Harry Mitchell-s Fractured Fairy Tales

Hayworths Arizona Republic questionnaire statement completely accurate Scottsdale, AZ -- Harry Mitchells colorful career is checkered by Attorney General investigations, criminal charges, racial discrimination in city agencies, higher taxes, Mitchell judges on the wrong side of the law, and other admitted ethical errors in judgment. Now, the former teacher must be moonlighting by offering a creative writing course to his campaign staff. The Mitchell campaign has criticized Congressman Hayworth characterizing this statement from the Arizona Republic questionnaire as misleading: I was strongly displeased with House leadership and strongly critical of them when they tried to change the rules to protect one of their own from ethical scrutiny. However, that statement is completely accurate, as the Mitchell camp should surely know. But dont take our word for it. Heres the Notebook section of Time magazine, November 29, 2004: The Debate on DeLay House Republicans last week gave Tom DeLay a nice reward for helping the G.O.P. win five extra seats from his home state of Texas in the congressional elections: a rule change so he wont automatically have to step aside as majority leader if an Austin grand jury indicts him in a campaign-finance probe. But despite a public show of solidarity, Republican Congressmen tell TIME there was a bitter debate behind closed doors over whether to change the rule for the man known as the Hammer, and it has left some Republicans angry and concerned that their party looks arrogant. During a private caucus last Wednesday, more than 200 G.O.P. lawmakers argued for four hours over a proposal by Texas Representative Henry Bonilla, a DeLay loyalist, to do away with an 11-year-old party rule requiring leaders to relinquish their posts if indicted. DeLay, who stood in the back of the room and remained silent, insists he didnt orchestrate the change. Under the new rules, the partys steering committee will review an indictment and recommend whether the accused should step aside, and than all House Republicans will decide. As man as 50 G.O.P Representatives shouted, No! when the voice vote over the rule change was held, sources in the room told TIME. Angry moderates like Connecticut Representative Chris Shays pointed out that Republicans adopted the rule in 1993 when they were trying to seize control of the House from Democrats by spotlighting the ethical and legal troubles of the oppositions leaders. Now we˜re starting to act like the very people we defeated, Shays told TIME afterward. Even some of DeLays ideological soulmates were outraged. Arizona Representative J.D. Hayworth wouldnt comment to TIME on what he said in the caucus. But other Congressmen who were there say the conservative gave an impassioned speech, warning his colleagues that the backlash from the rule change could jeopardize the very majority [DeLay] has worked so hard to build. By Douglas Waller The Mitchell campaign and the truth are engaged in an ever-increasing struggle, said Hayworth spokesman Brian Hummell. But it is clear that Congressman Hayworth was on the right side of this from the very beginning and that he led the internal Republican effort to defeat the proposed rule change.