Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

(Tom DeLay)

Republican Rep. Tom DeLay, perhaps the sleaziest Majority Leader in modern times, quit his race for reelection to the House of Representatives under a cloud of scandal and stench. Tied to imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramhoff and guilty of a number of other ethics violations, it was only a matter of time before reality caught up to him. The final straw came last week when Tony Rudy, his former deputy chief of staff, pleaded guilty to scumbaggery charges.

What is really pathetic about this whole mess is how fundamentalist Christians rallied behind DeLay and seemed not to care one bit that he had sullied the House and soiled America. Like usual, they ignored evidence and blindly backed a corrupt hypocrite. Why do those who talk the most about morals consistently support the most crooked politicians?

So much for the "Republican Revolution" of 1994 that sailed into office with empty promises to clean up Washington. It is time for the GOP to admit that its rule has been an experiment that has miserably failed. Instead of fixing DC, the moralists and scolds have turned it into a cesspool of slime. Conservative voters can finally show their wonderful values by having the courage to join the rest of America and vote these bums out of office.

Finally, DeLay was elected because he trumpeted his Neo-Puritan "world view." How deliciously ironic that his world view may ultimately be from behind bars, looking out over a prison yard.

7 Comments:

Behind bars would be fitting for such a sleazeball...Did he not ever learn that 'Tis the meek shall inherit the earth'
Now he wants to blame the Democrats.
Sure why not..be in fashion and never take responsibility for any misbehaviors.

Donal South NJ
posted by Anonymous, at 4/04/2006 11:12 AM

Tom Delay is a supremely arrogant thug hiding behind a mantle of religion and so-called morals. He gained power by pandering to ignorance and bigotry and used it to enrich himself and his friends. Hopefully the people who kept electing him will wake up and realize they've been used by the cynical, greedy Republican party that he led.
posted by Sam, at 4/04/2006 11:39 AM

I wonder if Delay's constituents will indeed wake up and see the error of their ways. His district borders my parent's and it is hopelessly average and middle-America. The district is filled with master-planned suburban communities teaming with 2.5 kids, minivans, and soccer moms. It is the world where the husband or wife (or both) leave at the crack of dawn to fight the traffic into the diverse city of Houston knowing all the while that back at home, things will always be stable and painfully normal. They relish the fact that it is hopelesly average.

But, I also wonder if Delay's departure will even bring any sweeping change. Who's to say that Delay won't coach any prospective republican candidates? Delay just won't give up the power just because he chose to drop out. Perhaps he sees an oppurtunity to make a new republican challenger from his own image. Without the scandal, Delay was still an ass, and he was still electable by his painfully normal district.
posted by Anonymous, at 4/04/2006 12:52 PM

He's finally checking out of the roach motel that he created; now we have to black flag the rest of 'em.
B. Queer
posted by Anonymous, at 4/04/2006 1:10 PM

Justice for Delay would be having a cellmate named Bubba who has not seen another human in 20 years.

Don't drop your soap, Tom.
posted by Matthew, at 4/04/2006 7:42 PM

Everyone should be sitting up now and wondering why Delay fell. There is more than meets the eye.

He was facing almost certain defeat to a Democrat in his district. Now there will be a new 'clean' Republican.

The Media has their 'red meat' story, without Abramoff to rat on the higher ups, and Delay out of the picture, it's unlikely that the perp's at the top will face any further investigation.

Let's all pay attention to how Delay gets rewarded for falling on his sword to save his chief.
posted by Anonymous, at 4/04/2006 8:11 PM

DeLay once said that "you could support the troops, but not the president". That was back then during the conflicts that were going on in the former Yugoslavia. Now those words bit him in the ass. Right now during the Iraq War, I support our troops, but not the president.

Tom, please tell Duke Cunningham that we (the people of San Diego County) said "Rot in Hell!" We hope that you rot as well.

Blood from Machines
San Diego, CA
posted by Anonymous, at 4/05/2006 3:46 AM