Setting the record straight for Tom DeLay

In another head-spinning spin session on the L'Affaire Craig, the disgraced former Congressman Tom DeLay appeared on NBC's Today Show on Aug. 30 to defend the Republican Party, newly embroiled in sex-related scandals of two senators: Larry Craig and David Vitter.

You remember DeLay? He is the Republican from Texas who resigned in the midst of corruption scandals involving misuse of funds for state legislative races and his top aide plotting with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff to buy off public officials. So, he sure has his own experiences to draw upon when commenting upon the behavior of congressional colleagues and the consequences of that.

And comment he did. In a nearly 7-minute interview conducted by Today host Matt Lauer, DeLay tried to paint the Democratic Party as unable or unwilling to cope with misbehaviors in its own ranks. But in so doing, DeLay told bold-faced and outrageous lies about two gay congressmen who were caught up sex-related scandals during their times in office, and DeLay neglected to mention the ways in which these two congressmen were dealt with by their colleagues in the Congress.

So let's set a straighter record for Tom DeLay.

About U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, DeLay alleged that he was "caught with a homosexual prostitute." Wrong. A man whom Frank befriended was running an escort service from Frank's Washington, D.C., apartment in 1990 when Frank was out of the home.

Frank had hired the man to work for him, but dismissed him when he learned of the escort operation. Further, Frank reported the incident to the House Ethics Committee, which later found that Frank had no knowledge or involvement in the man's alleged illegal activities. Frank now serves his colleagues and the country as chairman of the Financial Services Committee and has been re-elected by his constituents numerous times. He is forthright and outspoken in the U.S. Congress as an openly gay elected official, taking on homophobia when and where he see and hears it.

DeLay actually said the following words: "You have Gerry Studds caught in a bathroom with an underage page." Excuse me, Mr. Delay, your facts are wrong again. In 1983, U.S. Rep. Gerry Studds admitted to having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old page in 1973.

The page was not, at the time, under the age of consent in the District of Columbia. Further, there were no allegations that Studds and the page were "caught in a bathroom." Not only did the page agree with the congressman that the relationship was consensual, my memory is that he said it was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

Studds was censured by the House of Representatives and went on to be re-elected by his constituents many times, serving his district and his country with honor and distinction. Studds, who died in 2006, was a very early leader in the fight to rescind the military's heinous policy of discharging openly lesbian, gay and bisexual service members. He also was a consistent leader in the effort to protect the fishing stocks of New England, so much so that a fishing preserve is named after him: the Gerry E. Studds Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Studds married his life partner in Massachusetts shortly after same-sex couples were allowed to legally marry. He will be remembered by all honest people as a true leader in the Congress. DeLay's trashing of the late congressman is shameful and unacceptable.

And meanwhile, what of DeLay? He left office in disgrace and has now published a book, No Retreat No Surrender, which can only be translated as Proud of My Record of Corruption and Misuse of Public Funds. When DeLay served in the House, his nickname was “The Hammer.” Well, hammer this, Tom: you are a purveyor of lies and defamations of two of your colleagues who are your betters in every way.

The scandal-ridden czar of corruption, Tom DeLay, must issue an apology to both of these honorable public servants, who each went through their own periods of public embarrassment, but did so with humility and grace, and emerged to give the country honest and sterling leadership.

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Wednesday, 9/5/2007, 7:09 PM (EST)

Dear Sue,
Tom De Lay, the master of GOP deceit and mendacity, will never apolgize for any of his lies to anyone. Nor would any of the other highly paid GOP hyenas like Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, Matt Drudge, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Rieley, Glenn Beck, etc. These phonies are paid to lie! Shame on Matt Lauer and TODAY for even having that scurrilous scumbag, De Lay, on the TODAY show for an interview. The media is so hard up for ratings that truth and decency are no longer considered assets. Good commentary, Sue Hyde!
Jim Guinnessey
West Palm Beach
Florida