Hand Feeding the Press
ArchPundit
It isn’t a spokespersons fault when a reporter skips figuring out the facts of a story, but you’d think that a quick Lexis search to figure out the whole story might be reasonable.
Unfortunately Marni Pyke at Daily Herald does a piss poor he said she said story.
The reality behind Roskam and DeLay is that they’ve had an ongoing relationship over the years. In the 1998 race for IL-13 there was this little tidbit from the Trib:
Word on Capitol Hill is that ideological conservative state Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Naperville) is getting behind-the-scenes help in his six-way Republican congressional primary battle from GOP House Whip Tom DeLay of Texas.
DeLay is the arch-conservative former pest-control service operator whose former profession and aggressive attacks on federal regulation of almost any type, including environmental laws, has earned him the nickname “The Exterminator.”
A top aide to DeLay has been calling around to some big conservative backers suggesting they “take a look at” (i.e., send money to) Roskam, said a congressional source.
Even better, in an April Sun-Times piece, Roskam said the following about DeLay
But state Sen. Peter Roskam, who worked for DeLay 20 years ago, voiced support.
“Trotting out some of … these old accusations that are two and three and four years old is a little bit tiresome,” Roskam said. “I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt.”
…..
Roskam, 43, is a lawyer who lives in Wheaton. He worked as an aide to DeLay in 1985 and part of 1986, but said he has “not had any contact with him essentially for 20 years.”
“I think everybody agrees that he’s one of the most effective legislators in Washington, D.C.,” Roskam said. “Knowing what I know now about what Tom DeLay’s been accused of, my attitude would be to support him.”
The obvious question given Tom DeLay is under indictment and clearly under investigation for his ties to Abramoff, does Roskam still support him? He clearly did 10 days before DeLay was indicted when DeLay hosted a fundraiser for a guy he hadn’t had any contact with essentially for 20 years. On top of that, Roskam received a $1,000 donation from ARMPAC (DeLay’s federal PAC) in 1998. I tend to think that’s more than no contact. Not many folks just hand me $1000 to run for office in a primary.
Secondly, why not donate that $1000 to charity? Obviously it was in 1998, but why not make the symbolic gesture if Roskam is pushing for ethics reform.
Better yet, why hasn’t the press got him on record concerning the DeLay rule change in the Republican caucus that would have allowed DeLay to continue serving under state indictment? Out of 10 Illinois Members of Congress at the time, only two supported it–Weller and Hastert. How would Roskam have voted?
Roskam’s ties to the finance scandals aren’t just to DeLay.
In the Sun-Times today:
“I think the Duckworth campaign is really stretched and desperate in trying to make this a close association,” Roskam said.
If you want to quibble over the word mentor, fine. However, Roskam has a long history of support from DeLay and has tried to hide that history.
Oh, and let’s not bring up the residency issue. From the 1998 race:
Sixty percent of the 13th Congressional District is in southern DuPage County. Part of southwestern Cook County and northern Will County are in the district. Roskam, whose state legislative district is mostly in Hyde’s congressional district but includes some of Fawell’s, lives outside the district but would move if nominated for the congressional seat.