excerpt liberally, because the Chronicle does not archive op-eds:
[W]hat happened in 2002 is that companies gave money to TRMPAC as companies give money to liberal and conservative groups all the time. TRMPAC used this soft money on administrative expenses in some cases, and in other instances gave that money to other political organizations. Companies and individuals also give money to state and national political parties like the Republican and Democratic national committees who, in turn, donate some of that money to state and local groups with similar goals.
One of the indictments against a TRMPAC official says he broke the law by giving $190,000 in soft money to the Republican National Committee, which in turn allegedly sent $190,000 in hard or politically utile money. Indeed, this hard money was used by TRMPAC to help Republicans win a Texas Majority (as the name of the group makes clear).
District Attorney Earle would have us believe this arrangement — so common in American politics that it is taken for granted as a means of dispersing campaign money around the country by both parties — is illegal.
For the benefit of the Travis County district attorney, here are some examples of how soft and hard money have flowed on the Democratic side over the past few years:
• On Oct. 31, 2002, the Texas Democratic Party sent the DNC $75,000 of hard money. The same day, the DNC sent the Texas Democratic Party $75,000 of soft money.
• On July 19, 2001, the Texas Democratic Party sent the DNC $50,000 of hard money. The same day, the DNC sent the Texas Democratic Party $60,000 of soft money.
• On June 8, 2001, the Texas Democratic Party sent the DNC $50,000 of hard money. The same day, the DNC sent the Texas Democratic Party $60,000 of soft money.
• On May 14, 2001, the Texas Democratic Party sent the DNC $50,000 of hard money. The same day, the DNC sent the Texas Democratic Party $60,000 of soft money.
• On Sept. 1, 1999, the Texas Democratic Party sent the DNC $50,000 of hard money. The same day, the DNC sent the Texas Democratic Party $60,000 of soft money.
Mr. Earle, call your office: Your state party has a few things they'd like to discuss. Oh, and by the way: When can we expect your office to indict the Democrats on these same "infractions"?
Strangely, the folks at Chronically Biased neither linked to nor commented on this op-ed, despite the fact that KSEV sponsors their weblog and Edd Hendee is on their editorial board.
Maybe they'll have something to say tomorrow about the ethics rebuke MSNBC is reporting (based on anonymous sources).
Interestingly, the byline for this story is: "Hendee, a Houstonian, is active in Republican Party politics." One wonders if that was supplied by Hendee or written by David Langworthy. Since the Chronicle refuses to answer questions about this editorial page policy, it looks like we'll keep wondering.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 10/06/04 08:32 PM | Houston Miscellany | Print | Comments (4)
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