DeLay May Get a New Job
by TChris
For awhile, Republicans speculated that the indicted Tom DeLay might campaign for his old seat, given court decisions that require his name, as the primary winner, to remain on the ballot. DeLay dashed the hopes of his supporters -- yes, they inexplicably exist -- by reaffirming his intent not to campaign. DeLay no doubt wants to spend his campaign money on his legal fees. What good is another term in Congress, after all, if he has to serve it from a jail cell?
A couple of potential Republican candidates are considering write-in campaigns, while other Republicans are searching for a way to manipulate DeLay's name off the ballot. One idea: appoint the indicted DeLay to a nice government job.
[James] Bopp said in a telephone interview, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, a Republican, could appoint or nominate Mr. DeLay to another office, making him ineligible to serve in Congress. In that case, another Republican could be named to take Mr. DeLay's place on the ballot, Mr. Bopp said.
This tactic is appropriate, according to Texas Republican Party chair Tina Benkiser, to keep Democrats from "stealing the election." Republicans have considerable expertise at stealing elections, but it's difficult to understand the charge of theft if voters decide to cast ballots for a Democrat rather than the indicted winner of the Republican primary.
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