The Democrats' First Test

The number one concern on the voters' minds during the Democratic Tsunami of 2006 was corruption, according to the exit polls. And that's good, because corruption in government is among the most insiduous anti-democratic forces to be reckoned with.  Now that Democrats are in charge in Congress, we need to see that our representatives there are fully on board with us and with the voters where it concerns this issue of paramount importance.

I see the election of leadership in the House as the first big test on whether the Democrats will bring needed change, and hold out an example that will help us keep our moral authority, and the voters' attention.  And the move toward Congressman Murtha for Majority Leader is a first step in the wrong direction.

More on the flip.

This all comes down to ABSCAM for me. His words are on tape, his actions are on the record, it is damning, and it is enough information to tell us that Murtha is the wrong choice.

I like Congressman Murtha.  I admire his commitment to principle on the war in Iraq, on protecting Constitutional rights, and on fulfilling our commitments under the Geneva Conventions.  If I were a constituent, I would campaign for him in a heartbeat.  But that isn't enough to earn a leadership role - particularly for House Majority Leader.

See for yourself:

Congressman Jack Murtha (D-PA) was not indicted or prosecuted. The FBI videotaped Murtha as saying, "I'm not interested...at this point." to $50,000 cash right after Murtha had offered to provide names of businesses and banks in his district where money could be legally invested.[6]

In November 1980, the Justice Department announced that Murtha would not face prosecution for his part in the scandal. In July 1981, the House ethics committee also chose not to file charges against Congressman Murtha, following a mostly party line vote, after which E. Barrett Prettyman, Jr., the panel's special counsel, abruptly resigned in protest. House ethics rules require members to immediately report any bribe offers to the FBI.

And, if the unreported Bribe attempt, and the signal that Murtha was open to the possibility of being bribed if he could be sure he wouldn't get caught isn't enough, his dishonesty in dealing with the ethics committee on the matter puts this whole affair beyond the pale:

In 2002, one of the panel members, Rep. Don Bailey (who lost to Murtha in a primary challenge in 1982) released a public letter stating "I was, to be honest, critical about how you misled me about Abscam where you convinced me you had voluntarily told federal agents about the offer of money to you," Bailey wrote Murtha. "I learned later, after I had successfully defeated the ethics charges against you, that you had merely manipulated the system to cooperate with federal agents to avoid prosecution," Bailey added.[7]

See the video: Part one, Part two.

It's time, I think, for the NetRoots to take this to the next level, and demand the election of a majority leader who can set an ethical standard worth our following.