What do you know, Tom DeLay does react to negative press attention.
Six months ago, the New York Times uncovered a DeLay fundraising scheme in which he would offer wealthy GOP donors extravagant benefits at the Republican National Convention under the auspices of helping abused and neglected children.
In subsequent months, DeLay faced considerable heat for the plan. Democracy 21 requested a House Ethics Committee investigation, while Common Cause asked the New York Attorney General’s office to launch a probe of the alleged charity, which, as the Times noted, “has no track record of work.”
Yesterday, the charity — managed by DeLay’s daughter and two GOP aides — announced that it has cancelled its RNC parties.
The organization, Celebrations for Children Inc., said officials canceled the events after deciding they had become too expensive to hold. “It has become clear New York around the time of the Republican Convention is too expensive a venue, therefore CfC will not hold the New York events and instead will pursue other less expensive locations later this year,” the organization said in a statement.
Neither DeLay’s office nor the charitable group returned calls requesting comment.
The New York events scheduled were pretty extravagant. Potential donors were told their tax-exempt donations could get them access to yacht cruises, a luxury suite during President Bush’s speech at Madison Square Garden, private dinners with DeLay and his wife, a golf tournament, a late-night party with a rock group, and tickets to Broadway shows.
I have a hunch DeLay will think of a different way to offer those same fat-cats the same benefits through a different fundraising scheme. He always does.