Common Cause Blog :: Send Speaker Hastert a Message re. Ethics Crisis in the House

Send Speaker Hastert a Message re. Ethics Crisis in the House

By Murshed Zaheed
Posted on Mon Jun 27, 2005 at 11:47:17 AM EST

The ethics process in the House has ground to a halt as ethics-related allegations pile up against House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) and other members of Congress.

As House leader, Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) has an obligation to step in and resolve internal staffing problems on the Ethics Committee that have prevented the panel from beginning its work. Then, he must see that an outside counsel is appointed to investigate DeLay.

Common Cause believes that an independent, outside counsel is the only way to credibly investigate DeLay, whose financial ties to nearly every Republican in the House, and whose tremendous influence make it nearly impossible for his peers to judge him.

DeLay was three times admonished last year by the Ethics Committee for abuse of power and has since been accused of taking foreign junkets illegally paid for by a lobbyist who is under federal criminal investigation for allegedly bilking his clients out of tens of millions of dollars.

Please help us urge Speaker Hastert to clean up the House. Ask him to resolve the ethics impasse and then see that an independent, outside counsel is brought in to investigate DeLay.

Call him today, especially if you are a constituent from Illinois' 14th district.:

D.C. Office
235 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2976
Fax: 202-225-0697
Batavia District Office
27 North River Street
Batavia, IL 60510
Phone: 630-406-1114
Fax: 630-406-1808
Dixon Regional Office
119 W. First Street
Dixon, IL 61021
Phone: 815-288-0680
Fax: 815-288-0743
Geneseo Regional Office
137 South State Street, Suite 336
Geneseo, IL 61254
Phone: 309-944-3558

Let us know how your calls are going by posting your comments right here. After making your call, please tell your friends to call as well.

Thanks again for all you do for Common Cause.

Tags: Government Accountability (all tags)

Send Speaker Hastert a Message re. Ethics Crisis in the House :: 56 Comments

Ethics in Congresw

America politicians must again go back to basics to preserve our country. Unless we can do this to bring back respect for all America by the world, our country may be lost to oblivion and destroyed as Rome was and so many other empires fell.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 02:07:44 PM EST

Ethics Crisis in House

It is long past time that those who hold power in the U.S. House of Representatives DO THE RIGHT THING and appoint an independent counsel to investigate ethical wrongdoing by DeLay, Cunningham, Hastings et al. Hiding behind the "we can't convene a committee" excuse just won't cut it, Mr. Hastert. START DOING YOUR JOB AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO ARE PAID BY U.S. TAXPAYERS TO DO OUR DUTY DO SO -- AND DO SO ETHICALLY. Stop this nonsense, in which these guys do the bidding of the corporate interests that contribute to their campaigns, pay their legal fees, and fund their overseas jaunts.

SHAME ON YOU FOR STONEWALLING.

And NO ONE paid me to say this. I'm a U.S. citizen, and I speak for myself.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 02:09:00 PM EST

Ethics

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 02:10:36 PM EST

Ethics crisis in the house: Centure Tom DeLay

Rep. DeLay's actions are reprehensible, unethical and give good government a bad name.

He should be asked to step down immediately.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 02:23:43 PM EST

Hastert call

Called and left him a message to appoint a truly independent counsel to look into the activities of Tom DeLay.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 02:26:02 PM EST

ethics issues

One of my concerns in today's politics is the way, either planned or by chance, the electorate is polarized. Certain issues will always do that. Whenever ethics and special interests become issues, I would like to see a bipartisan effort taken to set the record straight as quickly as possible. It may be better at times if we don't see how laws and sausages are made, but atleast keep the BS out the all beef wieners.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 02:27:39 PM EST

Special prosecuter for Delay

Speaker Hastert,

You have a cancer on your team called Tom Delay. Anyone who is a lightning rod for this kind of negativity takes the entire team down. Either deal with it rationally for the good of Republicans and our country or be prepared to have people like me abandon the party. Honesty is important. Just Billie Bob Clinton.

Mike and Jill Brady. Retired Oregon teachers.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 02:30:43 PM EST

A non-partisan assessment of Tom De Lay

Please help to arrange an investigation which will not simply exacerbate the parties to this furor, something which as many voters as possible will perceive as even-handed.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 02:31:34 PM EST

special counsel

Speaker Hassert, Call in a special counsel to investigate Rep Tom DeLay. We are all hoping that you will do this for the American people. This is a horrible abuse of power and you know that. Thank You

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 02:35:38 PM EST

hastert

get rid of Delay

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 02:35:42 PM EST

investigating House Ethics

Dear Speaker Hassert ~
As a voting responsible citizen of the USA I am calling on you as a leader to be responsible and end the rotten culture of corruption that has infested our 'House'.
The voters in next elections will hold you accountable.
Besides ~ the USA of 'Special Interests'is a LOSER.
The USA of the people, by the people and for the people ~ All of US ~ is what will keep this nation from going totally down into ruins and help restore our power to be a true beacon of liberty in this world.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 02:35:58 PM EST

outside counsel investigation

Please appoint outside counsel to investigate Tom DeLay. We must restore morality, accountability, and ethics to our Congress and Senate!

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 02:37:02 PM EST

Tom DeLay

Speaker Hastert:

I am appalled that you have not yet responded to the very serious allegations of ethical misconduct that have been made against Rep. Tom DeLay. You must immediately appoint an independent counsel to start the investigation.

Sincerely,
Linda Seeley

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 02:37:34 PM EST

DeLay

Speaker Hastert:

Be fair - get an independent council to investigate the Delay affair.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 02:44:06 PM EST

Outside Investigate Tom Delay

Speaker Hastert, the hour has long been at hand to launch a full outside investigation into the fiduciary misuse of funds and misrepresentation of political influences by House Speaker Tom Delay. Please add my voice to the chorus already calling for this essential investigation, and Hastert's recusal throughout the process until the appropriate terminal measures are ultimately visited upon those found invovled in this political and financial travesty. On behalf of all those who feel as I do but lack the time or energy, or fear reprisal to speak out freely, I thank you.
Robert Grayson
Aiea, Hawaii

by rgrayson on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 02:54:47 PM EST

Links to Hastert's phone # not working

Someone may want to correct this asap.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 02:58:22 PM EST

Re: Links to Hastert's phone # not working

Sorry about that; the link has been corrected.

by Alex Hill on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 03:44:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Tom DeLay

It's imperative that an outside counsel be selected to look into the illegalities of Tom DeLay and that he be prosecuted accordingly and be asked to step down from his present position --impeached would be the appropriate method of dismissal.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 02:59:00 PM EST

Tom DeLay

Dennis Hastert is urged to set up an outside Counsel to investigate Tom DeLay'segregious illegalities during his tenure in office. Appropriate measures should be taken if he is found guilty -- impeachment, if he does not step down.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 03:05:27 PM EST

Ethics Crisis

I urge you to deal with Tom DeLay's ethics violation in order to retain the trust of the American people,

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 03:10:49 PM EST

Ethics Crisis in the House

We attended NCC together in the early 60s. They taught you better ethics than what you're doing now. Do what's right.

Jim Hickman

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 03:22:41 PM EST

House Ethics Investigation

Speaker Hassert ~
As a responsible voting citizen of our country I am asking you to fulfill your responsibility to help end the culture of corruption that has infested our 'House'.
The USA of Special Interests is the USA where everyone ~ even the Special Interests ~ will all eventually be LOSERS.
The USA that is of the people, by the people and for the people, All of the people ~ is the only USA that is going to survive.
Beyond winning or losing your next election; why would you want to contribute to a situation in which our country will destroy itself if it does not act responsibly and clean up it's ethics ?
Thankyou.

by Ray I on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 03:23:02 PM EST

Send Speaker Hastert a Message re. Ethics Crisis

by Ray I on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 03:24:23 PM EST

Hassert

It is way beyond time to call for an independent council to investigate Tom DeLay! I was part of a group who wentto my Conremmen's McCotter's office and hand delivers 823 petitions asking for this investigation. While there, I asked McCotter, if Delay was investigated, and found that he acted innapropriatly, if he would give back the PAC money he has taken over the years from DeLay. He said Yes. I want that posted so if he does'nt his opponet can use it aganist him!

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 03:29:16 PM EST

DeLay

You must appoint an independent counsel to investigate DeLay. If he were a Democrat, Republicans would be screaming bloody murder, loud and long. Stop being a hypocrite.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 03:34:06 PM EST

Tom DeLay

needs to be investigated by an independent outside counsel. His ethics and morals are not acceptable in someone in a position of power. If he had been a Democrat, he'd be gone already!

Ethics should not be partisan. Please do the right thing. No more cutting slack for this man. He has been admonished 3 times for his conduct and yet, he stands around smug and thinking that he "is the Federal Government." Enough already!

by Patchuli on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 03:43:03 PM EST

Ethics!

I cannot believe the cheating of the american public that is going on in this administration. We need neutral oversight on tom DeLay.
I'm neutral on politics, but this adminstration has turned my stomach and turned me democratic. How can we export democracy to Iraq with our sleezy politics.
Let's have honesty.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 03:45:54 PM EST

Hastert

I called the Washington office and said that Hastert has an obligation to help clear up this ethics mess in the House. The reply was a polite "Thank you".

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 04:36:56 PM EST

DeLay

Dear Mr. Hastert:

Lots of us are going to judge the Republican Party on whether it is capable of dealing with the gross ethical problems raised by the conduct of Tom Delay. The findings of an independent counsel are essential. Please act immediately.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 04:39:38 PM EST

Phoning Hastert's office

At least Mr. Hastert has polite people working for him. The young man thanked me for calling, but I'm not after politeness. I reminded him that lately only Democrats are pressured to apologize for telling unpleasant truths to Rove/Bush. I said that Hastert needs to resolve the Ethics Committe impasse immediately and to appoint an outside counsel to investigate Delay immediately.
It's time for these moral midgets/hypocritical blackguards--Bush, Rove, DeLay, etc.--to be called to account for their lies and criminality. As long as Hastert does nothing, he is complicit in their crimes.

by Muriel Stubbs on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 04:56:56 PM EST

Ethics Problems Increase...

Mr. Hastert,

I just finished calling your Washington office to register my complaint. Stop playing the "good old boy" thing where Rep. Tom DeLay is concerned. You know 3 censures is way more than necessary to prove that Rep. DeLay is a "bad seed". If this were a Democratic agenda item alone (it isn't as I'm a Republican from Michigan) you Republicans would be screaming loud and long...

So, why not listen to the American people? Your credibility is slipping...

GET RID OF HIM NOW ! ! ! !

by Ward Squires on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 04:57:11 PM EST

Rep. DeLay's Alleged Ethics Violations

Mr. Speaker - kindly appoint an independent counsel to investigate the alleged ethics violations of Rep. Tom DeLay. These issues unresolved, as they have been, are very damaging to the credibility of the entire Congress and must be resolved in a fair, equitable and expeditious manner.

by Robert Thomson on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 04:58:32 PM EST

Ethics Committee Investigation

For once, do the right thing, please. Call for an independent investigation of Tom DeLay and his antics.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 05:56:03 PM EST

TOM DELAY

Mr. Hastert: You need to immediately appoint an independent counsel to investigate the actions of Tom Delay. He needs to know he cannot continue to break laws and remain in good standing with the Congress.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 06:01:06 PM EST

Call to Hastert's office

As an attorney, I was taught that the appearance of impropriety can be as damaging to the people's trust of our institutions and authority figures as the actual misdeeds themselves. When these forces can no longer be trusted to police themselves, independent counsel must be employed to help restore faith and our vigilence is required to insure good government.
In Rep. Delay's case, significant damage has already been done to erode public confidence in basic fairness at our highest level of government. Please appoint independent counsel to review the allegations of his and related misconduct; these issues and the concerned citizens who anxiously await your actions to address them, will not go away by themselves.

by danrausher on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 06:01:06 PM EST

Tom Delay and George Bush

Delay and Bush have done more to hurt the country than Bill Clinton and his Affair ever did! Stop the maddness of this administration! Ethics applies to Republicians too!!!! They spent money,that could have gone to the health care and welfare of our citizens, to investigate Bill Clinton and to have a war in Iraq. Now the rules don't apply to Bush or Delay!!! <<<<<<<<<<<<&l t;<<STOP THE MADDNESS>>>>>>>>>>>>>&g t;>>>

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 06:48:26 PM EST

Tom Delay and George Bush

Delay and Bush have done more to hurt the country than Bill Clinton and his Affair ever did! Stop the maddness of this administration! Ethics apply to Republicians too!!!! They spent money,which should have gone to the health care and welfare of our citizens, to investigate Bill Clinton and to have a war in Iraq. Now the rules don't apply to Bush or Delay!!! STOP THE MADDNESS!!!!!!

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 06:52:19 PM EST

get the truth out

if delay is innocent of the many charges, prove this, if he is guilty prove this. after the diasterous war based on lies from bush, we need some truth to get out. if delay violated the law,HE SHOULD STEP DOWN, IF HE DID NOT VIOLATE THE LAW THEN HE SOULD BE HAPPY WHEN THE TRUTH COMES OUT

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jun 29, 2005 at 11:31:41 PM EST

Ethics

Dear House Speaker Hastert:

I would like you to please clean up the house and investigate Tom DeLay.

Sincerely,

Russell J. Novkov

by Anonymous Citizen on Thu Jun 30, 2005 at 12:14:26 AM EST

de lay, needs a message

delay is a huge stain on the republician party, to ignore it ,is just going to hurt you more and more, what did bush campaign on in his first campaign , To bring Honor to the White House after the sorid past of clinton, Well Delay has "dishonored " his party, his self , and his office, he needs to be reprimanded and fined and or released from his duties.

by Anonymous Citizen on Thu Jun 30, 2005 at 09:45:50 AM EST

DeLay's ethical problelm is more serious than Sex!

We must have an INDEPENDENT COUNSEL to investigate DeLay! It appears that the WA Senator is footdragging. Are his own ethics in question?

Are your ethics in question, also? Is that why you refuse to appoint an independent counsel?

I have written to Tom and expressed my disappointment in his position, but at least he had the good sense to recuse himself from this.

Mary Francis
Oklahoma

by Anonymous Citizen on Thu Jun 30, 2005 at 10:27:35 AM EST

Tom DeLay

It's time to step up to the plate and show some leadership! Call for an independent investigation of Tom DeLay and his antics. DO THE RIGHT THING!

by Anonymous Citizen on Thu Jun 30, 2005 at 10:29:49 AM EST

Tom DeLay

It's time to step up to the plate and show some REAL leadership. Please don't wimp out on us. Call for an independent investigation of Tom DeLay and his antics and do the RIGHT thing!

by Anonymous Citizen on Thu Jun 30, 2005 at 10:31:32 AM EST

Called Hastert

Told young man I was in Tom Cole's district and that he (Tom) had the good sense to recuse himself from the DeLay debacle, but unfortunately, was still supporting DeLay. I'm sure his mother, Helen Cole,
(a good friend) is rolling in her grave over this.
She was the ethics guru of Oklahoma. I urged Speaker Hastert to appoint an independent counsel and that they chalk up one more on their tally sheet calling for an investigation by an IC.

Mary Francis
Oklahoma

by Anonymous Citizen on Thu Jun 30, 2005 at 10:40:46 AM EST

Ethics Committe

I AM A LIFE LONG REPUBLICAN AND CONSIDER MYSELF A CONSERVATIVE. I DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA THAT I MAY BE THE ADHEARANT OF A PARTY LACKING INTEGRITY. THERE FOR I ASL SPEAKER HASTERT TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ETHICS COMMOTTEE AND TO APPOINT AN IDEPENDENT COUNCIL TO INVESTIGATE TOM DELAY.

by Anonymous Citizen on Thu Jun 30, 2005 at 11:56:45 AM EST

Independent Council to Investigate DeLay

Dear Mr. Hastert,

In my vision of America, truth is upheld and visibility is a given. Lawmakers are accountable, and the will of the people (rather than corporate influence) informs the law of the land.

Make it so that I can live in America again. Bring back truth and integrity to Washington. Appoint a council to investigate Delay.

Signed,

An independent American citizen who longs to be proud of her country again and who believes that we judge (and vote for) people based on their deeds, not their lying words

by Anonymous Citizen on Thu Jun 30, 2005 at 03:50:08 PM EST

called with the message

throw the lot of them out!

by Anonymous Citizen on Thu Jun 30, 2005 at 04:03:50 PM EST

Delay

Please enforce ethics. Delay must be called down.

by Anonymous Citizen on Thu Jun 30, 2005 at 08:57:20 PM EST

Ethics Committee

How bizarre that the committee on ethics is unable to take its own ethical action. I ask Speaker Hastert to help us bring the matter of Tom DeLay's record to resolve by seeing that action is taken and that an independent investigation takes place now. My efforts over months to get any response from the person who is elected to represent me in the House, Judy Biggert, have failed. She responds to me on many issues but never this one--her office says she is bound to confidentiality, but that doesn't explain why nothing has changed in weeks and why no public statement at all is made. It looks bad for Republicans everywhere to have this man still in office, so is clearly in everyone's best interest to get to the bottom of this. There is important work to be done in our government--this kind of impasse is inexcusable.

by Anonymous Citizen on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 10:50:11 AM EST

Tom DeLay

Called Speaker Hastert's DC office and urged him to get outside counsel to resolve the Tom DeLay problem.

by Anonymous Citizen on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 11:12:58 AM EST

Tom Delay

To: Dennis Hastert
believe it or not you have an obligation to every American to clean up the ethics scandals. Your obligation is not just to lobbyists and your party members. Appoint independant councel and clear up the mess of Tom Delay. Quit defending the indefensible.

by Anonymous Citizen on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 01:11:18 PM EST

Called Hastert

Had no problem getting through and Sally said she'd pass my comments oalong.

by Anonymous Citizen on Sat Jul 02, 2005 at 03:18:31 PM EST

Outside independent counsel

I called the DC office and voiced my concern about the lack of ethics accountability in the House and asked that everyone start abiding by the rules instead of changing them to suit their actions.
I also requested an independent outside counsel be appointed to investigate the many allegations of Tom DeLay's ethics rules violations, and complete disregard for doing the right thing.

by Anonymous Citizen on Tue Jul 05, 2005 at 04:40:16 PM EST

radio ad (Speaker Hastert)

I was glad to donate money to Common Cause supporting radio ads in Illinois. However, after listening to the ad via the internet I was very disappointed. The quality was poor: the announcer blended the ad in with her weather, etc, and it was barely understandable. The background music was too loud. If you are spending all this money you should get a quality ad-- one that stands out, that listeners can understand. Otherwise it isn't worth it.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jul 06, 2005 at 06:20:23 PM EST

Outside Independent Counsel

Mr. Dennis Hastert,
It is long past itme to get our senators and representatives to do the right thing as our elected officials. As head of the Ethics Committee, you need to do your job and convene an outside independent counsel to investigate the wrong-doing of DeLay, Cunningham, Hastinstins, et. al. Take actions now.
There is no valid excuse for ignoring the voice of the American Citizens. Unethicl conduct is not acceptable and you are expected to do you duty, Mr. Hastert.
I speak from my own convictions and am not paid to send this message.

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jul 13, 2005 at 08:58:42 AM EST

Tom Delay

We need an independent council to investigate
Tom Delay and it is necessary for Speaker Hastert
to pursue this action to prevent the crisis caused
Delay's involvement!

by Anonymous Citizen on Wed Jul 20, 2005 at 10:47:54 AM EST

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Send Speaker Hastert a Message re. Ethics Crisis in the House

By Murshed ZaheedPosted on Mon Jun 27, 2005 at 11:47:17 AM EST

By Murshed Zaheed
Posted on Mon Jun 27, 2005 at 11:47:17 AM EST