It's the Democrats' turn to cope with scandals
Democrats have had success running against a GOP 'culture of corruption.' Now the party hopes the political fallout from the Blagojevich case and others will be limited.
Reporting from Washington — The arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich on Tuesday marked the latest in a series of scandals involving Democratic politicians -- an ironic turn for a party that won control of Congress in 2006 in part by saying it would end a "culture of corruption" under Republican leadership.
Democrats also highlighted Republican ethical problems in the successful bid to expand their congressional majorities this year, and Barack Obama made government transparency and a crackdown on lobbyist influence a theme of his presidential campaign.
The corruption charges against Blagojevich come as one of the most powerful Democrats in Congress, Rep. Charles B. Rangel of New York, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, is under investigation by a House ethics panel.
The committee is looking at Rangel's occupation of several rent-controlled apartments in Manhattan, whether he failed to pay taxes on an offshore rental property and other questions. On Tuesday, it announced that the investigation was expanding to include allegations that Rangel supported a tax break for an oil drilling company in exchange for a donation to a school that would bear his name.
Democratic Rep. William J. Jefferson of Louisiana is awaiting trial on charges of bribery, money laundering and misusing his congressional office. He has pleaded not guilty. On Saturday, he was ousted from his House seat in a runoff election.
Earlier this year, Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer of New York resigned after revelations that he was a regular customer of an elite call-girl ring.
The allegations against Blagojevich -- including that he solicited favors to influence his decision about who should replace Obama in the Senate -- were shocking to Democrats.
"It straightened my hair," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.).
Democrats said they hoped the political fallout for their party would be limited, but they acknowledged the developments gave Republicans a political target during Obama's transition.
"Do I think Republicans will try to make something of this?" asked Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez). "Of course."
The new chairman of the GOP's Senate campaign committee was quick to respond to the Blagojevich news.
