Video: Tom DeLay: I Don't Know What's In My Own Book

By Oliver Willis on March 21, 2007 8:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (27)

Tom DeLay, the disgraced Republican leader whose criminal indictment was the catalyst for the Republican party losing control of congress, was on Hardball. Chris Matthews asked him about a quote from his new book (No Retreat, No Surrender: One American's Fight - you know Springsteen can't like that) that he was flogging. DeLay denied the quote was there. So Matthews turned to the page with the quote. Idiot. And this guy wasn't just a congressman - for several years he was the elite of the elite, one of the Republican party's top leaders - one of their Gods. But he didn't appear to have read his own - ghostwritten - book.

27 Comments

revenantive said:

my grandfather used to say, "if you ever under estimate the average intelligence of the average voter, you will never be
disappointed."

I wish there was a rule that required people who have books ghostwritten for them to both read the book that was written for them and scribble out a thorough high school level book report.

March 21, 2007 9:41 PM

Brad Eleven said:

As a long-time resident of TX CD-22, and having attended the same church as Tom DeLay, I'm not surprised at all. Have a listen to the NPR interview where he promotes the book. It's very Twilight Zone; he says words that mean one thing, and the tone of his voice says the exact opposite--like when he interrupts the interviewer to say, "People are always claiming that I'm a chronic interrupter, and that's simply not true." The interviewer pauses in disbelief, then starts to talk again, and DeLay interrupts him--again.

If it weren't for the intentionally awful things he's done, I'd have nothing but pity for him. I played in the band at that church, and one Sunday evening he came up to compliment us--and he reeked of booze. I don't just mean it was on his breath; the drummer was several feet away and he could smell it.

I think he's truly delusional. No exaggeration. He may very well have been exposed to too many toxins during his tenure in pest control.

March 21, 2007 10:31 PM

JeremyDerifield said:

It's funny how these guys shape as theocratic policy as possible while in office then removed from their high posts, are invited to talk shows and treated as cuddly and charming.

March 21, 2007 11:10 PM

PD100 said:

That soon to be pulped P.O.S. of a book is nothing more than (little) money to go towards his legal defense fund. Perhaps Poor Tom could get a cameo on King of The Hill to keep the lazy money rolling in.

March 21, 2007 11:44 PM

jerry said:

Offtopic: Oliver, Miners have discovered The Fortress of Solitude, for real:

http://www.cellar.org/showthread.php?t=13631

March 22, 2007 12:53 AM

nicoleoliver said:

Good One

March 22, 2007 11:49 PM

nicoleoliver said:

Good One

March 22, 2007 11:50 PM

nicoleoliver said: