Posted on 04/08/2006 9:28:04 PM PDT by SmithL
It was my first week as Tom DeLay's communications director in late 1995. And we were already in crisis.
On the House floor, DeLay had gotten into a shoving match with a Wisconsin Democrat named Dave Obey. I had no idea what had happened.
While I worked the phones trying to figure out the details, our press secretary, Tony Rudy, wasn't waiting for the facts. He started telling reporters that Obey had called Tom an obscenity too graphic to print in this newspaper. Obey vehemently denied it. Later, I asked Tom if it was true.
No, he said, he had never actually heard Obey utter the alleged insult. I called reporters to tell them we couldn't confirm the rumor. But, of course, it was too late. The rumor had come in part from our own office. And I had my crash course in spin control as played by some members of Team DeLay.
For the next 3 1/2 years, I experienced the Republican revolution firsthand, witnessing the rise of Tom DeLay and the beginnings of one of the more remarkable political downfalls in modern U.S. history. Today, everyone wants to know what Tom DeLay knew and when he knew it. And I can't answer those questions.
But I do know that Tom DeLay achieved great things for the Republican majority, the Congress and for the country. He also created great controversy caused in part by his own aggressive nature, in part by his political enemies, and in part by rogue members of his own staff.
The overwhelming majority of DeLay's staffers were professional, honest and working in Congress for the right reasons. But Tom prized the most aggressive staffers and most often heeded their counsel. As it turned out, three of them went over the line, abused the trust
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Hate when that happens. (Especially at WAPO, it might leave a mark).
This whole piece is a crock of crap!!
including..."But I do know that Tom DeLay achieved great things for the Republican majority, the Congress and for the country."...???
No wonder the Democrats hated him. He used their own tactics against them.
Reminds me of that scene in star wars, during the lightsaber duel between Obi Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader. to paraphrase Obi Wans line : "you can't win, dems. If you strike me down I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine"
CC
The "we got rid of Delay" party the Rats had, was of very short duration. Now they are faced with an unleashed ruthless organizer and money raiser outside the Beltway rules of niceties. They will come to look back on the Delay in Congress time as the happy days. Delay the Hammer, will be reforged as Tom the double bladed Axe chopping down Rat underpinnings.
When I heard him talk about this, I had to laugh. He sounded just like Obi-Wan -- more powerful "dead" than alive!
And I get so annoyed when others don't read ALL the posts before posting the same thing! Ya beat me.
;o)
When I heard him talk about this, I had to laugh. He sounded just like Obi-Wan -- more powerful "dead" than alive!]
Tom's fatal flaw.
PRoverbs 13
20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.