TFCD Statement on the Republican Culture of Corruption

NASHVILLE – The American people are faced with the growing problem of Republican corruption that extends from the local levels of government to its highest levels in Washington, D.C., with the corruption of national scandals even reaching into Tennessee.

Karl Rove, widely known as the brain of Bush’s political career, has found himself in the public eye in recent months. Rove’s scrutiny surrounds his involvement in the leaking of the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame. Plame is the wife of former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, an outspoken critic of Bush’s preemptive strategies in Iraq.

“People are beginning to realize that in the time Karl Rove has spent controlling President Bush’s every move, he has neglected to ensure that his own actions are as picture perfect,” said Alex Youn, Executive Vice President of the Tennessee Federation of College Democrats. “What those within the White House have done to Valerie Plame and Joseph Wilson does not at all fit under their banner of compassionate conservatism – it flies in the face of it.”

Now there are allegations concerning Bill Frist’s dumping of millions of shares of HCA stock from his blind trust. Just days following Frist’s sell-off, HCA, a family company still run by Frist’s brother, reported disappointing earnings and the stock dropped 15 percent. A formal investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commisssion is now underway.

“This behavior is unnacceptable to the peope of Tennessee,” said Youn. “We deserve better leadership from our senators in Tennessee. We deserve much better than Frist is showing our state with his committment to personal gain and corporate interests.”

More disturbing are the circumstances surrounding Tom DeLay’s use of PAC money to influence Texas State House seats. Delay was indicted by a Texas grand jury on criminal conspiracy charges. A week later DeLay was indicted again by a different grand jury on a new charge of money laundering. Two of the three candidates seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Tennessee next year, Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary, received substantial campaign contributions from PACs controlled by DeLay.

“Now is the time for these candidates to return the tainted campaign contributions they have received from DeLay,” said Youn. “If they don’t, the link between these Republican candidates and DeLay should make Tennesseans think twice about voting for any Republican in next year’s elections.”