Now we know…

Some folks, hoping for a more aggressive posture by the DNC, have wondered aloud "Where's Howard?" Now we know, and as is often the case, we're reminded to be careful what we wish for...

Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Party, said yesterday that the US House majority leader, Tom DeLay, ''ought to go back to Houston where he can serve his jail sentence," referring to allegations of unethical conduct against the Republican leader.

I'm sure his remark was red meat for the partisan crowd, but some who apparently have a different angle on the big picture demur...

Dean's remark, in a speech to Massachusetts Democrats at their party convention, drew an immediate rebuke from US Representative Barney Frank, the Newton Democrat and one of DeLay's harshest critics. ''That's just wrong," Frank said in an interview on the convention floor. ''I think Howard Dean was out of line talking about DeLay. The man has not been indicted. I don't like him, I disagree with some of what he does, but I don't think you, in a political speech, talk about a man as a criminal or his jail sentence."

Barney's right. I remain as hopeful as anyone that the long awaited Delay indictment will come to pass, but my yearning is as yet unfulfilled. Until that happens, I'd hope that the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee would reflect a little stronger commitment to the principle of due process.

Of all the fates that may await the Bugman, jail's among the least likely anyway, and the Doctor should know by now that when he serves up that kind of red meat rhetoric, the wingnut sound machine will feast on the table scraps for months, doing our Party and its office holders and seekers no good whatsoever.