# Fox News and Tom DeLay **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 9, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766 "2006-02-09T23:51:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/1 "2006-02-09T23:51:12Z")
Where to put this? Requests for authenticity… Fox news, so, maybe CS… Congress & Tom DeLay… the Pit it is. If anyone has any corroboration or refuting evidence to this story, I’d love to see it. I’ve searched, and all I can come up with is speculation. The story: [GOP awards Appropriations spot to Tom DeLay](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,184284,00.html) > [@](#): > > Indicted Rep. Tom DeLay, forced to step down as the No. 2 Republican in the House, scored a soft landing Wednesday as GOP leaders rewarded him with a coveted seat on the Appropriations Committee. The hell? What are you people _thinking_? Cunningham left the seat after being found guilty of the same kinds of charges Tom DeLay is facing. And now you put him back on the Appropriations committee? If the GOP had any credibility left, this just blows it to hell and gone. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/2 "2006-02-09T23:52:51Z")
Crap. Can someone fix my coding, please? ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2006, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/3 "2006-02-09T23:56:36Z")
Authentication [Yahoo News](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060208/ap_on_go_co/delay_appropriations_1) ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/4 "2006-02-10T00:11:19Z")
The GOP has no shame. “We’re in charge. We can do what we want.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/5 "2006-02-10T00:12:36Z")
What exactly is your problem with FoxNews in this case? The Appropriations Committee is very desireble place to be-- it could’ve been a lot worse for Delay. As for the GOP… maybe they think someone is innocent until proven guilty. Don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/6 "2006-02-10T00:22:49Z")
My problem with Fox news was that I read this yesterday, but I didn’t see it anywhere else. As I really don’t trust them as a source of unbiased news and couldn’t find verification til just now on the AP wire (thanks, **Gangster Octopus** ), I was asking for corroboration. That’s okay with you, right? My problem with putting DeLay on the Appropriations committee is that if he’s found guilty, he’s going to have to step down from that spot. At least, I would hope he would have the integrity that Cunningham had, but then I remember who I’m talking about. As for the GOP, maybe they think it’s perfectly alright for someone charged with conspiracy to defraud finance law to be deciding where vast sums of money are to go. I always thought they smart when it came to finance, but hey, I guess as long as it’s just the tax payers and not them, personally that are potentially getting fucked, that’s alright. ---
**Author:** ![yanceylebeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yanceylebeef/32/12290_2.png) [@yanceylebeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yanceylebeef)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/7 "2006-02-10T00:23:29Z")
The really sad part is the Appropriations Comittee controls the Department of Justice purse strings. Between this and Frist and Hastert’s back room shennaningans, I feel another bout of Outrage Fatigue coming on. From Gannett News Service; Gannett: “Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and House Speaker Dennis Hastert engineered a backroom legislative maneuver to protect pharmaceutical companies from lawsuits, say witnesses to the pre-Christmas power play. The language was tucked into a Defense Department appropriations bill at the last minute without the approval of members of a House-Senate conference committee, say several witnesses, including a top Republican staff member.” I’m sure this had nothing to do with the campaign contributions Frist has recieved from Big Pharma. Reform my ass, these fuckers can’t stop. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/8 "2006-02-10T00:29:32Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > As for the GOP… maybe they think someone is innocent until proven guilty. Don’t you? :dubious: That is a good principle to follow when deciding whether to deprive someone of his/her civil rights. But not when deciding whether to award him/her a position of public trust and power. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/9 "2006-02-10T00:38:25Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > The hell? What are you people _thinking_? Cunningham left the seat after being found guilty of the same kinds of charges Tom DeLay is facing. And now you put him back on the Appropriations committee? If the GOP had any credibility left, this just blows it to hell and gone. What Tom Delay is accused of is not at all what Cunningham did. Not even close. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/10 "2006-02-10T00:42:35Z")
Actually, yeah, [it is](http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/cunningham/20060124-1831-ca-delayinvestigation-cunningham.html). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/11 "2006-02-10T00:54:52Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > My problem with Fox news was that I read this yesterday, but I didn’t see it anywhere else. As I really don’t trust them as a source of unbiased news and couldn’t find verification til just now on the AP wire (thanks, **Gangster Octopus** ), I was asking for corroboration. That’s okay with you, right? > My problem with putting DeLay on the Appropriations committee is that if he’s found guilty, he’s going to have to step down from that spot. At least, I would hope he would have the integrity that Cunningham had, but then I remember who I’m talking about. As for the GOP, maybe they think it’s perfectly alright for someone charged with conspiracy to defraud finance law to be deciding where vast sums of money are to go. I always thought they smart when it came to finance, but hey, I guess as long as it’s just the tax payers and not them, personally that are potentially getting fucked, that’s alright. Or, maybe they think he’s going to be the mose closely watched guy in the Senate while he’s under indictment, and that he’s going to be extra careful. Or, maybe they are convinced that he actually is innocent. That is a distinct possiblity, you know. This seems more like a stupid political move as opposed to a stupid operational move. It looks bad, even if it isn’t. Do you want the Republicans not to make stupid political moves? 🙂 BTW, he’s being charges with conspiracy to violate campaign financing law, and the charge seeems pretty weak to me. Cunningham, OTOH, was found guilty of accepting bribes. I’m not sure I’d classify those as the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/12 "2006-02-10T00:57:16Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > Actually, yeah, [it is](http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/cunningham/20060124-1831-ca-delayinvestigation-cunningham.html). Issuing a subpoena is not an indictment. So, no, it isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/13 "2006-02-10T02:52:14Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Issuing a subpoena is not an indictment. So, no, it isn’t. Not yet, anyway. > [@](#): > > Do you want the Republicans not to make stupid political moves? 🙂 Yeah, I do. No bullshit. It may sound a bit idealistic, but I would like it if they would stop doing stoopid shit that’s not good for the country. Like I said in that other thread, it isn’t about getting into power, it’s about doing what’s right. And I think it’s not only wrong, but irresponsible (not to mention hilarious if it wasn’t so damn disturbing) to allow someone under investigation for illegally funneling cash to decide which projects get what funding. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/14 "2006-02-10T03:55:14Z")
I don’t get this appointment either, and , from the same OP story: **DeLay, R-Texas, also claimed a seat on the subcommittee overseeing the Justice Department, which is currently investigating an influence-peddling scandal involving disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his dealings with lawmakers. The subcommittee also has responsibility over NASA — a top priority for DeLay, since the Johnson Space Center is located in his Houston-area district.** So, a politician with a history of dealings with Abramoff is put in a position of overseeing a scandal in which he is one of the players?? And Fox reports it straight up… What kind of bizarro world is this? Delay must have a lot of righteous dirt on his shoes to get that kind of welcome mat rolled back out. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/15 "2006-02-10T04:06:07Z")
> [@elelle](#): > > So, a politician with a history of dealings with Abramoff is put in a position of overseeing a scandal in which he is one of the players?? If the Republicans sidelined everyone who had dealings with Abramoff, they wouldn’t have anyone left! > [@](#): > > And Fox reports it straight up… What kind of bizarro world is this? Look. FoxNews has it’s problems, but most of what they report is just the regular news. If I had a dime for every post on this board about how amazed someone is that FoxNews actually reported some story… That’s why I asked the OP what her issue was with Fox in the title of this thread. It was a gratuitous swipe, with no basis. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/16 "2006-02-10T04:08:54Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > If the Republicans sidelined everyone who had dealings with Abramoff, they wouldn’t have anyone left! I can’t tell–are you agreeing with the suggestion? Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/17 "2006-02-10T04:13:44Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > If the Republicans sidelined everyone who had dealings with Abramoff, they wouldn’t have anyone left! They do currently have a few that aren’t under indictment, though, right? > [@](#): > > Look. FoxNews has it’s problems, but most of what they report is just the regular news. If I had a dime for every post on this board about how amazed someone is that FoxNews actually reported some story… That’s why I asked the OP what her issue was with Fox in the title of this thread. It was a gratuitous swipe, with no basis. No. It wasn’t. I explained it. Not my problem if you don’t like the explanation. And hey, it isn’t like [I’m the only one](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3805691.stm) who thinks they misrepresent facts. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/18 "2006-02-10T12:04:21Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > As for the GOP… maybe they think someone is innocent until proven guilty. Don’t you? If they honestly thought this, he wouldn’t have been forced to out of his post as majority leader in the first place. This is pure politics. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/19 "2006-02-10T13:10:03Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Or, maybe they think he’s going to be the mose closely watched guy in the Senate while he’s under indictment, and that he’s going to be extra careful. Or, maybe they are convinced that he actually is innocent. That is a distinct possiblity, you know. This seems more like a stupid political move as opposed to a stupid operational move. It looks bad, even if it isn’t. Do you want the Republicans not to make stupid political moves? 🙂 If you are willing to concede that it was a stupid political move by the Pubbies, I’m sure you don’t mind Maureen pointing out how stupid it is. She’s only trying to help. > [@](#): > > BTW, he’s being charges with conspiracy to violate campaign financing law, and the charge seeems pretty weak to me. Cunningham, OTOH, was found guilty of accepting bribes. I’m not sure I’d classify those as the same thing. Well, the evidence was strong enough to bring charges, something not even the most rabid partisan is likely to do against a man at the height of his power with a reputation as a vicious bastard – like DeLay. And who knows what’s gonna come out of the Abramov scandal? My guess is, plenty. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766/20 "2006-02-10T14:20:09Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > As for the GOP… maybe they think someone is innocent until proven guilty. Don’t you? Would a reflexively partisan Republican’s position be any different from yours? Would the position of someone with a real concern about government corruption, however, be different? > [@](#): > > If the Republicans sidelined everyone who had dealings with Abramoff, they wouldn’t have anyone left! And you offer that in their _defense_. :rolleyes: Quit kidding yourself, **John**. Someone slipped some Kool-Aid into your drink when you weren’t paying attention. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fox-news-and-tom-delay/343766.md?page=2)