Posted on February 2, 2006
http://www.alternet.org/bloggers/evan/31750/
Oh, how the irony keeps a bob bob bobbin' along. In the vote to determine just how ethically-challenged Tom DeLay's successor would be, the first tally had to be tossed as there were more votes than members casting them.
It's not that anyone was actually attempting rig the results -- who would be stupid enough to do that in such a small group? [rhetorical, please don't answer that] -- but the symbolism is rich you'll have to admit.
In the end it was Rep John Boehner who won the vote. He'll be succeeding Tom DeLay as House Majority Leader winning by a margin of 122-109. For an explanation of the voting mishap and a look at Boehner's boners, see Josh's excellent analysis [HERE]. (For truly tasteless but funny plays on Boehner's -- pronounced Bay-ner -- name, go HERE).
But that wholly symbolic display of the Republican culture of corruption stands side by side with this news about the "reformer" moseying into town, from Campaign for America's Future:
Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, gave nearly $150,000 to colleagues from his leadership political action committee to influence today’s vote for majority leader, according to fundraising records he filed with the Federal Election Commission Tuesday and reported today in a Capitol Hill newspaper.
The Hill today reported that Rep. Boehner gave $150,000 to 30 Republican colleagues on Dec. 15, according to his filing for his leadership committee, the Freedom Project. More than a dozen Republicans receiving money from Rep. Boehner declared their intention to vote for him ahead of today’s vote, including Rep. Gresham Barrett, R-S.C., Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., Steve Chabot, R-Ohio., Rep. Melissa Hart, R-Pa., Rep. Joe Knollenberg R-Mich., Rep. Steve LaTourette, R-Ohio, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Mich., Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., Rep. Dennis Rehberg, R-Mont., Rep. Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio, and Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb.
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