MSNBC host Rachel Maddow argued Wednesday that if there’s anything that can revive California’s Republican Party, it’s the scandal-ridden Democrats that have taken over the news cycle.
“Today was basically Democratic catch-up day on the reasons why the word ’politician’ has become an insult in our country,” she said, Raw Story reported. “Today the Democrats did their part. Smell the bipartisanship. Seriously, smell it.”
“Out of 40 state senators total, out of 28 Democratic state senators there are now three Democratic state senators with federal criminal indictments against them just this session, resulting already in eight felony convictions,” she said. “And yes, the Republican Party is essentially defunct in most of California and probably beyond reviving, but if anything can bring them back, it’s probably days like this.”
A California Democrat has been arrested or convicted every month so far this year.
Sen. Rod Wright was convicted of perjury and voter fraud in January for lying about his legal residence in Los Angeles County.
Sen. Ron Calderon was indicted on federal corruption charges in February.
And Wednesday, Sen. Leland Yee of San Francisco was arrested on federal corruption charges and has been accused of conspiracy to deal firearms without a license and gunrunning.
Raw Story reports that state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg has refused to oust Mr. Calderon and Mr. Wright, saying that Wright “is not a convicted felon.”
“Being convicted of a felony is usually what people think makes you a convicted felon,” Miss Maddow joked. “I don’t know, apparently that’s splitting hairs to California Senate Democrats, so the California Senate Democrats voted to let the felon keep his seat in the state Senate. And he still holds it today.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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