A loyal, anonymous reader just sent me these two important Tom DeLay quotes — directed at then President Bill Clinton during his legal scuffles.
Tom DeLay (R-Texas), quoted in the Washington Post, October 9, 1998:
I believe that this nation sits at a crossroads. One direction points to the higher road of the rule of law. Sometimes hard, sometimes unpleasant, this path relies on truth, justice and the rigorous application of the principle that no man is above the law.
Now, the other road is the path of least resistance. This is where we start making exceptions to our laws based on poll numbers and spin control. This is when we pitch the law completely overboard when the mood fits us, when we ignore the facts in order to cover up the truth.
Shall we follow the rule of law and do our constitutional duty no matter unpleasant, or shall we follow the path of least resistance, close our eyes to the potential lawbreaking, forgive and forget, move on and tear an unfixable hole in our legal system? No man is above the law, and no man is below the law. That’s the principle that we all hold very dear in this country.
Tom DeLay (R-Texas, quoted from Late Edition, CNN, November 29, 1998:
I think it would be a travesty to the Constitution for us to lower the standards for breaking the law by not voting impeachment. It boggles my mind people would think that committing a felony is not impeachable, and therefore, I think the members, by conscience, will vote for impeachment.
Rule of law. Checks and balances. Healthy civil society.
Tom DeLay used to talk this talk. . .
Restoring the Republic depends on shutting down the Tom DeLay political machine. And those who fed off his brand of structural corruption in Washington need to be exposed and purged.
— Steve Clemons
