The House ethics committee gave House Majority Leader Tom DeLay a slap on the wrist hours before the Presidential debates. News of the rebuke was buried in coverage of the debate.

Delay was admonished for offering a bribe - a political favor to a retiring House member from Michigan in exchange for the member's vote on the Republican Medicare prescription drug bill.

The committee concluded that DeLay had told Rep. Nick Smith he would endorse the congressional bid of Smith's son if Smith gave GOP voted for the bill.

To his credit, Smith did not vote for the bill. His son was defeated in the primary.