THE US REPORT

A number of Democrats in Congress have received a free ride despite behavior that many of us consider unethical perhaps even illegal. As a taxpayer, I’m pretty disgusted with the double standard for ethics. Why do Democratic senators and representatives get a complete pass from media? Maybe it's because traditional journalism really is dead. There are a number of questionable situations involving senators and representatives, but no one's asking questions and many of the most questionable culprits are keeping key committee assignments.

In an earlier column, I mentioned the issue of Tim Mahoney’s (D-Fla.) scandal. Some analysts have alleged Rahm Emanuel actually spoke to Mahoney about his behavior. Mahoney had at least one of his women on federal payroll. Compare that to Democratic wrath towards former Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) over Mark Foley’s (R-Fla.) indiscretions. Ironically Foley and Mahoney represented the same district (16) in Florida. Tom Rooney handily took that seat back for the GOP in the General Election.

There’s Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) who still chairs the Ways and Means Committee. On his horizon are allegations he didn’t report income on his federal taxes (the most egregious tax sin you can commit), allegations he didn’t pay state and city taxes and yet another ethical lapse reported by a liberal newspaper. The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote, “He also faces ethics probes for allegedly misusing rent-controlled apartments in New York and writing letters on congressional stationery seeking donations for an education center that is named after him.” This is the guy who will determine how much of my taxpayer money goes into the federal coffers if Democrats get the tax increase they’re lusting after because they’re too lazy to cut spending or even exercise responsible oversight on what is being spent. And he still chairs a committee whose subject he is incapable of understanding or applying to himself. Follow the links in 'References' below to read this and other related stories.

Whatever happened to the issue of Sen. Chris Dodd’s sweetheart mortgage deal? Dodd is head of Senate Banking. Fannie Mae employees have coughed up $58,100 in campaign donations to Dodd. When the Socialist Worker criticizes a Democrat, you know something’s afoot: “BUT WHILE millions grapple with rising mortgage payments or see their wealth evaporate with falling house prices, members of Congress continue to benefit from favorable treatment by mortgage lenders—the very same lenders who will get a bailout if proposed legislation passes. The housing bill's key backers in the Senate—Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), head of the Senate Banking Committee, and Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), who chairs the Senate Budget Committee—both got special deals from the nation's biggest mortgage lender, Countrywide…”

Then there’s William Jefferson (D-La.). Conveniently his trial on bribery charges was delayed before the General Election. He served on the Ways and Means Committee too.

Last but not least, The Palm Beach Post, a huge supporter of Democrats, reported on a strange mortgage arrangement Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) had—“his campaign held a second mortgage until this year on a West Palm Beach house that's now in foreclosure.”

We can stop there for the moment. While media focused adulation on the Democratic presidential candidate, the kids obviously went wild in the playhouse—the playhouse being my pocket and yours. Many words have been written about Republican conduct when that party held control. Where are the words about our current questionable Congress?

These allegations should serve as a basis for Rep. Nancy Pelosi to step down as Speaker of the House. Obviously, she can’t keep her house in order. Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) may not be far behind. I imagine a number of IndyMac employees still want to know why Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) leaked a letter that caused a run on the bank.

Only Canadian media is asking hard questions about the timing of the U.S. economic meltdown. Conspiracy theory or truth? Read the article in Canada Free Press and ask yourself why U.S. media refuses to cover this story. Ask yourself why none of the other matters cropped up during the General Election. There’s only one obvious answer—a completely free pass for Democrats from traditional media. That is a dangerous and despicable approach considering all we have at stake in our country at the moment.