Deriding the Speaker of the House By Tadesse T. Tsion September 20, 2006 Al. G. Mariam, the new anointed leader of the confused Diaspora rightwing, is trying to get H.R. 5680 bill sail through the Congressional floor. On one hand he is trying to get his troops to beg House Speaker Dennis Hastert, but on the other hand he is lambasting the Speaker. Read the following excerpt from his message (ER web) to Ethiopians living in Illinois . “…I have a few thoughts why the Speaker may have abandoned Ethiopia , if you would like to know. Perhaps the mighty lobbying firm of DLA Piper has something to do with it. Perhaps Richard Armey, the former House majority leader and right hand man of the Speaker, has a lot do with it. Perhaps $600,000 paid to a lobbyist has done it!! But it does not matter. Whether it is 30 pieces of silver or $600,000, your congressman, Dennis Hastert, has chained H.R.5680 to the floor of the International Relations Committee, and will not let it get to the floor of the House. And as his constituents, you have to hold him accountable. He has betrayed your trust.” Al. G. Mariam is casting doubt that the honorable House Speaker is a captive of the lobbyists in the capitol. He is issuing the message that the Speaker is a vacillating, obsequious law maker with strong ties to Richard Armey, former House majority leader. I urge all Ethiopians to fax a copy of this short piece and let the Speaker know what they think of him. It’s a monumental irony to reap an impeccably honorable man from the back door and extend a clean hand to shake him from the front. Al Mariam wants to eat his cake and have it too! Contact Speaker Hastert at the following numbers: Phone: 202-225-2976 or 202-225-0600 Fax: 202-225-0697 E-mail: DHastert2@housemail.house.gov Home