You're currently reading an archived version of Jim Hightower's work.
The latest (and greatest?) observations from Jim Hightower are only now available at our Substack website. Join us there!
The saga of Tom DeLay just keeps getting curiouser and curiouser – and I’m not even talking about the myriad of legal and ethics charges against him!
Having been indicted for money-laundering, he lost favor back home, so Tom decided to quit his re-election campaign. He then showed the homefolks just how much he thinks of them by declaring that he really isn’t one of them… and doesn’t even consider himself a Texan. In a legal bid to take his name off the Texas ballot, DeLay swore that he’s actually been a resident of a Washington, DC, suburb for some time. He says that he lives in a Virginia condo, carries a Virginia drivers license, pays Virginia taxes, even votes in Virginia – and plans to keep living and working there, rather than return “home.”
Enjoying Hightower's work? Join us over at our new home on Substack:
What will Tom be doing (assuming he avoids jail)? Well, he’ll cash-in, of course, doing some influence peddling for big bucks. But, he also asserts that he’ll continue “to engage in the important cultural and political battles of our day.” Such as? Well, such as using his influence to swing the vote in a ballroom-dancing contest on television.
A TV show called “Dancing With The Stars” allows viewers to vote on their favorite. It’s a sort of “Survivor” show for hoofers, and Tom recently zapped out an urgent email to his political supporter list, asking all of them to watch and vote for one Sara Evans. She’s a country singer who performed at the 2004 Republican National Convention, so now Tom’s backing her in a dance contest. He says that Sara “has been a strong supporter of the Republican party and represents good American values.”
This is Jim Hightower saying… Great. It’s always uplifting to get advice about “good American values” from an indicted money-launderer and a recidivist ethics violator. Still, it’s better for Tom to be hustling ballroom-dancing votes than selling votes in Congress to corporate campaign donors.
Sources:
“Hammer, try using yours on a TV set,” Austin American-Statesman, September 10, 2006.
“DeLay shows support in ‘dancing’ race,” Wisconsin State Journal, September 9, 2006.
“Supreme Court denies DeLay’s ballot appeal,” Austin American-Statesman, August 8, 2006.
“Sugar Land mayor makes write-in bid for DeLay’s seat,” Austin American-Statesman, August 10, 2006.