November 10, 2006
Abscam Revisited Posted by Joshua Zeitz at 11:00 AM EST In the wake of the 2006 congressional elections, both parties are gearing up for leadership elections. On the Democratic side, Nancy Pelosi seems likely to run unopposed for speaker, James Clyburn seems likely to run unopposed for majority whip (he may yet draw some opposition, but he remains the hands-down favorite), and Rahm Emanuel, the current chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and chief architect of the Democrats’ victory, is poised to run uncontested for Conference Chair.
The only real race among Democrats will be for the position of majority leader, the number-two spot in the House. One candidate is Stenny Hoyer, a Maryland congressman who is liberal on most issues but hawkish on the war; he is currently the Democratic whip. The other candidate is Jack Murtha, a congressman from Western Pennsylvania who is conservative on most cultural issues but a leading critic of the Bush administration’s war effort. Murtha is also a decorated combat veteran, which increases his appeal.
In an earlier post I suggested that Nancy Pelosi has been smart to make the Democratic party a safe place for Catholic voters, and including Jack Murtha in the leadership will surely only contribute to that strategy. But there’s a problem with Murtha, and I think it overrides whatever strengths he brings to the ethnic equation.
Over a quarter-century ago, Murtha was an unindicted co-conspirator in Abscam, the famous sting operation in which FBI agents posed as Arab businessmen and offered cash bribes to 31 elected officials. Ultimately, one senator (Harrison Williams of New Jersey) and five House members took the bait. Most of the other targets said no, flat-out. Murtha, however, told the undercover FBI agent that he was “not interested . . . at this point.” You can see the full surveillance tape by clicking here. (It’s about an hour long, gets really interesting after about 15 minutes, and the crucial moment comes about 32 minutes in.) It’s not a pretty sight.
To his credit, Murtha didn’t take the money. But he didn’t say no, either, and he didn’t report the offer to the authorities.
In the wake of the Ney, Delay, Cunningham, Foley, Weldon, and Harris scandals, scandals that have strained the trust between citizens and their elected officials, it would behoove the new Democratic majority to place the highest premium on ethics. I have nothing but the greatest respect for Jack Murtha’s stand on the war, but he’s no poster child for congressional ethics. And right now, that’s exactly what the country needs.
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