Karl Rove isn’t the only powerful Republican in DC ensnarled in a massive political scandal. Remember Tom DeLay? His corporate contributors do.
Majority Leader Tom DeLay raised more money from corporate interests in the last quarter than any other reporting period in his career, according to a new analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics. Rep. DeLay reported nearly $800,000 in contributions from political action committees and individual contributors between April 1 and June 30. He received very little money from leadership PACs, candidate committees and conservative interest groups.
Campaign for America’s Future Deputy Director Ellen Miller noted that corporate special interests are undeterred by the ethical cloud over Rep. DeLay.
“This shows how mercenary politics has become under his partisan leadership,” said Miller. “Political powerbrokers have checked their consciences at the door. Imagine the message this sends to Americans: The more you epitomize the most corrupt Congress, the more corporate special contributors rally around you.”
DeLay, whose “issues” are being investigated by the House Ethics Committee, has been cleared of nothing. He was hit with one scandal after another, the evidence of his corruption was overwhelming, and even some of his own caucus started calling for his resignation. The only reason we don’t continue to hear about DeLay is that news outlets apparently got bored of running “DeLay is crooked” stories every day.
But business is business. Corporate donors need lucrative favors and tax breaks, and they need lawmakers to do their bidding. DeLay, meanwhile, needs money to help him stay in office and help recruit others who share his worldview. It’s a match made in … somewhere unpleasant.