It's not a good time to be a Democratic politician. With elections just eight months away and Democratic leaders already under scrutiny for their positions on healthcare and the economy, ethics scandals involving Gov. Paterson, Rep. Charlie Rangel and Rep. Eric Massa have given Republicans another way to attack their rivals.
According to the Times, when Democrats took control of the House in 2006, they did so by promising to clear out a "three-word slogan: culture of corruption." Now Republicans are trying to turn the tables. "Speaker Pelosi famously promised the most open, honest and ethical Congress in history," Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) said. "Yet here we go again."
Democrats say the recent New York scandals aren't as bad as when former Republican Majority Leader Rep. Tom DeLay was forced to step down amidst corruption charges. "I would never say that folks should be blithe about their ethical responsibilities. But I think it's quite a bit different," said Democratic National Committee chairman Tim Kaine. "But a couple things that happened in the same week in one state is different than the kind of corruption that roped members of Congress in from all over the country."
