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‘Dancing’ With Tom DeLay

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Posted on Sep 8, 2009
DeLay dances
abc.go.com

From the halls of Congress to your living room: Tom DeLay practices his dance steps with pro partner Cheryl Burke in preparation for this season of “Dancing With the Stars.”

What’s up with erstwhile Republican congressional powerhouse Tom DeLay deciding to hoof
it on “Dancing With the Stars” afore a national audience? Some of his GOP buds are perplexed by this unorthodox career maneuver, but as DeLay himself points out, politicians tend to love the spotlight.  —KA

Time:

DeLay’s motives seem less obvious. Since leaving Congress in June 2006, he’s been running a political consultancy. Did someone counsel him that the path to elder statesmanship is best taken at a waltz? DeLay says he simply discussed the plan with his wife and daughter, both fans of the show, who urged him to go for it. “They said, ‘Sure, why not? Let’s do it.’” His only wider aim in participating, he insists, is to win. “I’m surprised people consider it unusual that a former politician would be on a dancing show,” he says. “Politics is also show biz.”

Nevertheless, people—even some quite close to DeLay—are surprised. “Got a nonspecific hint that he would be doing something high-profile,” says Richard Cullen, one of his legal advisers, when asked if he knew of DeLay’s plans. “But I would never have guessed this.” Republican strategist and former DeLay spokesman John Feehery was also shocked—but more that his ex-boss had been asked than that he accepted. “He likes to be in the middle of the action,” Feehery says. “Politicians have this internal thing where they like to be the center of attention.” DeLay doesn’t deny that. “I’ve always enjoyed being in the limelight. At least that’s what my wife says,” he says with a chuckle.

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By Rex Ozone, September 10, 2009 at 9:33 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

All this furor whether from birthers, deathers, schoolers, or Mr. Wilson is simply a Delayed reaction. That is, these seeds were sown by the demonic practices of Tom Delay and his cronies who saw extermination of democracy like some routine elimination of vermin. Rove and his ilk sought the most cynical approach to governing and maintaining power…cater to the worst character of our society. And now it’s paying dividends as Delay dances literally on our graves and in primetime…imagine giving him the spotlight over Obama…how foxy is that? These people threaten the very fabric of our humanity let alone America. They should be held immediately accountable and “called out” on the spot.
To debase our system of government even more than the presence of these doom-merchants dictating the Republican line does really tests our mettle. We will overcome them however and you can dance on that, Tommy.

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By Meadow, September 10, 2009 at 9:16 am Link to this comment

DeLay should be in prison, not on television. He epitomizes the graft and corruption of Bush and Company.

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By Reubenesque, September 9, 2009 at 7:55 pm Link to this comment

Shall we now call him Tom “Hammer Toes” DeLay now?

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By StuartH, September 9, 2009 at 8:00 am Link to this comment

Dancing with the Stars is just looking for ratings.  DeLay is looking for any face
time with a camera that might have the result of making him look less odious so
he can resume some kind of a role as a political figure.

This is a score for him.  I wonder about the network.  There must be an executive
who is an ultraconservative who offered the venue to help this would-be
Napolean back from his Elba of disgrace. 

Unfortunately, it could work to some extent.  Watch this guy get on the TV talk
shows after this to join the prognosticators looking for ways to tear down any sign
of a progressive effort on the part of the Administration or Congress, after his
stint on dancing makes people feel more comfortable with his being on TV.

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By Random Items, September 9, 2009 at 7:58 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Some one explain to me why he isn’t Dancing with the
Cons in a federal lock up.

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johnnyfarout's avatar

By johnnyfarout, September 8, 2009 at 7:38 pm Link to this comment

Is this gonna’ be, “that felon sure can dance!”, show? Has he something new to show us other than the back room snickering deals that lined his pockets? He’s such a high level criminal that he never went to jail, and he also had this subconscious desire to passionately dance, and quickly learned the skills of ballroom entertaining?. So now we get to see him dance across the stage as his old fat self. Just great. America the free and ever bizarre.

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By Rodger Lemonde, September 8, 2009 at 7:19 pm Link to this comment

American Idol wouldn’t have him?

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