Despite attempts by the New York Times and Washington Post to make it appear that gongressional Republicans are abandoning embattled Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R.-Tex.), that is not happening.
Earlier this week, more than 40 members of the conservative House Republican Study Committee rallied to DeLay's side. At what Study Committee Chairman Mike Pence (R.-Ind.) calls a "mini-retreat" of the conservative lawmakers, support for DeLay was widespread. "I would say it ranged from supportive to defiant," Pence told HUMAN EVENTS, adding "there wasn't a single word of criticism" for DeLay at the retreat. Noting that most of the charges against the Texan come from established liberal outlets and elected Democrats, Pence called on Replublicans standing with DeLay "throughout his travail."
Another Study Committee member who weighed in strongly for DeLay was Iowa's Rep. Steve King, who called the attacks on the No. 2 Republican in the House "an attack on the Republican agenda." Maintaining that DeLay must "stand firm and he can't apologize," King called on conservatives in and out of Congress to "stand up and fight for Tom DeLay" and to start pointing out "just who his enemies are."
