All DeLay's Children

[Robbien]

If the toothless lobbying "reform" bill approved by the House and Senate is any indication, we haven't seen the last of the likes of Jack Abramoff or Tom DeLay. DeLay exits Congress June 9, but his influence lives on. His former deputy, Dennis Hastert, remains Speaker of the House. His key liaison to lobbyists on K Street, Roy Blunt, is majority whip. Even John Boehner, a rival from the Gingrich years, retained three DeLay staffers when he became majority leader. More important, the Hammer left many nails behind among the lower tier of House GOP leadership members, committee chairmen, party spokesmen and fundraisers he propelled to power. These are the people who will shape the GOP's agenda for years to come. Here are five disciples who are carrying on DeLay's legacy.


§ Jack Kingston (age 51). As vice chairman of the Republican Conference Committee and the number-six House Republican, Georgia's Kingston sculpts the GOP's message, producing talking points for fellow members and soundbites for conservative media. National Journal rated him the most conservative Congressman in 2004. But unlike DeLay, Kingston is an affable, smooth Southerner who jokes with Stephen Colbert and Bill Maher. Kingston's relentless defense of DeLay at times merited its own comedy show. When the TV series Law & Order referred to DeLay negatively in one episode, Kingston accused the show of associating his boss with a "racist, anti-Semitic judge killer." After Representative Chris Bell filed an ethics complaint against DeLay resulting in an unprecedented three rebukes, Kingston called it a "nonstory." When DeLay received two indictments in Texas on money-laundering charges, Kingston circulated a glossy brochure titled "The 'Hammer' Has a Big Heart," boasting of DeLay's "affections for his bichons frisés, Baily and Taylor, and his miniature dachshund, Scooter," reported the Washington Post. Describing how DeLay maintained his resilience, Kingston said, "he knows Jesus personally."

Click through to read on about the other four:
§ Eric Cantor
§ Patrick McHenry
§ Richard Pombo
§ Tom Reynolds
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20060619/berman

[IndyOp]

1. Good article! We need to keep making the connections on the way to '06. nt

:hi:

[erslyman]

2. All DeLay's Children

Resilience is one thing. Failure to adjust their stance is another. It's a failure by any means.