May 19, 2005

WHAT NONPARTISAN MEANS TO DEMOCRATS:

Prosecutor in probe of DeLay PAC raises funds for other side: Earle's speech on political corruption keys on the GOP leader, whom he likens to a bully (MICHAEL HEDGES, 5/18/05, Houston Chronicle)

Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, who denies partisan motives for his investigation of a political group founded by Republican leader Tom DeLay, was the featured speaker last week at a Democratic fund-raiser where he spoke directly about the congressman.

A newly formed Democratic political action committee, Texas Values in Action Coalition, hosted the May 12 event in Dallas to raise campaign money to take control of the state Legislature from the GOP, organizers said.

Earle, an elected Democrat, helped generate $102,000 for the organization.

In his remarks, Earle likened DeLay to a bully and spoke about political corruption and the investigation involving DeLay, the House majority leader from Sugar Land, according to a transcript supplied by Earle.

"This case is not just about Tom DeLay. If it isn't this Tom DeLay, it'll be another one, just like one bully replaces the one before," Earle said.


Posted by Orrin Judd at May 19, 2005 12:10 PM
Comments

"Hi! The name's Ronnie Earle. Ah'm looking to take down the Exterminator, and Ah need your help. Ah'm doing what Ah can for the cause. And by the way, this here's a non-partisan speech by a non-partisan prosecutor. Hey, Molly, love that muu-muu!

P.S. - Don't tell them evil Repubicans, but Ah'm goin' after that Bush feller when he gets back to Texas! It's bigger than him, too. Haw-Haw!"

Posted by: jim hamlen at May 19, 2005 2:24 PM

For a bully, Tom Delay sure does get beat up alot.

Posted by: h-man at May 19, 2005 2:36 PM

Dan Fielding was a more honest prosecutor about his motives than Ronnie Earle, who is continuiously portrayed in press stories as "Mr. Morality" despite the highly questionable timing of his most high-profile -- and eventually unsuccessful -- indictments.

To be fair, he'll try to take down a Democratic politician like Jim Mattox as well, if he's going against the faction of the state party Earle's supporting. But since the Texas Democratic Party is pretty much a train wreck right now that no over-hyped investigation can help, Earle's subpoena power is best served in actions that will aid the national party, even if parts of his allegations in the DeLay probe already have been thrown out.

Posted by: John at May 19, 2005 9:58 PM
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