Reply #1: He was on MTP acting indignant that someone would question him and

[Fuzz]

and his charitable giving.

Here's the exchange:


MR. RUSSERT: Before you go, Congressman, as you know, you have come under some criticism about your fund-raising activity. This is an article in the Associated Press. "Two watchdog groups filed a complaint against House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, asking that the IRS deny a tax exemption to a DeLay-backed charity that will throw parties and offer a luxury suite for major donors to watch President Bush's acceptance speech at the 2004 Republican Convention. `Celebrations for Children' will raise money for abused and neglected children by using the events at"--a--"New York convention in August as"--the--"drawing card, paying for them with a portion of the donations to the group. Representative--`DeLay is using the nation's charity tax laws and the pretext of helping children as a cynical cover to raise and spend huge amounts of prohibited soft money to finance political activities,' said Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21." What's your response?

REP. DeLAY: Well, first of all, Fred Wertheimer of Democracy 21 is a leftist organization that is supported by Democrats and supports Democrats. Secondly, I think it's pretty sad that hehas taken in after our ability to raise money for abused and neglected children. My wife and I are very much involved in trying to build a community that gives abused, neglected children a safe, permanent home. The foster care system in this country is abominable. What we're doing to children is outrageous and we need to change it. And we're trying to do that. And we're trying to raise money to do that. And we're trying to raise money any way that we can. And I don't think it's wrong--and you raise money around this country all the time by having galas, or parties, or golf tournaments, giving people some fun activity so that they will contribute to your cause, and that's what we're doing. I don't see anything wrong with it. I think it--what's wrong here is people are attacking our effort to raise money, to take care of abused, neglected children, the most vulnerable children in this country, and they can criticize me all they want to. But I'm going to take care of these kids.

MR. RUSSERT: Mr. Wertheimer will say that his group brought actions against Hillary Clinton, and Al Gore and the Democratic Party, that they are, in fact, non-partisan, and that he asked "Why would you mix politics and helping children? Why not just give all the money to the kids rather than hosting political parties?"

REP. DeLAY: We are giving all the money to the kids. But you have to have a party to attract people to come and have a draw to raise the money. And I might say Mr. Wertheimer always points out that he brought one action against Hillary Clinton. He's been in his leftist business for, I don't know, 20 or 30 years. Most of his actions are after Republicans. And he's a leftist organization. But that aside, the point here is abused, neglected children in this country have to have a safe, permanent home. They have to have roots. They have to be shown and raised instead of warehoused. And we're trying our best to change that system, and doing it in a meaningful way and we will continue to do so despite what the left says.

MR. RUSSERT: Congressman Tom DeLay, we thank you for sharing your views with us this morning.