Who, besides Clark, is taking the fight to Delay?

[Dookus]

Today, Clark's campaign gave Tom Delay the big smackdown, referring to the exterminator as Tom "Chickenhawk Delay.

In August, Delay said:

"Frankly, what irritates me the most are these blow-dried Napoleons that come on television and, in some cases, have their own agendas. Gen. Clark is one of them that is running for president. Yet he's paid to be an expert on your network. And he's questioning the plan and raising doubts as he becomes this expert. I think they would serve the nation better if they would just comment on what they see and what they know, rather than putting their own agenda forward as an expert."

This is how Clark responded:

"Well, first of all, I'd be happy to compare my hair with Tom DeLay's. We'll see who's got the blow-dried hair. But beyond that, Wolf, he's got it exactly backward. It's upside down. I am saying what I believe. And I'm being drawn into the political process because of what I believe and what I've said about it. So it's precisely the opposite of a man like Tom DeLay, who is only motivated by politics and says whatever he needs to say to get the political purpose. And so, you know, it couldn't be more diametrically opposed, and I couldn't be more opposed than I am to Tom DeLay.

"You know, Wolf, when our airmen were flying over Kosovo, Tom DeLay led the House Republicans to vote not to support their activities, when American troops were in combat. To me, that's a real indicator of a man who is motivated not by patriotism or support for the troops, but for partisan political purposes."


I'm not slamming any other candidates - I'm simply asking which of them has been so quick on the attack against Delay? I love that Clark slaps this little maggot down every time he pops his head up. I wish all Dems would do it.

[ibegurpard]

1. Dean has slapped down Delay a few times.

Having said that, I applaud Clark slapping this bug down and agree that more Democrats need to do it and often.

[Dookus]

3. Links?

I'm not saying Dean hasn't.... I just haven't heard about it.

[ibegurpard]

7. Here's a good one from September

http://www.talonnews.com/news/2003/september/0904_dean_chocolate.shtml
"Dean's campaign also took issue with comments from House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. On Tuesday, Dean Communication Director Tricia Enright said, "The narrow ideological agenda of the DeLay-Ashcroft wing of the Republican Party threatens basic American freedoms that have been enshrined in the Constitution for over 200 years. Those policies are not only extreme, they are cruel.""

[Dookus]

9. well.....

he mentions Delay, but it's more of a scripted slam against the right-wing of the Republican party. I like the way Clark personalizes it.

But that being said, ANY slam against Delay is worthwhile.

[ibegurpard]

14. Agreed!

:toast:

[Gman]

2. Ummm... nobody.

[sandnsea]

4. "Tom DeLay is a bully"

Kerry:

"Tom DeLay is a bully," Kerry said. "He tried to bully Democrats in Texas and we're not going to accept his shrill partisan attacks or allow him to suggest that patriotism belongs to one political party."

http://www.islandpacket.com/24hour/politics/story/1003706p-7049458c.html


He's taken on Delay several times.

[Scott Lee]

13. Oh my, that was savage! I may cry.

[Dookus]

16. agreed....

while I like Kerry very much, I think complaining about another politician being "a bully" sounds sort of whiny.

[sandnsea]

20. March 2002

Undoubtedly this will be seen as too wimpy.

The other candidates were where???

"Let me be clear tonight to Senator Lott and to Tom DeLay: One of the lessons that I learned in Vietnam-a war they did not have to endure-and one of the basic vows of commitment that I made to myself, was that if I ever reached a position of responsibility, I would never stop asking questions that make a democracy strong," he told the audience of New Hampshire Democrats, whose startled murmurs quickly erupted into a standing ovation.

"Those who try to stifle the vibrancy of our democracy and shield policies from scrutiny behind a false cloak of patriotism miss the real value of what our troops defend and how we best defend our troops," he continued. "We will ask questions, and we will defend our democracy."

http://www.truthout.org/docs_01/03.11A.Kerry.Fires.p.htm

[Democrats unite]

5. Well Dean kind of has a problem smacking down Delay

on the Vietnam war. I wonder why?

on edit: now Kerry or Gephart, I would love to hear from them & I think we will in due time.

[oasis]

6. Now cut that out. It's precisely those kind of comments that cause Dean

supporters to limit their visits to DU. :spank:

[Democrats unite]

8. What we are not allowed to speak the truth here?

I think not!

[oasis]

11. "The truth hurts": Therein lies the problem.

:-)

[dfong63]

19. i object to the notion of "smacking down" those who didn't "serve"

... in vietnam. the vietnam war was immoral, unnecessary, and a complete waste. Bill Clinton was an out-and-out draft dodger, and i say good for him and others who refused to fight and die for the sake of a lie. it leaves me cold when some, like Kerry and Clark, try to capitalize on having "served" and killed in that shameful episode of american history.

[Donna Zen]

26. You are missing the point

Tom DeLay did support the war in Vietnam, and Iraq I, and Afghanistan, and Iraq II, and if it instigated by a republican, he will support the next one. His only limitation on a war is his refusal to put his own ass on the line. Thus, he has earned any scorn that may be heaped upon him, and the title of "chickenhawk."

To oppose a war and refuse to go is no badge of shame. To demand that other go while you cheer on the defense contractors from the safety of Texas is a sin.

[BootinUp]

10. I remember that interview

It was really the first time I realized how good Clark could do against Bush. He turned that around so beautifully.

[Scott Lee]

12. I applaud anyone who punches Duh-lay in his smug face

Way to go General. I still do like you, regardless of your less than admirable supporters here on DU.

[Dookus]

15. Let's be fair....

EVERY candidate here has less-than-admirable supporters here on DU. I try really hard NOT to judge candidates by the some of the silly things their supporters say here.

Yes, you can find a lot of silly things said by Clark supporters, and *I* can find a lot of silly things said by Dean, Kerry, Kucinich, etc. supporters. It's mostly a function of seeing what you're looking for.

[Myra]

17. That's a good point Dookus, thanks.

Nice perspective.

[Rose Siding]

18. Dean has gone after Delay- links

1. snip>
"It is outrageous that Tom Delay would schedule a vote of such critical importance to the children and the public school system of the District of Columbia knowing full well that two House members running for President as well as the members of the Congressional Black Caucus were scheduled to be out of town for a presidential debate.

"This is just another example of the divisive, underhanded tactics that have become the signature trademark of the Republican-controlled House. Whether in their attempts to reverse freely held elections as in California or to grab power through unprecedented redistricting in Texas, the right wing of the Republican party continues to demonstrate what low regard they have for the democratic process.

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8912

2.-BURLINGTON, VT--Democratic presidential candidate Governor Howard Dean today backed calls for an investigation of allegations made against House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and other Republicans connected to the Westar Energy scandal.
"These allegations should be fully investigated. If DeLay and other members of Congress did agree to sell political access, they should be prosecuted for violating bribery laws. Resignation from the House or expulsion may be in order," Dean stated. "The company's executives believed that they could buy political favors. At the very least, Tom DeLay and the other Republicans receiving money from Westar Energy and its executives should relinquish these funds."

"The right wing radicals take enough money from their friends at big energy companies already without illegal payoffs. The American people deserve better." Dean added. Governor Dean was referring to campaign contributions such as the hundreds of thousands of dollars DeLay and his PAC have received from energy companies. For instance, Delay received over $100,000 from Enron-related sources for his personal campaigns and his PACs. President Bush received more money from the oil and gas industry during the 2000 election cycle than any other federal candidate during the last decade.

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6015

3. snip>
"President Bush's allies rejected meaningful support for renewable energy, despite urging by a bipartisan group of 53 Senators. Apparently, if it’s not a priority for Enron, Halliburton or Lyondell, it’s not a priority for George Bush, Dick Cheney or Tom DeLay...."

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=10534

4. snip>
...He told those assembled that "this time the person with the most votes" will win the White House. And he brought up GOP names sure to rile Democrats: Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Penn.), Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and Attorney General John Ashcroft.

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8548

5. snip>
..."Unfortunately, Tom DeLay and other right-wing Republicans are attempting to include a provision in the upcoming energy bill that would give all MTBE producers immunity from certain types of lawsuits..."

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=10117

6. snip>
Administration. When Congress voted to give this President an additional $87 billion for his war in Iraq, both the House and Senate agreed to attach a provision that would require the General Accounting Office to conduct ongoing audits of how our taxpayer money is being spent. Instead, the White House and Tom Delay strong-armed Senate Republicans into killing the provision.
snip>
"We need to know how this money is being spent. We need to ask these questions for our veterans and more importantly for our troops in Iraq. Every penny wasted means only one thing: our troops will be there longer. This is how we will most honor veterans."

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=10450

7. (my fave- LOVE Tricia)

Dean For America Responds To Comments by Tom Delay
Monday September 8, 2003
By: Tricia Enright

(September 3, 2003)

BURLINGTON--Dean for America Communications Director Tricia Enright issued the following statement today in response to today's statement from House Majority Leader Tom Delay: "The narrow ideological agenda of the Delay-Ashcroft wing of the Republican Party threatens basic American freedoms that have been enshrined in the Constitution for over 200 years. Those policies are not only extreme, they are cruel."

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8841

[Lisa0825]

25. thanks for the links, party_line!!!:-)

[Rose Siding]

29. I watch for hits on DeLay

The guy has more hidden power than is healthy.

So yer welcome, Lisa :hi:

[quaker bill]

21. All of the other candidates

All of them, absolutely all of them. Even Lieberman.

[arewethereyet]

22. All this is fine but is Delay running this time ?

I would think that the General would have bigger fish to fry unless he was trying to support someone running against Delay.

[poskonig]

23. DeLay is a pretty big target.

I'm glad to see him beat down too. I don't care who does it.

Infact, linking Bush with the extremists in the Congress is smart strategy if anyone ever decides to do it.

[BootinUp]

24. Delay launched a blistering

attack on all democrats, democratic candidates, especially Dean and Clark today on Meet the Press. Its the kind of 3rd party smear crap that worked against Gore. Someone has to respond to this stuff every time, just like Clark did today.

[arewethereyet]

28. OK but it sounds like 'divide and conquer' to me

that is, divide a candidate's or party's attention too many ways and kill them by making the spread their resources too thin.

Guess we'll see how it plays out.

[Freddie Stubbs]

27. Howard Dean is working to demote him to House Minority Leader

He has started urging his supporters to donate money the the campaigns of vulnrable Democrats in Congress.

[hedda_foil]

30. Remember Dean's "cockroaches" slam?

Well, despite the fact that other Dems have pretended to have been personally affronted by it, it was aimed directly at Exterminator Delay and his gang of right wing cockroaches.

[Dookus]

31. let's see...

the report I found of the comment said:

"In Iowa on Tuesday, a potential voter asked Dean how he would handle entrenched Beltway bureaucracy. As the New York Times reported, the Iowan "mentioned Republicans and Democrats alike, and Dr. Dean made no distinction."

Dean responded that if he won the presidency, lawmakers in Congress were "going to be scurrying for shelter, just like a giant flashlight on a bunch of cockroaches."



How is this "aimed directly" at Delay?