April 11, 2005, 10:09 a.m.
Target: DeLay
Fair charges or a partisan campaign?

By Eric Pfeiffer

The national media and liberal interest groups have circled their wagons around Tom DeLay. What degree of truth there is, if any, to their allegations remains unknown. However, there can be little doubt the onslaught of negative coverage has done damage to DeLay’s image. At the same time, support from conservative allies remains vibrant.

Therefore, two questions remain: Is there truth to the allegations against DeLay and will they cost him his position as House Majority Leader?

Last week the New York Times and Washington Post attacked DeLay with a pair of stories that received significant media coverage.

The Times noted DeLay’s wife and daughter had been under the payroll of his reelection campaigns for several years. The Times clearly implied this tactic was at least unethical if not illegal. However, House rules state employing family members on campaigns complies with congressional regulations. What’s more, the Times failed to name the significant number of congressmen who also employ family members, including over a dozen Democrats such as Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid. As DeLay spokesman Dan Allen tells NRO, “The fact that the New York Times singles out Tom DeLay on the front page shows how slanted they are.”

On the same day, the Washington Post made “news” of a story already reported months ago, that DeLay had traveled with the National Center for Public Policy Research on a trip to Moscow in 1997. There have been accusations that the trips were funded in part by private Russian companies and not by the National Center, as DeLay’s staff reported. However, the National Center released a statement taking responsibility for the trip’s payment, which reads in part: “The National Center for Public Policy Research sponsored and paid for educational trips to Russia and to Great Britain in 1997 and 2000 that included, at our invitation, Congressman Tom DeLay, Mrs. DeLay and Congressional staff members … The National Center for Public Policy Research was careful to pay all the expenses associated with Congressman DeLay's trip. Reports to the contrary are incorrect.”

The Times and Post stories follow additional reporting last month charging DeLay may have violated House rules by accepting a paid trip to South Korea by the U.S.-Korea National Exchange Council (KORUSEC). Literally days before DeLay’s trip, KORUSEC had changed its legal status and registered as a foreign agent. Under House rules, members of Congress and their staffs are not allowed to accept trips from such organizations. However, KORUSEC admits failing to report the changes to DeLay and other trip participants.

As with last week’s Times reporting, the coverage on this topic failed to mention the number of Democrats who also participated in the trips. This did not stop House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, whose own staff member had traveled with KORUSEC, from attacking DeLay. When questioned directly, Pelosi acknowledged it was virtually impossible for trip participants to know of KORUSEC’s changed status. It took nearly a week of reporting from NRO and other sources before major media outlets began reporting Pelosi’s connection.

While Tom DeLay is a national public figure deserving of media attention, it appears his conservative beliefs may have more to do with the focus on him. As Rick Santorum told ABC’s This Week, “When you have a leader of Tom DeLay's passion and Tom DeLay's effectiveness, you have a media that's very much going after him and tracking him and dogging him and trying to find what they can about him.“

However, the scandal that poses the greatest potential threat to DeLay concerns his PAC Texans for a Republican Majority (TRMPAC) and its investigation by liberal Texas District Attorney Ronnie Earle. Three former DeLay associates have been indicted by Earle and are currently under investigation. The associates are accused of taking corporate contributions to fund candidates in state House races, which is illegal under Texas law. DeLay himself has not been indicted or accused of any wrongdoing in the matter. However, Earle has refused to say he will not indict DeLay. Under current House rules, if a leader is indicted under any charge, whether or not they are found guilty, they must give up their leadership position.

Earle has demonstrated a past zeal for indicting conservative figures and even liberals with whom he has personal or professional disagreements. Shortly after she first won her Senate seat, Earle indicted Kay Bailey Hutchison under a variety of charges. The courts threw out those charges in a single day. But again, should DeLay simply be indicted by Earle, he would be forced to step down as Majority Leader. And once he is cleared of any charges, there is no guarantee House members would return his leadership position.

Despite putting forth a great effort, the media has so far been unable to find public dissent in the Republican ranks supporting DeLay.

However, at least one moderate Republican House member is now expressing concern that the negative focus on DeLay could hurt vulnerable House members in 2006. Chris Shays told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, “Tom's conduct is hurting the Republican Party, is hurting this Republican majority and it is hurting any Republican who is up for re-election.” Of course, Shays has not been shy about attacking DeLay in the past and his comments are far from representing a significant number of DeLay’s colleagues.

In addition, there have been persistent rumors that members of Republican Senator John McCain’s staff have leaked negative accusations surrounding DeLay. However, when CBS’s Bob Schieffer asked McCain if DeLay had intentionally broken House rules in taking foreign trips now under question, McCain responded, “I'll take him at his word. So I'm not in a position to make a judgment about Congressman DeLay.”

The media is not alone in hitting DeLay with accusations. Liberal interest groups such as Campaign for America’s Future (CAF), are also taking aim. CAF recently launched a television ad in DeLay’s home district and took out a paid advertisement in the Washington Times. Both ads seek to criticize DeLay from a conservative perspective, claiming he is out of touch with historic conservative leaders including President Reagan and Barry Goldwater. CAF’s Toby Chaudhuri tells NRO, “Tom DeLay's abuse of power has helped create the most corrupt Congress in recent history. Republicans can't duck from DeLay much longer. Every conservative must decide if he stands with DeLay or with decency.”

Of course, CAF and other groups attacking DeLay should not be confused with conservative interests. Other topics CAF is actively focused on include blocking Social Security reform and electing progressive candidates in 2006. Their “Take Back America 2005” conference advertisement features a photo of Jesse Jackson.

In the meantime, DeLay is not retreating from the negative publicity. Dan Allen says DeLay, "looks forward to the opportunity of sitting down with the Ethics Committee chairman and ranking member to get the facts out and to dispel the fiction and innuendo that's being launched at him by House Democrats and their liberal allies."

The current evidence suggests DeLay would not be found guilty of wrongdoing on the subject of foreign-travel expenses if investigated by the House Ethics Committee. And it is clear the New York Times’s attempt to smear him and his family is wholly without merit. But the greatest danger to DeLay, Ronnie Earle, is one not clearly understood by most of DeLay’s supporters or the public. And it remains a danger that has far from subsided.

— Eric Pfeiffer writes the daily "Beltway Buzz" column on NRO.

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