Tom DeLay — the former Republican House majority leader whose conviction for allegedly scheming to influence state elections with corporate money was overturned — praised defiant House Republicans for linking government funding to the fight over the Affordable Care Act.
In an
opinion piece for the Washington Times, DeLay — whose ironclad control of the House was legendary and earned him the nickname, "The Hammer" —
urged the GOP to stick to its guns, saying the battle "is worth the fight."
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"I agree with the decision by House Republicans to hold back on allowing the government to be funded until the president concedes some change to his national healthcare system," he wrote.
"Now that Republicans have started down that road, they must not waver. Once the federal government gets complete control of healthcare, we will lose individual freedom that we can never recover."
"This is worth the fight," urged DeLay, who represented a Texas district in the House from 1984-2006 and was majority leader from 2003-05.
But he also chided lawmakers for "playing around the edges" and getting "constantly defeated by the left."
"They are fighting over who can best run the oversized federal government. That is not what we should be debating," he said. "We have to fight for reducing and deconstructing this enormous, unconstitutional behemoth. I’m convinced that the only way to do that is for the citizens to start a revolution for the Constitution."
DeLay railed at the "left’s purpose in pursuing criminal charges against me," saying they meant "to get me out of politics and out of their way."
"They may have brought me to my knees, but I’m now standing up again," he said. "I’m a stronger man now than ever, and I will use my time and energy to pursue the constitutional revival our nation so desperately needs."
He said his corruption trial and losing his House position "gave me a dose of humility.
"The Lord used this period to work on my arrogance," he said. "I approach life now from a different point of view."
DeLay, now 66, appears to have lost little of his fire.
"President Obama and those who believe in his political philosophy are leading us down the path of other socialist nations," he said. "The end result of this movement will be a permanent loss of freedom, a lower standard of living and, eventually, an economic crash."
He said he hoped "we can stop this Obamanation and return power to the states and individuals," crediting the "pushback" by state legislatures, governors and the Tea Party.
"I’m a stronger man now than ever, and I will use my time and energy to pursue the constitutional revival our nation so desperately needs," he vowed.
After his 2010 conviction was overturned last month, DeLay said he would "probably not" run for elected office again.
"There's too much other things that the Lord wants me to do," he said.
"But around the political arena, I'm around. They never got rid of me."
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