Obey's Friends in Washington

From today's Washington Post, the hits just keep on coming for the Democrats. They've been quite quick to jump on Republican Members of Congress with ethical problems, but it's their own lead Democrat on the House Ethics panel who may be a poster child for unethical behavior. Rep. Alan Mollohan apparently set up a network of non-profits headed by close associates as well as shady real estate dealings with those same individuals. In about 4 years, his net worth soared by over 1000%. Quotes from the article:

Mollohan used his seat on the House Appropriations Committee to secure more than $150 million for five nonprofit groups. One of the groups is headed by a former aide with whom Mollohan bought $2 million worth of property on Bald Head Island, N.C.

. . .

As early as today, the 12-term congressman will admit that he misstated some transactions in his congressional filings, according to Mollohan staffers.

Let's remember, Mollohan was the lead Democrat (basically co-Chairman) of the bi-partisan ethics committee. He is going to admit to "misstating" transactions on his financial disclosure statements. Those financial disclosure statements are required and reviewed by the same ethics committee . . . OOPS! How is it exactly that the lead Democrat on the ethics committee can't get his financial disclosures right? Smell fishy to anyone else but us?

He was also blocking that committee from organizing. He said he was doing so because Republicans wouldn't fairly investigate potential wrongdoing. Sounds to us like maybe he was afraid of being investigated himself . . .

I wonder if Dave Obey has called for his resignation yet like he has for Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld's?