It’s supposed to be the premier right-wing social event of the year — a tribute (political eulogy?) to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, scheduled for this evening. A lavish affair, the event is a special opportunity for Republicans to show their appreciation for the man who breaks the rules and abuses his power for their benefit.
The amusing part, however, is how few of DeLay’s fellow Republicans will be there.
When 900 conservatives gather at a downtown Hilton hotel on Thursday night to pay tribute to Representative Tom DeLay of Texas, the House majority leader who is caught up in a swirl of accusations over his fund-raising and ties to lobbyists, only about three dozen House Republicans will be there.
There are 232 Republicans in the House, many of whom are indebted to DeLay for one favor or another from recent years. But at this special event to honor the Majority Leader, only four of the 232 have bought tables. House Speaker Dennis Hastert won’t even be there in person, choosing instead to deliver a tribute by video. Can you say “radioactive”?
Event organizers are also sensitive to the political atmosphere, so they’ve purposely steered clear of selling tickets to lobbyists. So, if Republican lawmakers won’t be there, and Republican lobbyists won’t be there, who, exactly, will be on hand to thank DeLay for being such a corrupt and ethically-challenged leader? Those with the real power.
[T]he attendees will seem like a who’s who of the right, including the Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition; Ken Melhman, the chairman of the Republican National Committee; and his predecessor, Ed Gillespie.
Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, a Christian conservative advocacy group, is among the hosts, as is Paul M. Weyrich, considered a founding father of the modern conservative movement. Dr. James C. Dobson, the founder of Focus on the Family, will pay homage to Mr. DeLay by videotape.
Still, you’d expect more House Republicans to show up. DeLay considers himself the head of an army — but in this case, it seems his troops don’t want to be seen with him. It’s probably not a good sign.