Burnt Orange Report

Tom DeLay is a Whore

By Andrew Dobbs

Via Charles over at Off the Kuff, Tom Delay seems to be prostituting receptions with the president for $300-$500 as well as an honorary chairmanship for a leadership committee. To wit:

AIR FORCE CHAPLAIN James Helton says he was flabbergasted when he first heard the news from his wife. "She told me you've been selected for a national award by Congressman DeLay, and they really want you to call the office."

Helton wondered why a powerful Republican leader would want to honor a humble Air Force reservist and quickly returned the call. He was so upset by what he heard that he invited NBC News to record the conversation when he called back a second time.

First there was a recorded message: "This is Congressman Tom DeLay. I'm asking you to serve as an honorary chairman on our business advisory council, and you will be recognized with our national leadership award."

Then, a telemarketer came on the line: "You'd be invited to private dinners with congressmen and quarterly strategy sessions in Washington."

In the call, Helton was also promised an exclusive black-tie president's dinner and his name in a newspaper ad.

Then came the pitch from the telemarketer: "We're asking each chairman for a one-time gift of $300 or $500 for the ad. Can we count on your support?"

Helton replied: 'That's pushing my budget a little. Does it have to be paid all at once?"

"Would $100 or $200 be any better for you? And I could even split that down into two payments as well," replied the telemarketer.

Helton, an independent voter who voted for Bush in the last presidential election, did not send a dime. "It was dishonest, it was sleazy, and it was certainly unbecoming a national party like this," said Helton.

Unbecoming of a national party? Looks like Rev. Helton hasn't been around the GOP lately. If I were to set up a similar organization, let's call it "Texas Leadership Council," and I were to cold call people and tell them that they can be on my board of directors, I'll publicize it, etc. all it will cost is $400 and everyone can be on it, I'd be called a con artist. But if I were the House Majority Leader I'd get to be just a sleazy politician. What's even better is that there are some other great Americans serving as "honorary chairmen" and are recipients of the "national leadership award."

Past awardees include a convicted sex offender and a maker of drug paraphernalia — both awards were later rescinded.

The award also is proudly displayed in the office of an adult film promoter, Harry Weiss, who sent Republicans a check from his company — “Nefarious Films.”

“They cashed the check, so I guess they’re happy to have me aboard,” Weiss said.

I don't know what makes me sicker- the fact that one of the world's most powerful men is digging for cash in sleazy telemarketing schemes or the fact that Tom DeLay considers a pornographer as much of a leader and honorable person as an Air Force Chaplain. So much for family values. When Clinton had contributors stay at the Lincoln bedroom Republicans went apeshit. When Tom DeLay will sell tickets to a Presidential Reception to a pornographer for a few hundred bucks, no one seems to care. The GOP sure has taken a nose dive under the characterless leadership of men like Tom DeLay.