Mullings: An American Cyber-column By Rich Galen

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What's Sauce for the Goose ...

Rich Galen

Monday May 9, 2005

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This is not a new observation: The popular press has one set of standards of Republicans and a wholly different one for Democrats.

A few weeks ago MSNBC's Chris Matthews was on the Don Imus morning radio/cable show complaining about the fact that Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum had offered the prayer in the Senate the weekend of the Terry Shiavo business because the Senate Chaplain was unavailable.

Matthews made it clear that he felt a sitting US Senator offering a prayer was a ghastly intrusion of religion into government.

I happened to be watching, and called the producer of the program, Bernard McGuirk suggesting he have Imus ask Matthews if he thought having a Catholic Priest as a voting member of Congress was more or less a violation of the First Amendment.

I was referring to Father Robert Drinan - a Jesuit Priest - who served as a Member of Congress of Massachusetts from 1972 to 1981. Drinan was a staunch Liberal who was opposed to the Vietnam War and for the impeachment of President Nixon.

But Imus didn't do it.

Along the same lines, Page 1 column 1 of yesterday's Washington Post featured a piece by reporter Shailagh Murray about a Baptist minister named Rick Scarborough who has been instrumental in drumming up support for the "nuclear option" regarding the Democrats' threat to filibuster Conservative Federal judges.

The article by indicates the paper's position on Reverend Scarborough with this sentence: "Scarborough is a potent force with ties to House Majority Leader Tom DLan (R-Tex.) and influential Senate conservatives."

Query for the Washington Post Ombudsman: When the Post regularly cites REVEREND Jesse Jackson and REVEREND Al Sharpton - neither of whom has ever said a good word about, much less voted for, a Republican - why is there not the same tsk-tsking which is evident in the front pager on Scarborough?

Tom DeLay's (R-TX) for the most part, been tarred with the actions of aides and associates. These transgressions have been labeled as ethical violations by the House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi.

But in discussing the problems of the House Democratic Whip (the number two guy on the Dem side) the Baltimore Sun describes the failure of Hoyer to report who paid for his junkets as "technical mistakes in reporting trips paid for by industry groups, think tanks or other private entities."

Notice any difference in tone, there?

Then there's the issue of the Sainted Junior Senator from New York.

It seems that a fundraising event in Los Angeles which benefited the Senate campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton Rodham was modestly in violation of every law ever considered regarding Federal campaigns and Hillary's "former campaign finance director," David Rosen is going to trial next week.

The San Francisco Chronicle, however, goes to great pains to point that that:

"Though Clinton hasn't been linked to charges that the gala's cost was vastly underreported, she is a top target of Republicans who are scouring for ammunition against one of their top targets in next year's elections - and perhaps the 2008 run for the White House."

Yep. It's all the GOP's fault.

Finally, an above-and-below the fold "Week in Review" piece in the NY times by Mullfave reporter Anne Kornblut looks askance at the fact that House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is "defying political gravity" and has the support of a vast majority of House Republicans.

Ms. Kornblut writes "Almost every Republican in th House owes Mr. DeLay something - a job, a piece of legislation or a large campaign contribution."

For extra credit, compare and contrast this with the New York Times' breathlessly fawning obit of how House SpeakerThomas "Tip" O'Neill won a vote on limiting outside income of Members:

The Speaker had a great voice in their committee assignments, the scheduling of floor action on bills, the disbursing of campaign money and the small favors that can make or break a Congressional career. Mr. O'Neill called in his chits.

Tip O'Neill playing the game: Good. Tom DeLay playing the game: Bad.

I'm shocked.

On the Secret Decoder Ring page today: Links to the WashPost, the SF Chronicle and the NY Times articles; a Mullfoto you'll like and a Catchy Caption of the Day you'll like even more.

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