The Murtha/Hastings bribery double whammy

It's increasingly clear that the Hoyer-Murtha leadership race is hurting the Democrats by diverting attention from the party's election victories and creating strife within the caucus. But I think most observers still haven't grasped just how damaging it will be to the party if John Murtha is chosen as majority leader and Alcee Hastings is chosen by Nancy Pelosi as Intelligence Committee chair.

Neither was convicted of a crime, but both were deeply involved in alleged bribery scandals. Here's Norm Ornstein on Murtha's involvement in the Abscam scandal: "[Murtha] did refuse to take the money -- but here is what he said: 'I want to deal with you guys a while before I make any transactions at all, period. ... After we've done some business, well, then I might change my mind.'" And Hastings was removed from the federal bench for what the Washington Post described as "engaging in a 'corrupt conspiracy' to extort a $150,000 bribe in a case before him." The Post noted that it was "the first time a federal official has been impeached and removed from office for a crime he had been acquitted of by a jury."

Putting both of them in positions of responsibility will be a signal that Democrats aren't serious about governing responsibly. And they will pay a price politically -- the attack ads write themselves.

Update 11/16 12:20 PM: Hoyer won, so I guess it's one alleged bribery target down, one to go.

Comments

[SomeCallMeTim]

There seems to be serious disagreement about the importance of the charges made against Hastings. Mark Schmitt, for example, said in comments at Yglesias's place that the impeachment was garbage. And, not for nothing, but apparently Harman's being investigated right now by the FBI for attempts to use AIPAC's influence to secure her seat. Given what's going on in the world, and where it's going on, it's not clear to me that an inappropriate relationship with AIPAC (or CAIR or whomever) isn't a substantially larger concern than whatever is really at issue with Hastings.

Further, it's no longer clear whether you are making substantive objections to Hastings' fitness for the position, or whether you're arguing that even if he should be placed there, the cost in bad publicity is too high a price to pay.

The struggle for House leadership isn't "hurting" Democrats nor is it hurting Pelosi.

It's just politics: they have to pick a leader and the members vote.

I'm not sure ANYONE has demostrated that there is some downside to this event other than the media and Republicans trying to make it SEEM like "Democrats are turning on themselves after a big victory." This whole process is just the politcal machinery at work.

[Lettuce]

I'm with Brendan, as long as there's an accusation out there, you should be facing the blackball.