January 7, 2006
LEADERS COME, LEADERS GO (CONT'D)
Letter to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (Rep. Tom DeLay, 01/07/2006)
Dear Mr. Speaker,I am writing to inform you of my decision to permanently step aside as majority leader, and of my belief that the best interests of the conference would be served by the election of a new leader as soon as possible.
The job of majority leader and the mandate of the Republican majority are too important to be hamstrung, even for a few months, by personal distractions.
I will continue to serve my constituents and seek re-election to a 12th term representing Texas' 22nd district while I work to clear my name of the baseless charges leveled against me. I will also be reclaiming my seat on the Appropriations Committee when the second session of the 109th Congress convenes later this month.
Sincerely,
Tom DeLay
Letter to House Republican Conference (Rep. Tom DeLay, 01/07/2006)
Dear Colleague,Today, I have asked Speaker Hastert to convene our conference for the purpose of electing a new majority leader, the position I have been honored to fill these past three years through the trust and confidence of our colleagues.
During my time in Congress, I have always acted in an ethical manner within the rules of our body and the laws of our land. I am fully confident time will bear this out.
However, we live in serious times and the United States House of Representatives must be focused on the job of protecting our nation and meeting the daily challenges facing the American people. History has proven that when House Republicans are united and focused, success follows.
While we wage these important battles, I cannot allow our adversaries to divide and distract our attention. I will continue to stand up for the issues I care so deeply about and work with you all on these priorities. I am constantly thankful for the support of my constituents in recent days as well as over the years they have allowed me to serve them. I will continue to work every day to fulfill their trust, and yours.
Regards,
Tom DeLay
Just yesterday, Orrin noted that the GOP majority has been admirably ruthless in cutting loose leaders when they become liabilities. After Rep. DeLay proved unable to win quick dismissals of charges he will likely beat in court, this course of action became inevitable -- although the timing (a beautiful, 70-degree, sunny Saturday here in Texas) was typically shrewd.
Posted by kevin_whited at January 7, 2006 1:33 PMThe grown-up party.
Posted by: oj at January 7, 2006 2:30 PMThe GUP?
Posted by: Robert Duquette at January 7, 2006 2:36 PMIn our neck of the woods down here in West Texas, Tom's brother Randy has received over $350,000 in the past three years in consulting fees so that his Washington D.C. lobbying company can whisper sweet notthings in the U.S. Bureau of Prison's ear and make sure the BOP keeps sending prisoners to the local 3,100 bed prison facility.
Randy, of course, can do anything he wants to do without his brother's consent, but it's doubtful that if his last name wasn't DeLay he's be raking in that kind of money as a D.C. lobbyist, especially since he wasn't a D.C. lobbyist until after the 1994 elections. It may be a minor thing in the scope of the Abramoff affair, but DeLay's enemies on the left know about this, and it's likely the stories would (and probably still will) come out at the big media outlets about this little connection, in order to highten the charges of GOP cronyism. Better for the Republicans to cut their losses now and get DeLay out of the leadership role, then go to the mat for him when they know more stuff like this is likely to come out.
Posted by: John at January 7, 2006 2:57 PM
Let's see, Murtha, and Pelosi's nephew, IIRC.
Posted by: Sandy P at January 7, 2006 3:05 PMJohn: Everyone has that problem. Remember Tom Daschle's wife, perhaps the most egregious example in DC.
Posted by: David Cohen at January 7, 2006 4:17 PM. . . and Chuckie Schumer's wife in charge of the Staten Island Ferry - the one that crashed a couple of years ago.
Posted by: obc at January 7, 2006 5:13 PMthat poor woman.
Posted by: toe at January 7, 2006 8:26 PMThe First Brother and Brother-in-Law certainly were doing their best during the 90s, also.
Posted by: jim hamlen at January 7, 2006 9:08 PMI know about the others and their family conflicts. But the difference is the letter after their names, as far as how much press coverage it did/would receive. What Daschele, Schumer and the Rodham clan could get away with without most of the press giving a damn is a lot more than what Tom DeLay would be, especially in his current situation and with a mid-term election coming up. Better to cut bait now if you're the GOP House leadership than wait for the attack you know is coming (though I still think DeLay eventually will see his current Austin charges brought by the incompetent Ronnie Earle dismissed).
Posted by: John at January 8, 2006 5:16 AMNow that he's stepped down, the charges will be dropped. All according to the master's plan.
Posted by: erp at January 8, 2006 11:32 AMBye Tommie! Don't let the toilet seat hit you on the way down!
Posted by: Robert Duquette at January 8, 2006 12:01 PM