RK ARCHIVE - Tom Davis begins his pandering to Virginia's right wing

Davis, the top Republican on the House Oversight Committee had been noticeably quiet about election fraud, Haliburton and similar issues when the Republicans had control of the House and he was Chair of the Committee (and thus had the power to initiate the investigations.) Now he suddenly wants hearings! Could there be a political motive?
Clearly the attack on the NY Times is intended to pander to Virginia's Right Wing Republicans ... the voters that Davis will need if he is to win a primary next year. As detailed in the Washington Times report, there is no legal basis for wasting the Committee's time.

What I find very interesting is the fact that while Davis recognizes that the Times probably did not do anything wrong, he says that even the "appearance of corruption" can be considered a violation of campaign laws.* Why doesn't he apply the same standards to his own behavior?

This is the same guy who thinks its perfectly ok for his wife to work for a lobbying firm whose principal business is selling access to him? How can he say that her business arrangement does not give him the "appearance of corruption?" She gets paid for part time work for providing access to his office?

* -- by the way, I think that the "appearance of corruption" standard applies only to elected officials (such as Davis), not to private businesses (like the NY Times). We hold public officials to a higher standard.

Comments

Be Tray Us... (lgb30856 - 9/19/2007 3:34:10 PM)

you mean that ad?
Lakoff said it is one of the most effective ads ever.

We have been berated by General Betrayus and the bush betrayers.

Thank you moveon.org.

Besides pandering (Teddy - 9/19/2007 4:12:22 PM)

to the republican right, Davis is pulling the old Rove trick of: 1) intimidating the media in order to keep them in line and stifle opposing views, 2) trying to stifle free speech, and 3) telegraphing that the Republicans plan on doing something similar to what they are objecting to, only doing it with a broadside of outrageous lies a la swift boat. Isn't that the Republican Way?

Teddy Nailed It. (KathyinBlacksburg - 9/19/2007 4:35:58 PM)

You summed it up better than I could. This is Rovian indeed. It is also typical of the authoritarian administration and its enablers. The more they do this stuff, the more we have to defy them. The moment when it becomes less safe to speak out is the pivotal moment, the moment when it is most important to do so. And I am afraid we are there (again).

That Move-On could be characterized as "radical" is laughable on its face. What's radical is GWB, Tom Davis and the whole crowd of up-enders who have everything backwards and turned upside down. They are authoritarian to the core.

This is hilarious (legacyofmarshall - 9/19/2007 5:04:07 PM)

On that Washington post article there's a link to information on the 2006 Senate campaign on the right with the following:

"George Allen (R): Allen remains under pressure to campaign for re-election at home."

"Jim Webb (D): Pulling out a win over Allen would qualify as a huge upset in this firmly-red state."

Goodness, the Post was convinced that a Democratic Senate victory was about as likely as a Division II team beating Michigan. 14 months later and we're well on our way to having two Democatic senators.

Davis' ties to Abramoff's K Street (Lowell - 9/19/2007 5:13:54 PM)

Project...see here for more. Also, see here for how Davis skirted campaign finance laws.

That's right Tom - go ahead and have a hearing (totallynext - 9/25/2007 12:25:41 AM)

And then all eyes will be on you - and then the fun begins - perhaps another Macca Moment for our 2008 Senate race.

Or perhaps that great pic of you in your blue - blasted on all those liberal web sites.

Ha!