A recently published Rogues Gallery of the top 20 most corrupt members of Congress has Republicans winning by a landslide.
Not that congressional corruption is news. It's always been clear that Congress consists of one-third scoundrels and crooks; two-thirds idiots; and three-thirds "poltroons" (cowards), with a nod to H.L. Mencken.
But as I contemplate my upcoming trip to the polls, I reviewed an interesting list of the twenty most corrupt members of Congress. While I think sometimes there are important national issues to consider - that in certain cases might excuse a little corruption or influence peddling - this fine inventory of rogues (compiled by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)) is an entertaining document to use as a starting point. I was surprised that this non-partisan roster is so lopsidedly Republican by a margin of 17 Republicans to 3 Democrats. Republicans used to be the party of sobriety, family values, and honesty, while big city scallywag Democrats used to excel at milking the system financially and politically for all it was worth. The scoundrels seem to have changed party affiliation in recent years. Republicans have gotten a lot craftier, as evidenced by their skill at hijacking the last two close presidential elections. Three of last year's former winners have already entered a "Hall of Fame" - Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) is now serving an eight-year jail term for bribery, Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) has agreed to plead guilty to crimes that will likely result in a minimum two-year prison term, and former Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) has been indicted in Texas and is facing possible federal indictment in the Jack Abramoff scandal. But some top names are still around: Reps. William ($90,000) Jefferson (D-LA), Jerry Lewis (R-CA), Alan Mollohan (D-WV), as well as Sens. Conrad Burns (R-MT) and Bill Frist (R-TN) who are now under federal investigation. Five wannabes to watch, who just missed making the final cut, but nevertheless earned a "Dishonorable Mention" include such big names as Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) and Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), who was the only Democrat, as contrasted with four Republicans.
Little wonder that disdain for Congress is at its highest level since 1994 when Republicans captured 52 seats to end 40 years of Democratic control of the House and retook the Senate as well.
Only 16-25% of Americans approve of Congress, according to recent CNN - NYT/CBS polls. Respondents say that members of Congress are too tied to special interests. No kidding!
As Norman J. Ornstein, a conservative, said earlier this week at a Washington Forum, "Who are these 16 percent? And What Meds are they on?"
Top 20 Most Corrupt - The lineup with links to backup documentation of unethical behavior:
·Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT) ·Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) ·Rep. Rick Santorum (R-PA)·Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) ·Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) ·Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) ·Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL) ·Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL) ·Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) ·Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) ·Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA) ·Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV) ·Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) ·Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) ·Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) ·Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) ·Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY) ·Rep. Charles Taylor (R-NC) ·Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) ·Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA)
Dishonorable Mentions:
·Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) ·Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) ·Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) ·Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) ·Rep. Don Sherwood (R-PA)