In Roman mythology, Janus was the two headed god (or two faced) looking both forward and backward. Recent developments surrounding Representative Charlie Rangel of New york could easily lead one to ask if Nancy Pelosi does not in fact count Janus as an ancestor. She certainly displays an adeptness at being two-faced as convenience dictates.
In 2004, Nancy Pelosi was firmly engaged in her all out battle to place herself two heartbeats away from the Presidency. As we all know, she finally succeeded in 2006 when the Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives and elected her to the post of Speaker. One of the key elements she orchestrated her personal campaign of ambition around was ethics. She drove this point home on election night 2006. "The American people voted to restore integrity and honesty in Washington, D.C., and the Democrats intend to lead the most honest, most open and most ethical Congress in history," Pelosi said.
One of Speaker Pelosi's targets in 2004 was Tom DeLay. Following his indictment and subsequent Ethics Committee rebuke, Pelosi led the charge demanding that DeLay step down as Majority Leader and, preferably, leave the House. Which he ultimately did. She did not feel that such mundane things as a trial or conviction were necessary to obligate him to step down. His position was so important that he must be held to a higher ethical standard. Googling the phrase "Tom DeLay Pelosi resign" produces thousands of results that point to her demands DeLay be removed.
Today Charlie Rangel is under an increasingly dark cloud brought about by an ethics investigation he himself demanded. It appears that the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, the group responsible or writing tax law among other things, has a bit of a problem when it comes to remembering to declare all his income. Or pay the taxes. Or even disclose what assets he has. Or maintain a consistent reporting of what worth those assets might hold.
It is commonly agreed ("commonly" being a word so close to consensus that, as with Global Warming this must be a fact) that the Ways and Means Committee is one of the most powerful and important committees on Capitol Hill. Surely Madame Speaker would expect Mr. Rangel to step down from his post immediately, even before the final results of the investigations and any subsequent actions are fully known, since a person in such an important post in our government must be held to a higher ethical standard. Apparently not. Quoting a story at wcbstv.com, "Despite Republican calls for Rangel to be stripped of his Ways and Means Committee chairmanship, a spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told CBS 2 HD it is not going to happen."
To be fair, Nancy Pelosi did take a bit more hard line stance with fellow Democrat William Jefferson when he was indicted for accepting bribes. And when some of the marked bribe money was found in his freezer. She wrote him a stern letter in May of 2006:
Tough, no nonsense, ethical! Mr. Jefferson (is it merely a coincidence that he is on the same committee as Mr. Rangel?) did the only honorable thing, and responded:
Nancy Pelosi clearly made every effort to impose her ethical crusade upon an out of control congress. As Representative Jefferson of Louisiana shows though, what is a mere Democratic Leader to do?In a statement released by his office, Jefferson said he would not agree to Pelosi’s demand.
Madame Speaker, ethics is what you do when no one is watching, it is who you are and who you want those you associate with to be. Ethics is not a tool of convenience to be wielded for political gain or ignored when political face stands to be lost. Anyone who lacks the honor to at least strive to act in an ethical manner at all times lacks the right to demand ethical actions from others. You might keep that in mind as you sit there atop your glass Speaker's Throne.
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