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Dancin' Tom DeLay Goes All Birthers, Guns and Pumps on Hardball

Rachel Slajda | August 19, 2009, 6:17PM

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay

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Birthers, Health care, Tom Delay, Town halls

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Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) today claimed that at one of his town halls in the 1980s, protesters "brought quadriplegics in on gurneys and dumped them on the floor in front of my podium."

DeLay's claim came in response to a question from Chris Matthews on MSNBC's Hardball about whether DeLay was surprised by the hostile tone at recent health care town halls.

"This has been going on forever. When I did my town hall meetings -- I'll never forget one back in the 80s, on health care, by the way. They brought in quadriplegics on gurneys and dumped them on the floor in front of my podium. This is not new. What's new is the people who came into disrupt my town meetings, we just let them go on," DeLay said.

Matthews did not ask a follow-up question on this incident. A Lexis-Nexis search didn't immediately turn up accounts of such an event, and DeLay's office did not immediately return a request for more information.

Although DeLay downplayed the hostility of recent town halls, he did agree that bringing guns into presidential events is going too far.

"That's not a law, that's a security matter. The Secret Service has every right to ... make sure nobody has a gun on them," he said.

That's not a violation of the right to bear arms, he said, adding that he's experienced real infringements on that right himself.

"I'm really mad. Since I got indicted, they took my concealed carry license away from me. I think that's a violation of the Second Amendment," he said.

DeLay also proudly displayed his birther cred.

"I would like the president to produce his birth certificate," DeLay said. "I can do it, most illegal aliens can do it. Why can't the president of the United States produce his birth certificate?"

"Would you ask the president to show me his gift certificate -- uh -- birth certificate?" DeLay asked. Matthews declined.

DeLay has been on TV this week plugging his upcoming appearance on Dancing With The Stars. On Hardball tonight, he proudly showed off his dancing shoes.

"It's a little pump with high heels!" he exclaimed.

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49 comments

Recommend Recommend (1)

August 19, 2009 6:39 PM

"Although DeLay downplayed the hostility of recent town halls, he did agree that bringing guns into presidential events is going too far."

So they actually got INSIDE the venue, x-ray security an all?

Or is TPM is just being liberal with words and "going too far"?

Ah, the kids.

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Josh Marshall

August 19, 2009 7:07 PM in reply to Lalo35adm

Ummm. They asked him whether it would be okay to bring guns inside because the previous guest said it would be fine. #trollingfail

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August 19, 2009 9:40 PM in reply to Josh Marshall

Ummm. Nobody was ever allowed to bring guns into a townhall with Obama. You admitted as much earlier this week. You even said you didn't think they were "real assassins".

And yet you are obsessively trying to invent some kind of link between past, present and future political violence and townhall protests.

You obviously do it to deny them any kind of legitimacy. You're weaving in all kinds of hypotheticals from DeLay and others to make your point appear more convincing, despite the fact that it's based on something that hasn't and simply cannot happen. Unless - despite your own stated opinion, they actually ARE the "real assassins".

#trolling is what you do for a living

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Josh Marshall

August 19, 2009 10:48 PM in reply to Lalo35adm

Okay, I'll try again. You know it was Matthews who asked this question, right? Matthews who asked this hypothetical? You're just ignoring that?

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August 20, 2009 8:56 AM in reply to Josh Marshall

I point out that you're creating a narrative that rests on a premise which, per your own admission, has no merit.

And you hide behind Matthews in defense...

#trollingfail? Indeed.

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readytoblowagasket

August 20, 2009 2:17 PM in reply to Josh Marshall

Josh, if you have to explain it, then the failure is in the reporting, not in the reading. Read the post's words carefully, then read Lalo's first comment carefully. Maybe you'll see the error, or maybe you just believe we should edit your writers' posts for you.

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artappraiser

August 20, 2009 5:22 PM in reply to Josh Marshall

Are you are actually denying that the purpose of Slajda's article is to put a spin on what was said on a TV program? If not, she would just provide a transcription without commentary. Also, anyone reading your site can clearly see you are into "creating a narrative" about guns at town hall meetings, simply by virtue of heavy coverage. If that concerns you, (as it also seems to concern Chris Matthews, I might add,) why not just own up to that? Do it loud and proud? Why pretend to objectivity? Attempting objectivity means letting the reader draw their own conclusions. Why the protest about what Lalo said? That's his spin on your spin.

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runfastandwin

August 20, 2009 5:27 PM in reply to Josh Marshall

Give it up, Josh. You'd have better luck trying to talk with the kitchen table.

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August 19, 2009 11:05 PM in reply to Lalo35adm

The people who bring guns to a Presidential event do not deserve 'legitimacy". The people who bring signs showing President Obama with a hitler mustache do not deserve legitimacy. President Obama is trying to make this country a little better. Move toward a "more perfect union". If you deny what he is trying to do, you are denying your own people. The middle class. Good luck with that.

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Armageddon T. Thunderbird

August 20, 2009 6:15 AM in reply to bheartlib

You have it correct. The moron wants to present this like the republican clown posse is packing heat for some reason other than psychological intimidation. It's their first and last good idea in the health care debate.

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Unreadable Nixters

August 19, 2009 11:14 PM in reply to Lalo35adm

Somebody still can't get over the fact that Hillary lost. I mean it's been a year, come on.

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August 20, 2009 7:14 AM in reply to Lalo35adm

Upset Obama hasn't been shot yet Lalo? I know it's disappointing to you.

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August 20, 2009 9:08 AM in reply to Josh Marshall

Josh, please for Lalo you have to type much slower if you're going to get him to understand, and that doesn't always work.

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commie atheist

August 19, 2009 7:20 PM in reply to Lalo35adm

You're really pathetic. Why don't you go somewhere else and play, preferably in traffic?

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Armageddon T. Thunderbird

August 19, 2009 8:24 PM in reply to Lalo35adm

Remember that these pages are saved forever. So your health insurer will easily be able to prove that your stupidity qualifies as a pre-existing condition

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August 20, 2009 8:20 AM in reply to Lalo35adm

The problem is that you are equating "into presidential events" with getting inside the venues, whereas in conversation, as with others, it means entering the general vicinity where the president will be appearing, which includes outside the venue of the event. Remember President Reagan wasn't inside a venue when he had his run-in with someone with a gun.

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Karl the Marxist

August 20, 2009 5:34 PM in reply to Lalo35adm

Ahh, nothing like silly semantics games. Delay played, too:

"That's not a law, that's a security matter. The Secret Service has every right to ... make sure nobody has a gun on them," he said.

That is an awfully vague way of supporting the 2nd amendment, particularly since later he does not see anything wrong with people (himself) under indictment holding on to their concealed gun permits. (!!)

Methinks that for a moment he thought of a rally of his own and his opponents hanging out there with guns, in keeping with the traditional MEMEMEMEME philosophy.

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Snig

August 19, 2009 6:39 PM

Umm,
If you were going to the trouble to arrange such a photo opp, be hard to believe no one remembered a camera. Screen capture or it didn't happen. Remnants of pesticides still kicking around his bloodstream, so maybe he's not be blamed for the hallucinations.

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August 19, 2009 6:52 PM

Okay, I am so not voting for this jerk on Dancing With The Stars. Which leads me to question how they define 'star'?!?

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August 19, 2009 6:54 PM

'he did agree that bringing guns into presidential events is going too far.'

"That's not a law, that's a security matter."

Even when he says something right, it is for the wrong reason.

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August 19, 2009 6:58 PM

Fucking Chris Matthews' show is a total waste of time. He purposely asked this idiot on on the pretense it was about his upcoming appearance on DTWS so he could then get to the subject of the birthers. What a tool. Fuck you Spitface Chris.

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August 19, 2009 7:08 PM in reply to lousgirl84

Yeah cause anyone really gives a crap about DTWS.

The fact this federal criminal is an anti-American Birther say allot about conservatives.

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August 19, 2009 7:14 PM

The problem is not only Matthews, but it's networks like ABC and NBC who invite these assholes wing nuts like Bucanan and DeLay to spew their garbage.

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August 19, 2009 7:32 PM in reply to ru4862

You hit the nail right on the head, ru4862. Having DeLay on was inane.

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August 19, 2009 7:33 PM in reply to ru4862

You hit the nail right on the head, ru4862. Having DeLay on was inane.

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August 19, 2009 7:45 PM in reply to FredB

Thanks. I'm sure Chris Matthews is a good man, but his time has long passed. I prefer to see Lawrence O'Donell in Matthews seat.

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August 19, 2009 8:17 PM in reply to ru4862

You're very charitable. Matthews decided not to run for Senate because he had no agenda -- there was nothing in particular that he wanted to accomplish in office.

He just loves the carnival of politics. He glorifies -- and revels in -- the horse race, the daily who's up and who's down, and who's shouting at whom. All of which, needless to say, comes at the expense of substance. Jon Stewart's Crossfire rant applies equally well to Matthews.

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August 19, 2009 7:37 PM

They should rename it, "Dancing With The Indicted."

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Scottsdalian

August 19, 2009 7:58 PM in reply to Eugenian

or "Dancing With The Dick"

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August 20, 2009 2:30 PM in reply to Scottsdalian

I would prefer "Dancing Behind Bars", myself!

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follow the money

August 19, 2009 7:41 PM

hmm,
'dancing' huh?
try this one Mr Delay..'the last tango: enron and bush'
:http://www.cpusa.org/article/view/348/
by: Tim Wheeler

dancing delay..

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August 19, 2009 7:53 PM

Chris loves Tom DeLay. Doesn't matter that he is still under indictment. He just loves him. He just doesn't get that every time he has him on and grovels like he does, it makes Chris look like an A-Hole

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August 20, 2009 10:11 AM in reply to CVille Dem

Yeah, I noticed how Tweety gave him a pass on being a birther, unlike any of his other wingnut guests. I must point out though that was the impression I got reading about it, I haven't actually watched Tweety's show in like....ever.

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Scottsdalian

August 19, 2009 7:55 PM

OT...but somethun' to drive the Texans crazy (from cnn.com):

"Guaranty Bank, an Austin-based savings institution with $13.5 billion in assets, is expected to be seized by the FDIC by the end of the week. According to multiple reports late Wednesday, Spanish bank Banco Bilbao Vizcaya (BBV) has won the bidding for Guaranty."

Imagine that -- a fur'ner...a Hispanic fur'ner...bailing out a Texas bank! Them Texans gonna have to speak Spanish if they want to get their money back! (With all their heads exploding, they're gonna need public option healthcare!)

Tee hee hee!!!

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August 19, 2009 8:20 PM in reply to Scottsdalian

Don't worry, I highly doubt anyone with a brain is going to take offense at an insult posted by someone who can't spell "foreigner" or "something." Is your immaturity that funny to you because of your low IQ?

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August 19, 2009 9:11 PM in reply to Kuyleh

You've clearly never been to Texas. Those words are spelled correctly - in Texan. They're also known for spelling nuclear with an extra 'u'.

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August 19, 2009 8:00 PM

Why isn't Tom DeLay Dancing with Bubba?

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Mike

August 19, 2009 9:03 PM

I mean really...Quadriplegics "dumped" in front of the podium? Are ya fuckin' kiddin' me? This bullshit goes unchallenged. Unreal

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Mrs Panstreppon

August 19, 2009 9:22 PM

More Tom Delay, please. I am convinced that people remember him as the symbol of Republican corruption so the more air time DeLay gets, the more people's memory are jogged about how awful the Republicans were in the Bush era.

Here's hoping Ronnie Earle can move DeLay's case forward during DWTS. A guilty pleas would be so sweet.

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Taylor Doose

August 19, 2009 9:26 PM

I can help you. It is called BULLPOOP and I know it is crap, because I saw DeLay's lips moving! Sheesh! The Republicans have really lost it, haven't they? I mean, they lie about EVERYTHING and do a poor job of it. Sadly, it is these very clowns that have brought Obama to his knees. Sad, isn't it? The false hope bringer got his butt handed to him by these mental gnats. Incredible!

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August 19, 2009 10:06 PM

And they say all the nuts slid into California.
After all the bush whackers tiptoeing around the law this is sort of a natural next step.

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August 19, 2009 11:14 PM

The only part of that interview I heard, (because I muted that face) was the fact that he was upset because he had his gun taken away because he was indicted. Oh, whaaa....

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August 19, 2009 11:45 PM

The need for an intelligent debate on reforming health care has been eclipsed by our insatiable thirst to gawk at the absurd. We've been hi-jacked by crazy-stupid people, and the ratings obsessed media has obediently followed... http://unreasonablysafe.wordpress.com/2009/08/15/teabaggingtownhalls/

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August 20, 2009 2:51 AM

this is why I do not watch Hardball.. its nothing HARD about it.. Chris use to be more direct, calling people out of foolishness. but i have seen his show enough where he lets propaganda and bullsh_t fly.. They need to replace the 7pm reply of Hardball with THE YOUNG TURKS

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August 20, 2009 8:43 AM

DeLay is a joke. It is funny to hear DeLay talk about principles on Hannity. Apparently he doesn't know what the word means. There is a relaed post at http://iamsoannoyed.com/?page_id=588

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RP52

August 20, 2009 9:20 AM

Actually, Delay's town hall experience is true. In 1988 in Houston, disability rights actavists participated in one of his town hall meetings. They were highlighting poor health care, nonexistent community services, and a lack of national civil rights legislation for people with disabilities. One of the organizers states, "Wow, he has a good memory!" This was in 1988. He adds, "We did take a few folks and some of them were on gurneys. I don't recall anyone falling off on the floor, however."

Today, disability rights organizations, including the activist group ADAPT, use protest and civil disobedience to make their points about the need for improved community supports for people with disabilities.

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August 20, 2009 10:08 AM

I was technically living in DeLay's district in the 1980s but I spent most of that decade in the United States Navy so I didn't attend any town halls, (not that I would have approached the man without a large can of Raid), but I never heard any of my friends or family talking about how handicapped persons had been dumped on the floor at one of those town halls. I think it's just another example of DeLay huffing insecticide to be honest.

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August 20, 2009 12:16 PM

Susan has been onto Tom Delay from day one. I knew she would know the real story, and she does.

http://www.kissmybigbluebutt.com/#August_20

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runfastandwin

August 20, 2009 5:26 PM

Here's the money quote:

"I'm really mad. Since I got indicted, they took my concealed carry license away from me. I think that's a violation of the Second Amendment," he said.

It's like trying to have a discussion with the Kitchen Table.

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