DeLay gets warm welcome at home - cheers from the faithful and praise from the president

Houston Chronicle ^ | April 27, 2008 | Julie Mason, Washington Bureau

[Cincinatus' Wife]

GALVESTON - When embattled House Majority Leader Tom DeLay took his seat here Tuesday at a White House event on Social Security, an electric current of chatter went through the hundreds-strong Republican crowd.

Finally, someone spoke up.

"We love you, Tom!" shouted Geraldine Sam, a La Marque teacher, local Republican activist and former Democratic candidate for Congress.

Out of Washington and back in Texas, DeLay won a sustained, standing ovation from the Galveston audience and an unambiguous show of support from President Bush, who arrived soon after.

"I appreciate the the leadership of Congressman Tom DeLay in working on important issues that matter to the country," Bush said, amid more wild applause for the lawmaker from Sugar Land.

In Washington and elsewhere, DeLay is facing scrutiny over allegations he violated House ethics rules by allowing a lobbyist to pay for some of the congressman's trips abroad.

They are the latest in a series of ethics claims against the GOP leader, who is the most investigated member of Congress.

In addition to twice commending DeLay from the stage, Bush treated his fellow Texan to the triple serving of perks afforded friends of the president.

DeLay left the event with Bush as the sole guest in the presidential limousine. As they passed a van carrying members of the media, both were smiling, the president looking toward DeLay.

Ride on Air Force One They rode to a helipad in Houston, where they boarded Marine One together for the short ride to Ellington Field. From there, DeLay rode with Bush to Washington aboard Air Force One.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan downplayed the significance of the shared rides and camaraderie, saying Bush often gives members of Congress a lift back to Washington.

"I'm sure it will be an opportunity for them to continue to visit about how we can move forward in Congress on the important priorities facing the American people," McClellan said.

DeLay said he was humbled by the day's events.

"Well, it felt pretty good," he said. "The strong show of support from the people of Houston, as well as the president ... we feel very humbled by the fact of that kind of support," he said. "Also, it's coming from our members (of Congress) and from people who believe in what we're doing.

"The president was very gracious, and I've always appreciated his support, not just in this situation," DeLay added. "We've known each other for 30 years, so we go back a long way."

Fed up with attacks Sam, the La Marque teacher, said she is fed up with attacks on DeLay, whom she said had invited her to Tuesday's event at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

"He is my congressman, yes he is, and I am proud of him," she said. "They are just trying to tear him down for the good work he does, and Democrats need to get over it."

julie.mason@chron.com

[CheezyChesster]

We want DeLay/Condi for 2008, You go Tom !!!

[Lancey Howard]

Gee.... I thought I read on another thread that DeLay was "being thrown to the wolves"?

The scumbag liberal newsrooms of the dying, socialist "mainstream media" are in their death throes and they know it. They have lost everything - - the final, fatal blow being the re-election of Dubya. However, like some terminal cancer patients, they will try ANYTHING to stay alive.

In order to fend off the grim reaper (if only for a little while), the scumbag liberal newsrooms of the dying, socialist "mainstream media" must somehow prove that they still wield POWER - - that they are still RELEVANT.

And so they have taken up the causes of railroading Tom DeLay and John Bolton out of town, and sowing discontent and disillusionment among Republicans in order to defeat GOP efforts to win confirmation of Dubya's judicial nominees.

The scumbag liberal newsrooms of the dying, socialist "mainstream media" MUST NOT PREVAIL on any of these three initiatives. Defeating them on all three causes will be like throwing three more shovelfuls of dirt on top of their mass grave.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Gee.... I thought I read on another thread that DeLay was "being thrown to the wolves"?

Here's one hoping for that.

If fish rots from the head, will DeLay cost any seats? (a warning not to defend DeLay)

[Lancey Howard]

Here's the one I was talking about:

Tom Delay Being Thrown to the wolves.

(I happen to believe the poster is a troll - - probably hanging by his/her/its fingernails.)

[chuckles]

More needs to be said about the retirement plans in Galveston county! If Bush would just ask around, he could get a bunch of people that back opting out of SS. They are the ones driving 45ft diesel pushers instead of eating Alpo. There are MANY of them Because I met them when I lived there.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Ha ha ha ha ha........

[gulfcoast6]

'AT HOME', where the votes count, not in NYC of Pittsburgh, his home district.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Yes!

Now the Dems are going after vulnerable members of the House who don't criticize him.

[gulfcoast6]

Sooner than later it has got to backfire on them.

[Major_Risktaker]

Sooner than later it has got to backfire on them.

Their destruction is already in progress.

The Donkey Party is the party of death, pro homosexuality, pro illegal immigration and more.

The Donkey Party is the anti-American party representing nothing in my book that our American Founding Fathers created.

__________________________

They even have a game on
their DNC web site called:

"Wreck The Nation"

A Game of Political Misbehavior.
Play Wreck the Nation™

__________________________

One thing that bothers me the most about both parties is a 9 TRILLION dollar national debt by 2008.

How does a nation paying to much in taxes already with some tax cuts in the works pay down this 9 TRILLION dollar national debt?

Talk about:
"Wreck The Nation"
It's not just a board game any more.
"It's reality"