Is Tom DeLay a dead Boy Scout?

[quaoar]

Got this email today from the Richard Morrison campaign:

According to a recently circulated invitation, DeLay will be receiving the Spirit of the Eagle Award from the Boy Scouts of America at a black tie reception on September 17. The confusion lies in just what award the Boy Scouts will be handing out. The Spirit of the Eagle award is, according to the Boy Scouts’ website, “an honorary posthumous special recognition for a registered youth member who has lost his life in a tragic accident or through illness.” Since DeLay survived his scouting days, his image consultants came up with a new award for him - the “Golden Eagle” award. The problem is the Boy Scouts of America don’t have a “Golden Eagle” award.

The Boy Scouts fiasco isn’t the first incident of The Hammer using his political influence for his personal advantage. DeLay’s strong arming ways could be seen in the quick switch in NASA’s policy for acceptable employee campaign activity. On August 18, a memo was circulated to NASA employees warning them against any political activity while on duty. The very next day a new memo was circulated advising that “it is in the Agency’s interest and NASA and their guests to attend” a reception for DeLay at University of Houston-Clear Lake. An ethics complaint has been filed against UH-CL regarding the matter as the campus is not in DeLay's current district.

[aquart]

1. Would that he were.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. I used to be a scout. The leadership has lost all credibility with me.

The young scouts are not the problem, of course. The leadership has gone off the rails and are now clearly right wing stooges. If there was any doubt, this DeLay flim-flam is the last straw.

[pelagius]

3. Using kids to grub for votes and $$$$

This is not a Scouting award. It is an award made up -- for this event -- by something called the George Foundation -- right-wing moneybags org -- and has nothing to do with Scouting per se. The presentation of this great honor will be held at an event raising money for a local Scout council, but it smells of "campaign event" to me.

A good summary and analysis of the situation can be found at:

http://www.brazosriver.com/scouts.htm

The national leadership of the BSA is thick as thieves with the Texas Republican crowd. Lots of fine work being done by Scouts at the local level, but National is increasingly partisan.

[newyawker99]

4. Hi pelagius!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[pelagius]

5. Thanks!

I've been lurking for a few months, thought I'd make a post or two.