New Low – Even for DeLay
A simple review of DeLay’s activities reveals a series of conflicting statements, official actions and sworn documents. This year alone, DeLay has:
- voted in Republican Primaries in two different states;
- cast votes as a Member of Congress from Texas after registering to vote in Virginia;
- identified himself a “Northern Californian” in a series of robocalls.
Double-Voting DeLay
Thomas DeLay Voting History – Spring 2006
| Texas Republican Primary | Thomas DeLay – March 7, 2006 | Voted In Person |
| Virginia Republican Primary | Thomas DeLay – June 9, 2006 | Voted Absentee |
(Source: Associated Press, June 10, 2006, Texas Secretary of State)
DeLay activity as a Texas Congressman, while registered to vote in Virginia
Thomas DeLay Congressional Activity
| Bills Sponsored | 2 |
| Votes Cast | 79 |
(Bills Sponsored and Votes Cast between 5/15/2006 and 6/9/2006 Source: Clerk of the House of Representatives)
Texas. Virginia. Texas. California?
The timeline below reveals how DeLay’s activities conflict and undermine his credibility
March 7, 2006 through June 10, 2006
| State | Date | Activity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | March 7, 2006 | DeLay votes in Texas Primary | Washington Post, March 8, 2006 |
| Texas | March 7, 2006 | DeLay wins the GOP primary for Congressional District 22 | Houston Chronicle, April 4, 2006 |
| Texas/Virginia | April 3, 2006 | DeLay announces he will resign from Congress and move to Virginia | Houston Chronicle, April 4, 2006 |
| Virginia | Late April or Early May | DeLay claims he registered to vote in Virginia | Associated Press, June 10, 2006 |
| Texas | June 7, 2006 | DeLay sponsors a bill in Congress as the representative from the Texass 22 Congressional District | Clerk of the House of Representatives |
| Virginia | June 9, 2006 | DeLay votes absentee in Virginia Election | Associated Press, June 10, 2006 |
| Texas | June 9, 2006 | DeLay casts 9 votes in Congress as the representative from the Texas 22 Congressional District | Clerk of the House of Representatives |
| California | June 10-13, 2006 | DeLay records a robocall message that goes out to 8,000 households which includes the line, “I recently re-registered to vote in Northern California” | Washington Post, June 14, 2006; Roll Call, June 14, 2006 |
Bottom Line
Tom DeLay’s insistence on bending the rules and the law to the breaking point have created an environment in which neither his words nor is actions can be taken at face value. Simply said, DeLay’s credibility is shot.
Background
Under political fire and criminal indictment, on April 3, 2006, DeLay abandoned his campaign for re-election to Congress. To create an artificial vacancy on the Republican ballot so that Republican Party officials, rather than voters, could hand-pick his successor, DeLay claimed he would leave Texas, establish residency in Virginia. However, DeLay did not actually leave Congress until last week, specifically June 9, 2006.
