Dems Show Hypocrisy on DeLay

Texas Democrats are trying to keep Tom DeLay's name on the ballot for re-election in November. This would be a huge victory for them, because it would keep the DeLay controversy in the news at election time, while also giving them a big edge over an almost unelectable incumbent in a district where they would otherwise have no chance:

Democrats want DeLay's name on ballot
Fri Jun 9, 12:15 AM ET

The Texas Democratic Party won a temporary restraining order Thursday blocking the process that would name a replacement for Republican U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay on the November ballot.

State District Judge Darlene Byrne ordered Texas GOP Chairwoman Tina Benkiser not to convene party officials to decide on DeLay's replacement until after a June 22 court hearing.

Democrats are trying to keep DeLay's name on the ballot, which would also keep his legal problems in front of voters. DeLay leaves Congress on Friday.

State Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie said Democrats are trying to keep the GOP from creating a "sham vacancy" for the Republican nomination for the 22nd Congressional District.

Richie said DeLay intentionally waited until after the primary to get out of the race, announcing he would abandon his re-election campaign and move to the Washington suburbs. He said the GOP then declared DeLay ineligible, assuming he would move from the state, and started a replacement nomination process while he was still in Congress and eligible for the ballot.

Does this scenario ring a bell? Think New Jersey, Torricelli, Forrester.

In 2002, Bob Torricelli quit his re-election bid when it became clear that even New Jersey wasn't going to return a crook like him to the Senate. Although he quit the race after the legal deadline for removing his name from the ballot, the courts allowed Democrats to replace his name with that of Frank Lautenberg, who subsequently won the election. Democrats argued that to prevent the move would be 'denying the people a choice' in the election.

Let's see how many Democrats take the same position in the DeLay case.

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