Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Thomas wrote to U.S. Representatives Ric Keller and Tom Feeney asking them to defend their effectiveness.  Keller apparently did.  For four years in a row, CREW has designated Feeney as one of the most corrupt members of Congress.  Feeney didn't respond to Thomas' request.  Instead, he launched into an attack on CREW:

Now compare that to Feeney, who spent his entire letter obsessing over the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. This group (CREW) lists Feeney as one of the most corrupt members of Congress, to which Tom responds it is a liberal, partisan group.

However, CREW has six Democrats on its list, including Charlie Rangel, the corrupt liberal darling of New York. And why, of all Republicans out there, would CREW decide to pick on Feeney.

And, in fact, Feeney already has admitted the big charge CREW has rung him up on and apologized for it. I'll put a link to their section on Feeney and you can draw  your own conclusions.

CREW isn't the problem, Tom. You are. Do you see John Mica, Mel Martinez or Ric Keller on that list? Why do you think that's the case?

What Feeney should have done, if either he or his press office had any sense, was admit his mistake, taken one shot at CREW, and then like Keller moved on to issues. What? Tom couldn't come up with any legislation of interest to Central Florida to mention?

Tom gets so wrapped up with things, Tom DeLay comes to mind, that he obsesses, gets tunnel vision and self-destructs. And obviously his staff either isn't smart enough or is too intimidated to call him on it.