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Delay Selfless?
Posted 4-11-2006
So Tom Delay won't run again.
On the surface that is good news, but it is almost humorous to see the local
newspaper spin it as a "selfless act". If it was "selfless," it may have
been the first selfless act of Tom "The Hammer" Delay's public life. Let's
get caught up on what has been happening to the man who revolutionized
hardball politics inside the beltway.
Delay has spent almost his
entire career in DC trying to "hammer" the Democrat Party into oblivion.
Certainly in the years since the Republicans have gained the majority in the
US House of Representatives, Delay, through his K Street project, has worked
tirelessly not only to cut off political funding for Democrats from the
lobbying community, but also to wipe out registered Democrats for the
lobbying firms staffs. For years, lobbying firms played both sides of the
aisle lobbying Democrats and Republicans alike. But Delay's aggressive
attitude was, the R's have control, and the best way to keep it is make sure
funds dry up for Democrats and eliminate Democrats from the lobbying
process.
Delay's most recent problems
began in Texas when Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle indicted
The Hammer for campaign finance shenanigans in the Lone Star State. About
that time, things were coming unglued for the K Street Project and Delay's
best buddy Jack Abramoff. Ultimately, Abramoff plead guilty and accepted a
ten-year sentence for his illegal activities. While other Republican
Congressman like Ohio's Bob Ney have been identified in the Abramoff case,
the noose got tighter for the Hammer when his own chief of staff, Tony Rudy,
resigned and plead guilty to accepting illegal payoffs in Delay's office and
to corrupting other public officials. It was one thing for Delay to feign
ignorance for all of Abramoff's dirty deeds, but when his own chief of staff
plead guilty, it was a little too close to home for Delay.
So the guy who made it his
mission to destroy the Democrat Party, in an act of total selflessness,
didn't admit his guilt, he simply gave up of getting re-elected in his own
hand-drawn district. His magnanimous behavior won't save the taxpayers of
this country or the taxpayers of Texas any money by Delay admitting guilt.
But he will help the Republican Party with his action. He had to recognize
just about any other Republican would have a better chance of holding on to
the seat for the Republicans. Also, it is likely that without Delay in the
race, his Democrat opponent won't attract as much financial help to win the
seat. Delay was the big fish for the Democrats. Any other Republican, in a
district that is heavily Republican, will actually be a more formidable
opponent that the badly bruised Hammer.
I understand partisan
politics as much as anyone, but I recognize once elected, we serve everyone,
registered voters of all parties and those who don't register too. I wonder
if Tom Delay can point to one thing in his years in Congress that he
accomplished with the welfare of all Americans in mind? Right down to this
most recent action, his efforts are carried out solely for the benefit of
the Republican Party. Maybe the "Selfless Act" of Tom Delay is "selfless"
for the only group he ever has served, the Republican Party.
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