Michelle Malkin has the right idea in her September 3 column. She excoriates Bill Janklow (R-SD), whose lead foot resulted in the death of a 55 year old father of two, when Janklow blew through a stop sign (at 70 mph) and ran over a man on a motorcycle.
Janklow has a history of speeding tickets, and apparently a history of accidents. None, until now, have been fatal. However, he has been charged with manslaughter in this incident. The GOP must rise above the specter of losing this seat to a Democrat, and tell Janklow to take a hike. Either resign, or get expelled.
Politics be damned. Janklow is a repugnant lawbreaker addicted to speed and power. His callous disregard for the rules cost an innocent man his life. The Republican Party should turn its back on Janklow and bear the electoral consequences.
Last year's Trent Lott episode showed that the GOP can hold its leaders to higher standards. Party officials once again have an opportunity to show that personal accountability is more than a catch phrase. The Democrats have their Chappaquiddick. Republicans don't need one, too.
The GOP has a much better track record of censuring its own idiots than do the Democrats (not only the Lott affair, but also the wholesale condemnation of Falwell and Robertson; contrast them with the circle-the-wagons attitude of the Dems during the Bill and Monica show). This is another opportunity to seize the moral high ground, even if it means narrowing their majority by one seat in the House. Allow him to remain in office, and the GOP is no better than the Democratic Party that allowed Kennedy to remain in office after Chappaquiddick. Hopefully, the reciprocity effect will kick in again. Being a loyal Republican doesn't excuse Janklow from being giulty, and his intention to continue to serve marks him as pond scum. The GOP will be better off without him, even if it means one less vote for their bills.
posted on September 05, 2003 08:47 AM
