Editorial: Hubris strikes again

Friday, Nov. 19, 2004 | 8:53 a.m.

House Republicans, seeking to capitalize on what they viewed as arrogance and corruption among Democratic leaders in the early 1990s, passed a party rule back then that would have required House Republican leaders to relinquish their posts if they were ever indicted. The rule -- an attempt by Republicans to portray themselves as having higher ethical standards than Democrats -- was a precursor to the Republicans' popular Contract With America, which helped them capture a House majority in 1994. It's a hold on power they haven't relinquished.

It was fascinating, then, to read this week that House Republicans gutted this 1993 rule, changing it so that someone in a leadership position isn't automatically removed from his post upon indictment. Not so coincidentally, supporters of House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, are worried because a Texas district attorney has indicted three associates of DeLay in a political corruption probe, and the concern among Republicans is that he could be next. DeLay said the rule change was necessary protection for leaders against district attorneys who might be "political hacks" with partisan agendas. The prosecutor in Texas is a Democrat, but he has indicted more Democrats than Republicans in his career, laying to waste any Republican claim that he is on a partisan witch hunt.

House Democrats criticized the Republicans' action, but DeLay's backers noted that Democrats didn't have a similar rule mandating removal. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., responded that Democrats would adopt a rule requiring a leader to give up his position if indicted. It's also important to note that not all Republicans supported the change sought by DeLay's supporters. Rep. Christopher Shays of Connecticut said that it puts Capitol Hill Republicans on a "slippery slope," taking them back to a time when unethical behavior was once viewed as "business as usual."

What a difference a decade -- and hubris born of power -- can make.