Nice to see the WaPo create the scandal before it’s determined on facts, but this was long overdue:
Although the panel has 120 days to review the matter, Howell said he asked that the review occur as quickly as possible. He added: “It is important to me and the citizens in whose name all delegates serve to know whether Delegate Hamilton’s activities in this matter were legal and in keeping with expected standards of conduct for lawmakers. Virginia has a reputation for good government and I want to keep it that way.”
Also nice to see that many candidates have reserved judgment until after the panel has reviewed the totality of the case.
Of course, Democratic Attorney General wannabe Steve Shannon couldn’t resist pronouncing judgment early, while Norm Leahy over at Tertium Quids puts things to a fine point as to the risk the Democrats — particularly Creigh Deeds — will run with this issue:
I tend to agree with Bob Holsworth that this could be a trial balloon for Democrats in general…but I think they will be swimming upstream on this one. House races are pesky things, driven as they are by local issues, personalities and, to some extent still, gerrymandering.
Let’s not forget — Deeds himself was caught in a rather similar ethics scandal in 2007 when he attempted to create a loophole in state law, allowing Deeds to run for public office while remaining attached to a firm that engaged in lobbying activity.
Thin ice? You bet… unless the MSM (and we voters) have a short term memory.
UPDATE: Jim Hoeft over at Bearing Drift slams House Minority Leader Del. Ward Armstrong for playing politics… again…
Of course, you can’t please everybody. Already Minority Leader Armstrong is whining:
Boo-hoo.
Armstrong is claiming that the Ethics Panel does not conduct its business in a bi-partisan, expeditious, or transparent manner.
However, the panel does consist of the following leading citizens in Virginia: The Honorable Alfred C. Anderson of Vinton, The Honorable Bernard S. Cohen of Spotsylvania, Phyllis E. Galanti of Richmond City, The Honorable John H. Rust, Jr., Vice-Chairman, of Fairfax County, and The Honorable William Whitney Sweeney, Chairman, of Lynchburg.
I’m sure they’re pleased that Armstrong thinks so highly of them.
Jim also beats the drum on the Deeds ethics scandal. Could we be seeing the beginnings of a Virginia Senate inquiry?