I think this is important:
When it comes to the GOP's culture of corruption, even the loyal GOP base has a breaking point.
When Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.) was forced to give up his seat on the powerful House Appropriations Committee due to an acute case of Abramoff-itis, the GOP leadership had a chance to set things right by replacing him with a respected lawmaker of unimpeachable integrity. Instead the leadership tapped Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), who was himself recently named one of Congress' most corrupt lawmakers.
Calvert, of course, is the subject on an ongoing FBI probe of his own. As CREW's Melanie Sloan asked, "Why would the minority choose to replace one member under federal investigation with another member also under federal investigation?"
Some conservatives are starting to ask the same question. RedState, one of the leading far-right blogs, ran an item yesterday under the headline, "An Open Declaration of War Against The House Republican Leadership." RedState recounts Calvert's many alleged misdeeds, concluding that the "House Republican Leadership just does not get it." A variety of conservative blogs endorsed the challenge.
Blogs on the right aren't the only ones concerned.
The House Republican Conference Thursday ratified Calvert as its choice to replace Rep. John Doolittle (R-Calif.) on Appropriations, even though the lawmaker faced stiff opposition from conference members concerned that ethics allegations against him could hurt the party.
RedState's Erick Erickson added, "Leadership may be pleased with themselves, but I've heard from more than two dozen Republicans on the Hill thanking me for speaking out against Calvert's appointment.... That tells me Leadership is not in line with those it represents."
After all the scandals and corruption-related difficulties the GOP leadership has experienced the past few years, you'd think they'd eventually learn a few lessons. Especially after having lost both chambers of Congress, top Republican lawmakers should use this opportunity to clean up their self-created mess and start demonstrating to voters that they care about ethics and integrity in government.
That, of course, would take maturity and some common sense. The Republican leadership apparently has neither.
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