Tom DeLay

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Thomas Dale Tom DeLay born April 8 1947 is a former member of the United States House of Representatives representing Texass 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006 He was Republican Party GOP House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005 when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in connection with a campaign finance investigation He was convicted of money laundering in January 2011 and sentenced to three years in prison but is free on bail while appealing his conviction Tom DeLay began his career as a politician in 1978 when he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives In 1985 he became a bornagain Christian In 1988 after just a few years in the US House Tom DeLay was appointed Deputy Minority Whip In 1994 he helped Newt Gingrich effect the Republican Revolution which gave the Republicans the victory in the 1994 midterm election and swept Democrats from power in both houses of Congress putting Republicans in control of the House of Representatives for the first time in forty years In 1995 he was elected House Majority Whip With the Republicans in control of both chambers in Congress Tom DeLay along with Gingrich and conservative activist Grover Norquist helped start the K Street Project an effort to advance Republican ideals Tom DeLay was elected House Majority Leader after the 2002 midterm elections In the eyes of some Democrats he was renowned for his enforcement of party discipline and retribution against those who did not support the legislative agenda of President George W Bush On policy issues not just political strategy and tactics DeLay was known as one of Capitol Hills fiercest staunchest conservatives during his years in Congress earning very high marks from conservative interest groups eg business gun rights prolife and very low marks from liberal ones eg civil liberties labor unions environmental protection Since leaving Congress DeLay has coauthored with Stephen Mansfield a political memoir No Retreat No Surrender One Americans Fight founded a strategic conservative political consulting firm First Principles LLC and competed on the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars until stress fractures in his feet caused him to withdraw DeLay made political news when he became perhaps the most famous Republican yet to promote the birther conspiracy theory about President Barack Obama DeLay also remains involved in foster care as he and his wife have founded a Christcentered foster community called Rio Bend near Richmond Texas The DeLays formerly fostered three teenage boys and have one grown daughter of their own Danielle a professional dancer Description above from the Wikipedia article Tom DeLay licensed under CCBYSA full list of contributors on Wikipedia