Washington Lawyers Rally Around Embattled Leader (Tom Delay)

[Robbien]

Majority Leader Tom DeLay raised more money from corporate interests in the last quarter than any other reporting period in his career, according to a new analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics. Rep. DeLay reported nearly $800,000 in contributions from political action committees and individual contributors between April 1 and June 30. He received very little money from leadership PACs, candidate committees and conservative interest groups.

. . .

"This shows how mercenary politics has become under his partisan leadership," said Miller. "Political powerbrokers have checked their consciences at the door. Imagine the message this sends to Americans: The more you epitomize the most corrupt Congress, the more corporate special contributors rally around you."

Rep. DeLay's leading contributors include Amgen, the world's largest biotech company, and IDT, a telecommunications wholesaler. Amgen gave Rep. DeLay $12,500 and IDT gave him $11,000. Rep. DeLay last year went on a $3,500 one-day trip to Philadelphia, paid for by IDT.

Amgen's Washington lobbyists include Tony Rudy at the Alexander Strategy Group. Rudy, a former member of Rep. DeLay's staff, heads Amgen's Medicare reform team. Washington lobbyists Allison Shulman and Edward Stewart of the Alexander Strategy Group also contributed to Rep. DeLay. The Alexander Strategy Group is headed by Rep. DeLay's former chief of staff, Ed Buckham.

Pharmaceutical companies gave Rep. DeLay $40,000 and Wall Street firms gave him $38,000. Most of Rep. DeLay's money came from the real estate, construction and legal industries. Real estate companies gave $52,350, construction gave $48,280 and lawyers and law firms gave $43,615.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=50513

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. Delay must still be a WH favorite

He did get invited to the State Dinner this week. Even Rove didn't get an invite.

[0007]

2. All the lawyers in the world ain't gonna save this schmuck's ass...

How come this article doesn't talk about the money that Jack Abramoff gave to Tommy 'boy'?

[Robbien]

3. So far he hasn't been charged with anything

and if the ethics committee ever gets around to reviewing the case, why would anyone think anything would happen to Delay worse than just another sanction.

[truthisfreedom]

4. lawyers? 'scuse me? isn't that liberal territory? why and for what are

these schmucks supporting a hater? why do they want a 'thug in power?

they aren't lawyers.

they're sellout corporate lawyers. all they want is the money. they don't want justice.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Absolutely astonishing! nt

[kskiska]

6. Why would DeLay want to be associated with

those dirty, money-grubbing "trial lawyers?"

[BeFree]

7. Bribery at it's finest!

Ol' Tommy is riding on top o' the world, eh?

This man is a shining example that if you work hard for money and take plenty of bribes, you too can be king. Remember kids, money is the most important American value. Without money, you ain't nothing. Just look at ol' Tommy boy -- without all this free money, he'd be back in Texas at his honest job: cockroach killer.