‘The Hammer’ comes down
IRONY IS NOT Tom DeLay's strong suit. Plunging straight ahead is his style, as illustrated by his nicknames, ''The Hammer," for the way he put votestogether in the House, and ''The Exterminator," for his former profession -- and for what he did to many political opponents.
But there was plenty of irony yesterday when DeLay announced he will resign from the US House.
DeLay is leaving a severely gerrymandered district outside of Houston that he helped create in an effort to elect more Republicans. And, while he continues to assert his innocence, he is under indictment for political money laundering in that campaign to redistrict the Texas congressional seats. On top of that, DeLay will have to leave Texas altogether to get his name off the November ballot so another Republican can try to retain the seat.
DeLay's brazen effort yesterday to portray himself as a victim of baseless partisan attack mocks the truth. DeLay was admonished three times by the House Ethics Committee before his cronies in the leadership -- Speaker Dennis Hastert was once his deputy -- putthe committee into an induced coma. Then came the state money-laundering indict-ment. More recently, two former top aides, along with lobbyist friend Jack Abramoff, have pleaded guilty to serious ethical violations.
Yet there is DeLay declaring baldly yesterday, ''the Abramoff affair has nothing to do with me," but suggesting that a minor hallway scuffle involving a Democratic representative and a security guard deserves quick action. ''The Ethics Committee ought to get to work," he told Fox News. Now there's irony, delivered by a Hammer.
The great danger in DeLay's move is that Congress will think it can wash its hands of ethics reforms. With the poster boy of backroom rascals departed, some may say, the ''climate of corruption" charges hanging over Washington will dissipate. DeLay helped create that climate, no question. His K Street Project stiffened partisanship by systematically rewarding Republican lobbyists. But he was only the most colorful.
Major reforms are still needed. One is slated for House action today: a simple bill to make advocacy groups that influence federal elections comply with federal campaign finance laws. If the House can't pass this bill, DeLay will leave smiling. 