Urge DeLay's Ethics Cttee Hirelings to recuse themselves

The theatrically outraged GOP spin is already out there wanly suggesting that the House Ethics Committee deal with the misbehaving Mr. DeLay -- who has already changed the rules so that a tie on the 5-5 panel means the investigation dies.

Problem? Most of the party is already beholden to Mr. DeLay's sagging moneybag -- or sac a man as it's known in Franglais -- and two of the GOP members of House Ethics (Lamar Smith, 21st Texas and Tom Cole, 4th Oklahoma) even gave to DeLay's defense fund which the GOP's Bag Man set up himself.

Smith & Cole should recuse themselves from ruling on any DeLay-related ethics abuses, as should any committee member paid out of DeLay's big dirty man purse. If they're doing business with DeLay, they have no business hearing his cases.

This outrageous bit of theater, performed by party shills for a docile, golf-clapping media, rivals Bush's Bamboozlepalooza sets before hand-picked applausebots for sheer hooey. This travesty of justice and insult to democratic principles should stop immediately.

Attributions and contact information for DeLay's personal Ethics Committee follows.

If anyone has dollar amounts on how much each member has received from DeLay's dirty purse, please post so people can share that information with relevant media and congress critters as well.

From As his legal battles mount, DeLay adds to defense fund by Shenon & Pear, NYTimes via SF Chronicle, 03/13/05

A legal defense fund established by Tom DeLay, the House majority leader, has [taken in] more than $250,000 since the indictment last fall of two his closest political operatives in Texas, according to DeLay's latest financial disclosure statements.

The list of recent donors includes dozens of DeLay's House Republican colleagues, including two lawmakers who were placed on the House ethics committee this year [...]

... Lamar Smith of Texas, who has given $10,000 to DeLay, and Tom Cole of Oklahoma, who gave $5,000, were placed on the House ethics committee this year, a move that drew criticism from House Democrats given the possibility that it might investigate the majority leader. [ more] (03/13/05, Shenon & Pear, NYT via SF Chronicle)

Let the committee members -- and any other bought & paid-for moral phony sucking wind for the teevee -- know that covering their asses means losing their seats.

Phone them at their district offices if you're in the area. Use district office zips to email them -- this is, after all, an issue of national importance. The zips are also handy for contacting local media and expressing your opinion on the conflicts of interest.

Share the information with anyone you know who thinks panel members who have contributed to DeLay's defense fund should recuse themselves from future rulings on his behavior.

Committee members' links go to their respective homepages. Phone and fax numbers are self evident. Please be clear, direct and civil. Apologies for the crappy formatting -- window's teensy and my rage is so damn big.

Doc Hastings, Washington
Use the district office zips with Hastings' contact form to send email. Contact form links below apply to individual members.

Washington, D.C. Office
1323 Longworth
House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-4704
[phone]
Fax: [phone]

Tri-Cities Office
2715 St. Andrews Loop, Suite D
Pasco, WA 99301
[phone]
Fax: [phone]

Yakima Office
302 E. Chestnut
Yakima, WA 98901
509-452-3243
Fax: [phone]

Judy Biggert, 13th Illinois and her contact form

Washington, DC Office
1317 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

District Office
6262 South Route 83, Suite 305
Willowbrook, IL 60527
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Lamar Smith, 21st Texas and his contact form

Washington D.C. Office
2184 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-4236
202-225-8628 fax
Hours: 8:30am - 6:00pm EST, Monday - Friday

Austin District Office
5608 Parkcrest Drive, Suite 260
Austin, Texas  78731
512-402-9743
512-402-9867 fax
Hours: 8am - 5pm CST, Monday - Friday  
Sheila Brown, Constituent Services Liaison

San Antonio Office
Guaranty Bank Building
1100 NE Loop 410
Suite 640
San Antonio, TX 78209
210-821-5024
210-821-5947 fax
Hours: 8am - 5pm CST, Monday - Friday

Melissa Hart, 4th Pennsylvania and her contact form

Washington, DC Office
1024 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Ph. 202-225-2565
Fx. 202-226-2274

Allegheny/Butler/Westmoreland Counties
4655 Route 8, Suite 124G
Coventry Square Shopping Center
Allison Park, PA 15101
Ph.412-492-0161
Fx.412-492-0178

Ellwood City Office
501 Lawrence Avenue
Ellwood City, PA 16117
Ph. 724-752-0490
Fx. 724-752-0494

Tom Cole, 4th Oklahoma and the writerep contact form for sending email

Washington DC Office:
U.S. House of Representatives
236 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202.225.6165
Fax: [phone]

Norman Office:
2420 Springer Dr., Ste. 120
Norman, OK 73069
405.329.6500
Fax: [phone]

Lawton Office:
711 SW D Ave., Ste. 201
Lawton, OK 73501
580.357.2131
Fax: [phone]

Ada Office:
104 E. 12th
Ada, OK 74820
580.436.5375
Fax: [phone]