Posted on 08/17/2009 12:41:49 PM PDT by neverdem
Indicted Former Republican Congressman Named one of the 'Stars'
To the amazement of many in Washington, Tom DeLay, the former Republican Congressional leader who became a poster boy for cronyism and ethical lapses, was named one of the 16 celebrity contestants today by the producers of the ABC program "Dancing with the Stars."
It is not known if DeLay will wear spandex and sequins.
"It would be interesting to see if Mr. DeLay can do the Perp Walk. Does he know that step," said Andrew Wheat, the research director of Texans for Public Justice, the watchdog group whose work helped spark the criminal prosecution of DeLay.
DeLay, nicknamed the "Hammer" because of his forceful backroom tactics, retired from Congress in 2006 after a Texas grand jury indicted him on money laundering charges related to corporate campaign contributions. The case has been held up in procedural challenges and has never gone to trial. The prosecutor who sought the indictment retired in 2007. DeLay has maintained his innocence and has plead not guilty to all charges.
In its announcement, ABC described DeLay as a "prominent Republican and conservative firebrand." There was no mention of his legal problems.
DeLay will make his debut on Sept. 21 when the show returns for its ninth season. As one of the "stars," DeLay will be teamed with a professional dancer for what host Tom Bergeron said today would be a "ballroom bloodbath." DeLay and his partner will be pitted again other stars including former NFL player Michael Irvin, singer Donny Osmond and actress Kelly Osborne.
DeLay launched his political comeback at last year's Republican convention in St. Paul, where he sponsored several fund raising events widely attended by lobbyists and...
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
and we wonder why 95% of the other countries in the world call us decadent...
WTH?
Was he convicted of anything at all, ever?
If memory serves wasn’t the prosecutor who went after him a political hack who had to go jury shopping to get an indictment?
Well here’s a balanced piece of reporting by ABC. What was Delay actually CONVICTED OF 5 years after this indictment?? Funny innocence until proven guilty is good enough for terrorist suspects at Gitmo with the MSM, but Delay is guilty until proven not a conservative with the US news media.
I completely agree with the “ballroom bloodbath” sentiment.
Tom DeLay has cashed in big time, whilst at the same time adopting spending policies that helped destroy the Republican Party. Good work Tom and George W.!
The Left went after DeLay hard, and as usual chicken-s--t Republicans stood by and did nothing. This is was the Mother of all political witch hunts.
WE? Speak for yourself newb.
His only legal problem is not being able to get a speedy trial. All of the DeLays (no pun intended) have been by the prosecution.
Bush letting DeLay get hung out to dry was where his administration started to fall off the rails.
The Dems won the house the moment they got Delay to step down as majority leader. Some may think ill of him, but he was a strong leader. The house Republicans have been rudderless ever since he left.
“cronyism and ethical lapses”???
No wonder democrats never get nailed—it would take hundreds of years to get to the bottom of “cronyism and ethical lapses”, not to mention tax cheats and terrorist ties.
was he convicted of anything?
Delay presided over the largest expansion of the federal government ever. Of course that would be before Obama came along. Delay is one of the main reasons we have a Democrat congress and Obama.
And ABC is the network that carries the show. Ginning up the evil contestant factor.
will he do the Rhino
Gee, and here I thought it was No Child Left Behind (Teddy Kennedy’s program) and the Senior Prescription Entitlement (which he refused to pay for), and the massive spending on Africa, foreign aid, mismanagement of Iraq and other mishaps of the “Compassionate Conservative.”
Kelly Osborne = actress?
Bwaa haa haaa haa
This article by ABC is just another example of the biased reporting of the MSM and is why they are losing all credibility. Not one mention of the shady practices by democrat party crony district attorney RONNIE EARLE who is the poster boy for corruption by using his position for political purposes by shopping around through about seven grand juries to trump up phony charges against Delay.
Key word here is “indicted.” Under House GOP rules at the time, any Republican indicted would be forced to resign.
Nah.......... Delay was forced under rules to resign his leadership post [majority leader] in Sept. 2005 when the indictment came down. He resign from Congress June 9, 2006 after winning the GOP primary in March 2006. His screwing around did allow for democrat Nick Lampson to be elected for one term before he was ousted.
”Hammer, you ain’t hittin’ in New York!”
“What?”
“So what you gon’ do about that...Hammer?”
“I’m gon’ turn this mutha out.”
is he any relation to the leftist singer Steve Earle?
Never went to trial.
Ronnie Earl is the Austin, Texas hack who indicted Delay and then dropped the charges after Delay lost his house seat.
Is there any possibility that DeLay can get the indictment quashed, or will he have to go to his grave “Indicted, but never tried”?
Hey, instead of re-hashing out all the old BS of this entire debacle...How ‘bout checking out the next post after yours...#7
BTW, care to eleborate and lay out some facts about how Tom DeLay and President George Bush destroyed the Republican Party???
Last I heard the party is still kickin’...Still has pulse...Maybe thready, but it still works...
Damned well about time for GOP House rules to change!
Oh yeah. Cha-cha is pure evil.
I wonder why we’re so freakin’ uptight.
Personally, I don’t like to see a person who was elected by the people, trusted by the people, and convicted of a crime against the people who put him into office, become a hero via TV. Which is the only way a large percentage of people get their news/information.
call me uptight...
There is only one reason that Barack Obama is now President of the United States, and his first name starts with a G. Can you guess who I am referring to?
And having the worst nominee in party history had nothing to do with it.
Nonsense. President Bush had no influence over rat abuse of rules in the House of Representatives.
Uptight is not the first word that comes to mind.
hahahahaha..... touche’
What country did you have in mind that is less ‘decadent?’
Will you be moving there soon?
The hammer turned into a marshmallow. Good grief! Are there any men left to represent us?
I do not make guesses, if I have something credible, and not anything based upon emotions and circumstancial hearsay...I make it fairly clear to others...
If you want to base the election of President Obama on one reason, I am sure not going to tell you to look any deeper than your one reason...
Dancing With The Stars starring Tom Delay is about to come on out here in CA. Anybody seen this yet today?
This was true for both John Doolittle, CA and Tom Delay, TX!!!
Do you have trouble reading for comprehension???
Delay was convicted? I must have missed that one.
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