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Even though a new Washington Post report today suggests D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) may not actually be a target of the corruption investigation that ensnared his chief of staff, the D.C. Republican Committee keeps hounding him like he definitely is.
After penning a letter to Graham yesterday asking that he take a leave of absence until the investigation is complete, D.C. Republican Chairman Robert Kabel followed up today with a letter to Council Chair Vincent Gray.
"With the recent arrest of Ted Loza, chief of staff to Councilmember Jim Graham and reports circulating that Councilmember Jim Graham is under investigation from the FBI, the DC Republican Committee encourages you to recommend Councilmember Graham take a leave of absence until the FBI has concluded its investigation," he wrote. "Anything short of Graham taking a time of leave will suggest that under your leadership, the DC Council embraces the appearance of unethical behavior," he added, citing the council's newly endorsed ethics rules.
Two letters in as many days and robocalls to 10,000 Ward 1 voters denouncing Graham? The D.C. GOP must really believe in strongly enforcing government ethics, right? Or maybe they just smell a rare fighting chance to oust a long-serving incumbent Democrat. When asked whether the Republicans were looking to run someone against Graham in 2010, D.C. GOP Executive Director Paul Craney simply responded, "Yes."
Now, Graham easily won the Democratic primary in 2006 and faced no opposition in the general election, taking 97 percent of the vote. Ted Loza's arrest might make Graham face some uncomfortable questioning from his constituents in the coming contest, but it's a pretty big stretch to think that they'll suddenly start voting Republican – no matter how hard the D.C. GOP hammers him.
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"Or maybe they just smell a rare fighting chance to oust a long-serving incumbent Democrat."
Or maybe they are grasping at any and every chance to convince any and every person who will listen that they are indeed relevant.
Maybe it's because he's teh gay... or maybe it's because of those Matthew Lesko glasses.
They're Sally Jesse Raphael glasses, not Matthew Lesko glasses. Matthew Lesko has good taste when it comes to haberdashery.
Two posts as many days on this, eh Martin? I wonder if you're a Democrat.
But I digress...the GOP is acting really dumb on this. And guess what, I'm a souless Republican, so I can get away with saying that. You don't attack a guy based on speculation that he may be a target (which was the first attack) and you don't follow up on that once "clarifying" reports come out stating that he's NOT a target. If it comes out that he's a target, maybe then we can talk about taking a leave of absence. Until then, you're Chicken Little.
I'd like to see a Democrat challenge him in the primary. There's no purpose for 'party unity' in a Council election. I'm an upset and dissatisfied Ward 1 resident. I don't want to vote Republican, but I won't vote for Graham. I'd run for the Council before voting for a Republican just to oust Graham.
Graham easily won the Democratic primary in 2006, though his opponent had plead guilty to assault charges a few months before the election, so that may have played a role. If he faces a challenger with some name recognition, it might actually be a contest in 2008. That said, I'm more curious who would run against Catania. He may have gained support by ditching the Republican party in 2005, but I'm not sure how popular he is these days.
Just read the CP story. Why dont they just come out and say they are gay for each other.
the DCGOP is a joke.
that said, someone should run against graham. primary him, do it in the general, who cares.
our leaders only do what we want when they're pushed, and some healthy sweating it out won't hurt any politician.
the DC democratic party isn't monolithic (in fact, it's pretty fractured). someone out there could get enough support to put up a decent run.
I agree. Any single party that repeatedly elects people as dis-similar as Evans, Barry, Graham, and Cheh has a tent big enough for nearly everyone.
Except maybe NewHCE. ;)