As a recent political cartoon suggested, with all the ethics charges flying his way, House Majority Leader Tom Delay of Texas is practically wearing a bull's eye on his back.

DeLay is under fire for accepting several expensive trips abroad, paid for by business interests, and for using campaign funds to pay family members working on his campaigns. These and other aspects of DeLay's behavior should receive public scrutiny - but so should similar actions by many other members of Congress.

As a powerful member of the Republican Party, DeLay is a prime target for Democrats. He is high-profile and a prolific fund raiser who reportedly plays hard ball when it comes to politics and advancing the Republican cause. For this reason, his demise would be a coup for Democrats, much like the downfall of former Rep. Newt Gringrich and that of his predecessor, Democrat Jim Wright of Texas.

Political foes have increasingly used ethics as a tool to accomplish what could not be achieved at the ballot box. Both parties play the game and the party in power generally provides the better target.

DeLay has taken numerous trips paid for by private business interests. He also used campaign funds to pay his wife and adult daughter for working on his re-election campaigns.

Many voters might take issue with such behavior, but it is important to realize that DeLay is just one of 535 members of Congress - and many are treated to trips by special interests and a fair number also pay family members for campaign work.

According to Political Money Line, an Internet site that compiles data on campaigns and political spending, 605 members and former members of Congress have enjoyed $16 million worth of privately financed trips over the past five years.

Taxpayers and voters should a look at the 5,410 trips taken by members of Congress since 2000 and question how many were legitimate fact-finding or otherwise educational, and how many were simply gifts intended to garner government contracts, regulatory relief, tax breaks or other favors.

DeLay is in hot water because some of his trips were allegedly paid for by a lobbyist. House rules do not permit lobbyists to pay for trips, though they do permit the companies that hire lobbyists to pay for the trip. Most people would see this as a major loophole - a distinction without a difference.

DeLay's 14 trips since 2000, valued at about $94,000, put him in 28th place among his jet-setting colleagues. According to Political Money Line, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wisc., tops the list with 19 trips valued at about $168,000. Former Democrat Rep. John Breaux, took the top prize for the most trips - 61, estimated to be worth about $162,000.

When it comes to putting family members on the campaign payroll, DeLay (who paid his wife and daughter about $500,000 over five years) also has company.

Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., paid his son $34,000 and his daughter $36,000 for work on his 2004 presidential campaign.

Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., pays his wife $111,000 a year to serve as his chief of staff.

Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., pays his wife $2,400 a month as a campaign consultant.

Clearly, there is a partisan element in the charges being leveled at DeLay. But it might turn out that he has violated House ethics rules.

Light should be shone on his trips and paying of family members. But that same light should be shown on all members of Congress taking free trips or putting family members on the payroll.

Beyond the political nature of the charges, voters should understand how commonplace this sort of behavior is in Congress. Sadly, even if doesn't pass the sniff test for most voters, politicians write the rules and they are unlikely to turn down free trips or quit paying family members anytime soon.