'Criminal' Politics: Democrats Using Indictment Weapon Against Opponents

The news that Texas Gov. Rick Perry was indicted Friday for conducting a lawful act has Republican strategists and others steaming about a pattern of abuse by Democrats: When they can't beat Republicans at the polls, they try to indict them in criminal court.

The Perry indictment focuses on his threat to veto funding for the Travis County (Austin) district attorney's public integrity unit after D.A. Rosemary Lehmberg was arrested for driving under the influence.

Her blood alcohol was nearly three times the legal limit, and she was seen on video being unruly and belligerent to police officers, who had to physically restrain her. Lehmberg served about half her 45-day jail sentence for her actions, but has refused to resign.

Perry called on Lehmberg to resign, threatening to veto legislative funding for the unit if she didn't. Lehmberg did not resign and Perry followed up on the threat.

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