Why is the GOP in very real danger of losing control of the House on Tuesday? I believe one significant factor--especially in the eyes of the conservative base--is the failure of the class of '94 to live up to promise. Thursday's Wall Street Journal looked at what happens when the rebels become the rulers:
The widespread sense that Republicans in Congress have lost their way, drifting into the same abuses they had pledged to end, helps explain why many, like Mr. Hayworth, are in trouble. The Republicans' 1994 "Contract with America" vowed to shrink government, balance the budget and limit members' terms. The Republicans said they would end Congress's "cycle of scandal and disgrace."
That contract is now broken, conservatives say, as the former rebels have morphed into an establishment clinging to power.
Seventy-three Republicans marched into the House in 1994 as the vanguard of the "Republican Revolution." Despite the fact that term limits were one of the issues that they based their call for change on, only eight honored the pledge to step aside after three terms and twenty-nine are still serving in the House.
Of the Republicans who entered the House after 1994, just under half remain. Several have moved on to be governors or senators. Ohio's Rep. Bob Ney faces prison after pleading guilty in the influence-peddling Abramoff scandal. Florida's Rep. Mark Foley resigned after disclosures of lewd computer messages he had sent teenage House pages.
While term limits were a big issue in 1994, only a few of the members elected that year voluntarily left after three terms -- the length most espoused. Those who remain now seek their seventh term.
Once in office, many of the class of '94 found the corridors of power to their liking. So much so that they decided their being in Congress was so vital to the future of the Republic that they had no choice but to break their term limit commitment.
I'm not saying that there weren't very good reasons for some of these Republicans to stay on. And I'm still somewhat torn on the issue of term limits (I would probably favor a five term limit for the House and two for the Senate). But if you're wondering why there are many conservatives who will be holding their noses as they vote for Republicans tomorrow, the way that most of the class of '94 casually tossed aside their term limit pledge is another brick in the wall of disaffection.
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