Rep. Emanuel Pushes Dems For Lobbying Reform

According to Taegan Goddard's Political Wire, Representative Rahm Emanuel [D-Illinois] has sent a memo to his fellow House Democrats, asking them to pass "real lobbying and ethics reform". Emanuel believes that ethics reform is the key to Democrats keeping control of Congress.

In the memo Emanuel said, "Failure to deliver on this promise would be devastating to our standing with the public and certainly jeopardize some of our marginal seats."

I have been critical of Rep. Emanuel in the past [preferring Dean's '50-state strategy'], but he is absolutely right about the neccessity for ethics and lobbying reform. If the Democrats fail to pass meaningful reform, they will find themselves in the minority again very soon.

In the last election, the American people voted against two things -- the war in Iraq and the corruption in Congress. People did not vote FOR Democrats as much as they voted AGAINST corruption and war. The Democrats were the beneficiaries of an anti-Republican corruption vote. Now the ball is in their court.

I have heard some Democrats say that radical ethics reform is not really needed now that the "corrupt Republicans" are out of power. This kind of thinking is a sure way to lose in 2008.

The people are not just disgusted with corruption among Republicans. They are disgusted with corruption in general, no matter who the culprit is or what party he belongs to.

Voters have given Democrats the opportunity to clean up politics, but they will not wait for long. If the Democrats will not do it, voters may vote for "repentent Republicans" in 2008. However, if Democrats do clean up the corruption in Washington, they could find themselves remaining the majority party.

The last election was not a lovefest for Democrats -- it was a demand for clean government. Rep. Emanuel is right. I hope his fellow Democrats are listening.