Tom DeLay's Smiling Mug Shot
Robert Paul Reyes
October 25, 2005
We love to see celebrities in glamorous outfits and skimpy bikinis, but we also love to ogle their "mug shots" when they inevitably do something stupid and illegal. We all got a kick out of the mug shots of Nick Nolte, Glen Campbell, Robert Downy Jr., Michael Jackson, Darryl Strawberry, Pee Wee Herman, Martha Stewart, Mike Tyson and Bobby Brown.
Republican Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas turned himself in at the sheriff's office in Houston and was fingerprinted, photographed and released on $10,000 bail on conspiracy and money laundering charges.
But his perp walk wasn't filmed and his mug shot shows him wearing a nice suit and smiling like he just witnessed Ted Kennedy slipping on a banana peel. The official mug shot doesn't look real -- no ID markings, no booking numbers, etc.
Delay cheated taxpayers from seeing him looking humble, remorseful or angry in his mug shot. If anyone deserves an unflattering mug shot it's Delay -- he is a serial ethics violator with a long history of evildoing. Delay makes Michael Jackson and Bobby Brown look like Mother Teresa and Mr. Rogers.
For those who are ignorant of the accusations against Tom Delay, let me list them below:
The "friend of working people" didn't help sweatshop workers in Saipan when he accepted campaign contributions from Saipan's chief lobbyist and blocked any Congressional investigation of the inhumane conditions there.
The honorable statesman lied to the FBI when he charged that the reporter who broke the Henry Hyde adultery story in the 1990's had been working with the White House to expose Hyde.
The distinguished congressman shoved Rep. David Obey [D-Wisconsin] and called him a "chicken sh*t" on the House floor.
The patriotic American said that individuals with "foreign-sounding" names probably aren't Americans.
The great facilitator led the partisan power grab in Texas to gain more Republican seats through redistricting eight years before the state was scheduled to do so.
The firm believer in the separation of powers has tried to impeach federal judges he didn't like.
The "Honest Abe" politician lied during a deposition for a lawsuit that he had not been an officer for a pest company. Under congressional financial disclosure forms, he listed himself as chairman of the company's board of directors.
There are some pundits who credit Delay for "political smarts" by smiling for his mug shot and thereby robbing Democrats of an unflattering photo of a top Republican leader they can use against the GOP.
But I see arrogance, the incredible arrogance of a powerful man who thinks he is above the law.
Tom Delay hasn't been convicted of any crimes, and he is innocent until proven guilty, but he reeks of corruption.
I long for the day when Delay will be led away in handcuffs to do hard time, I bet he won't be smiling then.
Republican Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas turned himself in at the sheriff's office in Houston and was fingerprinted, photographed and released on $10,000 bail on conspiracy and money laundering charges.
But his perp walk wasn't filmed and his mug shot shows him wearing a nice suit and smiling like he just witnessed Ted Kennedy slipping on a banana peel. The official mug shot doesn't look real -- no ID markings, no booking numbers, etc.
Delay cheated taxpayers from seeing him looking humble, remorseful or angry in his mug shot. If anyone deserves an unflattering mug shot it's Delay -- he is a serial ethics violator with a long history of evildoing. Delay makes Michael Jackson and Bobby Brown look like Mother Teresa and Mr. Rogers.
For those who are ignorant of the accusations against Tom Delay, let me list them below:
The "friend of working people" didn't help sweatshop workers in Saipan when he accepted campaign contributions from Saipan's chief lobbyist and blocked any Congressional investigation of the inhumane conditions there.
The honorable statesman lied to the FBI when he charged that the reporter who broke the Henry Hyde adultery story in the 1990's had been working with the White House to expose Hyde.
The distinguished congressman shoved Rep. David Obey [D-Wisconsin] and called him a "chicken sh*t" on the House floor.
The patriotic American said that individuals with "foreign-sounding" names probably aren't Americans.
The great facilitator led the partisan power grab in Texas to gain more Republican seats through redistricting eight years before the state was scheduled to do so.
The firm believer in the separation of powers has tried to impeach federal judges he didn't like.
The "Honest Abe" politician lied during a deposition for a lawsuit that he had not been an officer for a pest company. Under congressional financial disclosure forms, he listed himself as chairman of the company's board of directors.
There are some pundits who credit Delay for "political smarts" by smiling for his mug shot and thereby robbing Democrats of an unflattering photo of a top Republican leader they can use against the GOP.
But I see arrogance, the incredible arrogance of a powerful man who thinks he is above the law.
Tom Delay hasn't been convicted of any crimes, and he is innocent until proven guilty, but he reeks of corruption.
I long for the day when Delay will be led away in handcuffs to do hard time, I bet he won't be smiling then.
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