Republicans move to protect DeLay from ethics violations

The Republican members of the House of Representatives moved this week to weaken the ethics requirements for leaders in the House. During the early 90s, Tom DeLay led an effort to require members of Congress to step down from leadership positions while they are facing investigations or charges related to ethics violations. This move in the 90s was primarily aimed at Democratic Representative Dan Rostenkowski, who was facing charges of fund-raising ethics violations. Now that Tom DeLay is facing the same kinds of charges, which the Republican party insists are politically motivated, the Republicans in the House have passed new ethics standards that would exempt leaders from the old requirements if the charges are filed in STATE courts. Is there any coincidence that Tom DeLay, Republican majority leader in the House, is currently facing an indictment for exactly those types of charges in his home state of Texas?

So let's summarize--the man (DeLay) who led the fight to have strict ethics standards implemented for Congressional leaders is now receiving an exemption from those standards so that he can retain his post as majority leader even if he is indicted for illegal fund-raising activities in Texas. Hmmmmmmmm.....I remember reading somewhere that the Republicans love the old adage, "To the victors go the spoils."