Tom DeLay Dancing With the Stars

ABC News announced today: “Indicted Former Republican Congressman Cast on ‘Dancing With the Stars,’” and, referring to Tom DeLay, asks, “Does He Know the ‘Perp Walk?”

ABC News continues:

To the amazement of many in Washington, Tom DeLay, the former Republican Congressional leader who became a poster boy for cronyism and ethical lapses, was named one of the 16 celebrity contestants today by the producers of the ABC program “Dancing with the Stars.”

The Note says:

Beyond the fun imagery that Tom DeLay’s selection for “Dancing with the Stars” evokes — will it be “Hammer Time” for “The Hammer”?; will the former exterminator wear sequins? — there’s another element to the former House majority leader’s new foray into popular culture.

DeLay’s appearance on the hit ABC series is virtually guaranteed to elevate him in the public sphere. Sure he’ll be talking about his two-step, but it’s only a matter of time before DeLay, R-Texas, is talking about the political dance he was once the master of back in Washington.

Yes, lots of “fun imagery.” DeLay’s appearance on “Dancing with the Stars” is guaranteed to evoke a flood of interesting reactions from both his friends and enemies, and certainly will be the subject of many comedy shows and political cartoons and satire.

Here’s one reaction already from The Lone Star Project, titled “Dancing Behind Bars”:

Some may be surprised that Tom DeLay will be doing the two-step this season on Dancing with the Stars. Not us. DeLay has demonstrated quite a bit of fancy footwork over the years avoiding jail time. Here are some of the DeLay’s political moves that Dancing With the Stars audiences may not be familiar with:

Cha Cha Cha Ching – DeLay laundered at least $190,000 in corporate funds through the Republican National Committee to spend on Texas Republican House cronies like State Rep. Dwayne Bohac (R-138). (Source: Austin American-Statesman, September 1, 2008)

Tango and Cash – DeLay paid his wife Christine and daughter Dani Ferro $350,000 from his various campaign accounts. (Source: The Houston Chronicle, May 10, 2007)

Hammer Hustle – DeLay convinced imprisoned lobbyist Jack Abramoff to pay for a golf trip to Europe. (Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, April 26, 2007)

Backroom Jitterbug – DeLay convened Energy Lobbyists to help write energy legislation that “would allow the costs of deregulation of electricity to be passed on to their customers.” In exchange, DeLay received tens of thousands of dollars in donations from the lobbyists. (Source: Texas Monthly, May 2006)

Redistricting Rumba – DeLay forced through a mid-decade Texas congressional redistricting plan that robbed our state of nearly 100 years of seniority and three powerful committee chairmanships, leaving Texas with arguably the weakest large state Congressional delegation in the country. (Source: Austin American-Statesman June 28, 2007)

Beltway Boogie – After he was indicted and faced the possibility of losing re-election in a safe Republican seat, DeLay cowardly abandoned his constituents and fled the State of Texas for the suburbs of Washington, D.C. (Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 20, 2006)

It should be fun. Who knows: DeLay may turn out to a be a better dancer than he was a legislator.

Image: Courtesy Lone Star Project