Tom DeLay, known as "The Hammer", was a Christian Right activist who became one of the most powerful Congressmen in the nation. Tom believed that the government has stopped churches from getting into politics because Lyndon Johnson wanted them out so that Johnson could stay in office. DeLay stated that LBJ had a plan with this tax exemption that would "force Christians back into the church, and that is what is going on in America." Tom promised his electorate he would do something about activist judges. He claimed that ethics allegations against him that forced him out of office were a mere tactic to silence the conservative agenda. The GOP Congressman believed God gave the nation the Terri Schiavo case to show the country what was going on in America. That is, Americans were barbaric people starving to death those deemed unimportant.1 Later on research revealed Tom pulled the plug on his own father who was comatose in a hospital. Other revelations would come concerning ethical complaints against the Texan.
Tom DeLay caught the attention of the Baptist Standard in Texas when he criticized Baylor, a Baptist school. Tom did not realize the tape was running when he offered advice to a Christian audience. He told them that true Christians would not send their children to Baylor or Texas A&M. Evidently these left leaning institutions would seduce their children with wicked world views. Tom made these comments while speaking at Rick Scarborough's old church, First Baptist Pearland. DeLay himself was booted out of Baylor during his student years for his robust lifestyle. Sources reveal this lifestyle continued at A&M and Tom never graduated there. 2 It was interesting that Tom's daughter attended Baylor. Her later saga of a hot tub and champagne with lobbyists reminds Texas journalists of her father's early lifestyle. Early on as a legislator, DeLay was known as "hot tub Tom." Tom gave up his riotous youthful living to eventually connect with the Christian organization Promise Keepers. He joined Second Baptist Church in Houston. However, ethical compromises continued to follow the leader of the House.
Late Texas journalist Molly Ivins reported that born again Christian DeLay received tens of thousands of political action money from Bacardi, the liquor corporation. He also solicited donor money for foster children which ended up paying for golf tournaments, cruises and private dinners with him. After complaints to the IRS, DeLay canceled the effort. 3
DeLay became known as the king of campaign fundraising. He visited Caribbean resorts, golf courses and four star restaurants. The money for these trips came from donors who wanted to bankroll his political money empire. He made over 48 trips to golf clubs and resorts. Flew over 100 flights aboard corporation jets and stayed in 200 hotels. He often ate at restaurants that averaged $200 for a dinner of two. Since joining the House leadership as majority whip in 1995, DeLay raised at least $35 million for his campaign, PACs and legal defense fund. This was done even though he never faced any serious opposition to his candidacy. He is revered in his south Houston district. No other Congressman raised this amount of money and Tom carried huge amounts of influence on the hill with his ability to connect with big donors.4
Senator Al Franken found DeLay disgusting with the claims for a moral high ground with his abuse of power and influence. Franken claims DeLay was closer to the corrupt Jack Abramoff than anyone in Washington. Franken found it offensive that DeLay was connected to island resorts that encouraged prostitutes to have abortions to keep servicing clients. This while DeLay and company opposed abortion in Congress. 5 DeLay also sat idly by as Abramoff and Ralph Reed ripped off Texas Indians with the scandal of playing one tribe against another and profiting from both reservations.
Tom's roots in politics seem to come from his anger at the EPA. Tom hated this environmental watchdog for not allowing him to kill Texas fire ants the way he wanted to. This led to his plan to run for Congress to allow pest control people a free reign in use of poisons. What started as a desire to open up stronger poison bottles, led to the biggest fund raiser in Congress by contacts with big industry.6 He would use some of this corporate money from Kansas to get Republicans elected in Texas. Donors and politicians learned like fire ants not to get on the wrong side of the hammer. Tom took a check of $100,000 from Corrections Corporation of America. This is a company that runs private prisons. The company track record is not that strong but Tom became their ally. Tom carried a big stick and corporations knew and feared him. According to Molly Ivins Tom was not only feared, but he was hated.7
With an ethical background and reputation Tom had, readers might find it strange that he had the blessing of the Religious Right; which seems to point to a more corporate blessing than Biblical for the group. Tom also wanted churches to get their government blessings. He championed causes against separation of church and state and promoted George Bush's faith based initiative. He felt as if the notion of refusing government funding of church programs was a misguided court decision imposed on the nation over the last forty of fifty years.8
http://www.talk2action.org/story/2010/11/29/152314/19/Front_Page/Does_the_Hammer_Go_To_the_Slammer_
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