Josh Marshall was worried about that being the perception:
"Interesting. Already seeing lots of Republicans putting out the talking point that DeLay's departure ends or sharply diminishes the salience of the corruption issue in this year's midterm -- and plenty in the media are picking it up and running with it."
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/008106.phpBut it looks like Reuters at least has the right of the matter:
"DeLay's fall won't end corruption issue
Rep. Tom DeLay's fall from power amid a widening scandal robs Democrats of "Exhibit A" in their allegations of Republican corruption, but analysts said on Tuesday it was unlikely to put the issue behind Republicans before November's elections"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060404/pl_nm/usa_politics_delay_impact_dc_1;_ylt=AkSrdyu5XrbaHFvAaj9ASBCGbToC;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUlThis is something to keep track of: make sure people do NOT get the impression that because Delay is gone, all's well with the republican party. I think we should be hitting every single corrupt member of Congress - Ohio seems like an excellent place to start (did you hear that the winger running owned Diebold stock?).
Another good thing to hit on: whoever supported the Delay rule (letting indicted congresscritters serve in the leadership) is corrupt. There were a lot of them - until good people like at DU shamed them out of it.
Anyhoo - that's the meme the republicans are gonna try to throw out there - that Delay gone = corruption gone. Don't let them.