The passionate side of DeLay

The Inquirer ^ | Dec. 07, 2004 | Mona Charen

[Former Military Chick]

The first thing that crossed my mind when ethics charges were lodged against Rep. Tom DeLay (R., Texas) was: "I wish Mary McGrory were still alive."

McGrory, the pungent liberal columnist who died last April at the age of 85, was, improbably enough, a Tom DeLay fan. Why did this scourge of Nixon and Reagan appreciate "the Hammer" from Texas? She liked him because she was able to put aside partisan and philosophical differences in the name of a greater good. That greater good was a love of children. McGrory volunteered at St. Anne's Infant and Maternity Home and was a lifelong advocate of adoption and assistance to children in foster care.

McGrory knew, though few others in America do, that Tom DeLay is a forceful advocate for abused and neglected children, and that he and his wife raised three foster children in their own home.

Following the awful death of D.C. toddler Brianna Blackmond at the hands of her mentally impaired mother, DeLay used all of his considerable legislative skills to create a family court in the District of Columbia, so that children would not be pushed through the system like ciphers, but would be known to a judge who could follow their case over a period of years. I sat next to McGrory at a hearing about that effort and watched DeLay make the case to his colleagues.

Some conservatives recoil from any government involvement in family life and cite examples (sometimes accurate) of overzealous bureaucrats who have removed children from loving homes after a mere spanking. But while such miscarriages happen, they are rare and correctable. Failing to protect a child from an abusive or murderous parent is, alas, common and irreversible. In cases of parental drug abuse, sexual predation and cruelty, there is sometimes no alternative to the state stepping in to protect the children.

DeLay has also raised money to create a home for foster children who "age out" of the system. Once they reach 18, some are completely alone in the world. DeLay has created a center to which they can repair for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Glance at DeLay's Web site (tomdelay.house.gov/children), and see the passion the man brings to the subject.

So would Mary McGrory have defended DeLay now that Democrats are circling and hoping for blood? I don't know. But I do know that she would have given him the benefit of the doubt. The ethics charges against him were dismissed by the House Ethics Committee, and though DeLay was "admonished" about "appearances of impropriety," the House rule infractions are difficult to divine.

Was the House Republican Conference wrong to change its rules so that even if DeLay is indicted, he can remain as majority leader? Probably. The rule forbidding members of the leadership to remain in their posts if indicted was passed by the Republican Congress in 1995 to set them apart from the Democrats. To change the rule now does look bad, and the MSM (mainstream media) lost no time in clucking about "arrogance of power" and so forth.

But on the other hand, the prosecutor in the case, Ronnie Earle, an ally of former Texas Gov. Ann Richards (defeated by George W. Bush), does seem a teensy bit partisan. In June 1993, he indicted newly elected Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison on charges of official misconduct. At the time, then-Sen. Phil Gramm said, "This investigation smelled of raw politics from the beginning." The charges would have carried penalties up to 60 years in prison and $40,000 in fines. But a judge granted a directed verdict of not guilty after the prosecution failed to present a case.

Now Earle has indicted several DeLay associates in Texas and is apparently gunning for DeLay. Even if Earle could not make the charges stick (as he could not in Hutchison's case), under the old House rules, he could have knocked DeLay out of the leadership. This understandably sticks in Republican throats, since Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) has actually been found guilty of violating federal campaign-finance laws. She paid a fine of $21,000 and was forced to return $100,000.

So maybe Republicans look guilty for changing their own rule. But it looks like politics were very much in play on the other side, as well. I just wish Mary McGrory were alive to say so.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mona Charen is author of "Useful Idiots."

[Former Military Chick]

Listen I am not a fan of DeLay. I have never hidden that fact. I also did not like the Republicans making changes that would allow him, and anyone who is indicted to remain in a leadership position.

While I might get a lot of negative comments for that, it just seems that you should focus all your attentions on clearing your name and doing so as quickly as possible. If he were my congress critter that is what I would want him to do, because otherwise he cannot give all to his leadership job. I know, innocent until proven guilty. But, why allow someone to be stretched thin and not give all to his job?

Ms Charen has brought up excellent points and frankly the best article I think I have ever read about the "Hammer." I learned a few things that I had not known which is refreshing, but not life altering for me to change my mind on DeLay overnight.

This may be a partisan witch hunt. As I said I cannot offer as much as one who lives in his district so if anyone would care to elaborate on this issue I am all eyes.

Oh and Ms Charen's book, Useful Idiots, it is a must read. She was one of the authors who sent Dave a wonderful inscribed book for his reading pleasure while he was in Iraq, her kindness and generosity was appreciated.

Terrific holiday gift.

America Supports You

[weegee]

HOUSTON PING

[altura]

I am a fan of Delay.

[Malesherbes]

Tom DeLay is a man of strong principles. He's in the right place at the right ime.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

I live in the Congressman's District and we are members of the same Rotary Club. While I disagree with him on a few things, he does great good in areas that few know about.

I am pleased the rule was changed as Ronnie Earle the Travis County DA, who due to a quirk in the Texas law, and liberal voters in Austin, can indict almost anyone he wants. Earle is an ass and has done this before and should not be able to push the Majority Leader out of his job.

[guitarist]

Who is the Dave who got the book from Mona?

[Former Military Chick]

My beloved husband Dave, who serves at the pleasure of President Bush. I had contacted his favorite authors and all but one sent Dave a wonderful book inscribed with words that got him through some times while he was in Iraq.

[Former Military Chick]

Thank you for your post and your observations. That is why I had mentioned I saw something new in Mona article and wanted to know about DeLay from those who are in the know.

[mysto]

This may be a partisan witch hunt.
It IS a partisan witch hunt! It is being perpetrated by the same DemocRAT Travis County DA who indicted Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison a few years ago on some trumped-up corruption/bribery charges that were dismissed by the judge because they were so ludicrous and not based on any facts whatsoever. The GOP leadership in the House has amended the rules so Delay will not have to resign his post if indicted, because they know the charges will eventually be thrown out. Pelosi and the other House liberals will complain, but it doesn't matter. They are the minority party, so they have no say.

[ExtremeUnction]

This may be a partisan witch hunt.

It is, and it happens on a regular basis in the Texas legal system. Delay is not guilty, period. The House rules changes were appropriate. You have to be from Texas to understand the magnitude of corruption at the judicial level there. Remember, Texas is its own country. They just pretend to be part of the US of A.

[Former Military Chick]

I appreciate your perspective. When you do not live in the district of a congress critter who is in hot water, you can only rely on the news, but, with FR, there is no excuse to be as informed as one can be.

[Gunrunner2]

Best to have changed the rule to remove the threat of partisan politics from interfering with the federal legislative process. That is most important, as right now there is nothing to stop some local democrat DA from indicting a republican and throwing the whole Republican system out of wack.