Centerfield

Could the House Implode?

E. J. Dionne Jr has an interesting editorial in today's Washington Post that explores the delicate tight rope that the GOP walks in keeping its evangelical and business factions working in harmony.

Much of the article centers on the ethics problems of Tom DeLay, but DeLay isn't really the story, he's merely the front. Without getting into the possibillity of an indictment against DeLay (after all, this is the same prosecuter that tried Kay Bailey Hutchinson for assault), the GOP's uniformity in the House has the potential of imploding.

DeLay has deep connections to Jack Abramoff, a lobbyist tied to Indiam gambling interests. Dionne talks about a recent article by Post reporter Susan Schmidt that discusses some of the tricks Abramoff used to push his agenda. When a Lousiana tribe found it's exclusive gambling rights challenged by another tribe, they hired Abramoff. Abramoff paid $4 million to Ralph Reed, who worked in co-horts with James Dobson to preach against the evils of gambling.

Certainly Reed must have realized that gambling money was paying him to fight gambling. While Dobson may not have known, he certainly has to feel used as this story has come to light.

Dionne appears to feel that there is a potential for some social conservatives within the GOP to turn on DeLay as some of these type of deals come to light. Frank Wolf (R-VA) is specifically pointed out as a strident opponent of gambling who has clashed with Abramoff in the past. Will he feel compelled to stand up for Tom DeLay if it becomes increasingly obvious that DeLay simply played factions against each other for personal gain?

IMO, the House GOP faces a crisis in keeping DeLay around. He could very well bring down Republican control of the House if more damaging material comes to light. Republicans may well be forced to choose between him and the possibility of Speaker Pelosi.