DeLay daughter's baby shower held by Texas energy firm under investigation

[Robbien]

A Texas energy company being investigated with regards to improper fundraising by those connected with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) held a baby shower for DeLay's daughter Danielle Ferro in May 2002—and the event was attended by lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who paid for some of the congressman’s overseas travel, RAW STORY has found.

The shower, reported in the Washington, D.C. newspaper Roll Call Jun. 10, 2002 (article posted here), was held at the Washington offices of Reliant Energy Inc., a Texas-based power company that has given heavily to DeLay and his political action committees.

Donations collected from Reliant by a DeLay-linked political action committee are now the subject of a Texas state probe. DeLay’s daughter Danielle helped manage that committee, Texans for a Republican Majority, and her records have been subpoenaed by an Austin grand jury.

. . .

Among the shower's guests was Jack Abramoff, the lobbyist found to have paid for at least two DeLay trips that were fronted through a conservative nonprofit. The trips, taken in violated of House rules, ran a tab of more than $130,000.

. . .

Told of the event, one veteran Democratic aide was floored. “It’s fairly common for corporations to hold receptions in honor of someone, but I’ve never heard of anybody having a baby shower,” the aide said. “Clearly this shows there was a close relationship and Tom DeLay’s efforts to distance himself from Jack Abramoff .”

Much more
http://rawstory.com/exclusives/byrne/delay_baby_shower_reliant_abramoff_406.htm

[Roland99]

1. He did it! A Hat Trick of scandals in One Day!

WTG, Tom!

[NoPasaran]

2. He still has the afternoon and evening to resign!

Go for it, Bug Man! Bat for the cycle!

[ltfranklin]

5. Trifecta!!!!

I notice they're all saying "it was just a simple bridal shower, given by her friend"...but how many bridal showers have male lobbyists attending? I don't think they should be looking at the cost ($250) of the shower, but THE GIFTS that were given! I'll bet there were some high-dollar bridal gifts in there! Could this be just another of the sneaky methods they have of laundering bribes and payoffs?

[daleo]

31. I think you may have it.

The gifts are the thing. If it is just the usual office stuff, then fine (say, a baby stroller). But anything expensive or not related to babies would be extremely suspicious to me.

[cmd]

40. Maybe they set up a "college fund" for the kid

Bet some money passed hands somewhere.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I have to tip my hat to Tom

he is GOOD in the scandal department...

Lemme see, 40 yaers of Demo control, some corruption

10 years of GOP COntrol, can we say corruption is the order of the day?

Yep, power corrupts... Tom is proof of it

[Cocoa]

4. this proves the dems hate pregnancy

who wants to bet that Delay or one of his supporters use this angle?

[TheFarseer]

10. Yeah, she should have had an abortion

in fact I think all the democratic senators should make her get a retro-active abortion! :sarcasm:

[Cocoa]

14. Delay's mother too n/t

[Toots]

51. LOL

Thanks I like a good chuckle..:thumbsup:

[napi21]

6. Scummy as this sounds, is it really illegal for a Co. to pay for

Danielle's baby shower? It would be, if it was paid from pac funds, or illegal contributions, but if...just if...these Co. people knew her from heading the committee, liked her, and decided to hold a baby shower for her, is that really illegal?

[punpirate]

8. If it turns out to be...

... buying influence, then, yes, it's illegal.

[Robbien]

16. Abramoff attended this shower. Delay attended the shower.

Delay got "funny money" to go to Russia to speak with Abramoff seven years ago. Then Abramoff comes to the US to work as a lobbyist for this firm. This firm funds expensive trips for Delay. Delay rules over the committee who decides bills in favor of this firm.

This firm hired Delay's daughter. This firm paid for the shower.

Abramoff is under investigation for these type of activities. Delay says he really doesn't know Abramoff at all.

And you suggest everything is all okay here.

[napi21]

27. I'm not suggesting all is OK, but that their claim will be we liked her.

I think it stinks to high heaven, but what I think or what you think doesn't matter. I would bet these people will claim they held this shower becaus they knew this lady, and she was a friend. If their actions can't be linked to favors DeLay granted, the results will be that they did no wrong.


I spent many years fighting off law suite,, most of which were unfounded. The co's I worked for were retailers and manufacturers, and somebody is always out to get a little piece of your pie. That time, and all those caes, taught me that you can never look at an issue based upon perception, but only upon what you can or cannot prove. I'm certainly not in favor of DeLay, or in fact most politicians in general. I happen to think they all will try to get away with a little more than they think they can, and just hope they don't get caught. I think the evidence against DeLay is mounting to a point where he's never going to be able to emerge from the swamp of dirt, but this issue of the baby shower just doesn't sound like it will add more water to the mud. I say stick with the provable stuff like payment for the oversea's trips, illegal campaign funds, etc.

[Robbien]

29. Delay is not being included in the investigation of Abramoff because

Delay claimed he barely even knows Abramoff. This story and the story of Delay going to Russia to meet with Abramoff clearly show Delay's statement is false.

[napi21]

35. Valid point. If info is used to prove other lies, that's good! n/t

[Kimber Scott]

59. You mean he, he, he

LIED?!?

If this guy's career isn't toast soon, it will be clear, the people have truly lost their government.

I would think there are a couple judges out there who might want to get a hold of Mr. DeLay. We can only hope there really is "truth, justice and the American way."

[A Simple Game]

62. The thing about mud is,

when you are hit with a mud ball, maybe most of it falls off, but it still leaves a stain. One mud ball might not leave you looking too bad, but if you are hit multiple times, you start to look dirty. We want Delay to look as dirty as possible.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. When Mrs. Ferro was in the hot tub, with the champagne poured on her...

by a lobbyist in Vegas, was her husband present, I wonder? What hypocrites!

(Per GD Politics post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1708276&mesg_id=1708276)

[CoffeeCat]

9. What we're seeing here is the contents of Rove's "Delay" file...

...being spilled out all over America.

Don't get me wrong. DeLay is a nightmare.

However, I'm a bit taken aback by this onslaught of DeLay dirt that is rising to the surface.

What is this...4 articles so far--in the past two days--each about a separate DeLay scandal or infraction?

Something happened with the Schiavo thing. My guess is that DeLay orchestrated the entire thing against Rove's/Bush's wishes. DeLay needed the Fundies in his corner, and he figured Schiavo would score him a few points and protect his political career.

Rove probably didn't want this, but DeLay proceeded.

Are we supposed to believe that these DeLay scandals are naturally surfacing now? Bullroar.

Rove has a blackmail file on each Rep and Dem member of the House and Senate. I'm sure most politicians have these DeLay-like "conflicts of interest"--and Rove probably has them documented. I'm sure some files are full of major scandals.

My guess is that this is how they are all controlled.

What a frickin farce our government is.

[Roland99]

11. A bit conspiratorial...maybe those indicted have started to sing?

[Bethany Rockafella]

21. I don't know about Rove keeping files on everyone.

What makes him so sure no one has a file on him? Or if this would leak out.

[Robbien]

24. I don't believe RawStory is getting info from Rove

Now if this story was in the WaPo or WSJ or NYT a Rovian leak would be a possibility.

[leftofcool]

25. I 'd probably buy about Rove except...........

where is all of his dirt of Kennedy and why hasn't he used it. Too old maybe?

Left of cool

[zipplewrath]

43. Remember Trent?

I can believe that Rove would milk this to get rid of Delay and get his own person in there. The Bush admin doesn't like anyone who hasn't drank the juice in a position of power. Delay is a power in his own right, not a juice drinker. Rove wants someone who can move forward their agenda, not someone out working on his own.

[DearAbby]

53. Oh for sure, Rove is Tossing Delay to the wolves...to appease the

moderates, they goofed big time with their powergrab play in the Schiavo case, they need a "patsy" a "fall guy" delay set himself up to be just that guy.



:popcorn:

[MADem]

60. When the charge is being led by the likes of Drudge

...there's no way you can blame any ace liberal media reporters.

Yep, you are right. The WH has had enough, and they want someone more malleable in Delay's chair. Can't have the subordinates feeling that they can direct or control events, and Delay just doesn't know how to bow down when he's told. That said, he is a slimeball, and even an evil regime can occasionally do something of benefit to society!

[UpInArms]

12. more on DeLay and Reliant

http://www.mollyivins.com/showArticle_new.asp?ArticleID=10

excerpt:

Maloney also relates in his e-mails that he will be delivering “2 checks from Reliant” to “TD” (Tom DeLay). The circumstances under which DeLay sealed the Reliant deal earned him a rebuke from the U.S. House ethics committee in 2004. In early June 2002, DeLay held a two-day golf tournament at the Homestead resort in Hot Springs, Virginia. The cost of attending the event was a corporate contribution of $25,000 to $50,000. Five energy companies were invited by Maloney to attend: El Paso Corp., Mirant, Reliant Energy, Westar Energy, and Williams Companies. (DeLay’s dealings with Westar would earn a separate rebuke from the committee.) The golfing took place just before a House-Senate conference on an omnibus energy bill. (It’s understandable why, four months later, Maloney would complain about Reliant’s tardiness.) The Homestead event was supposed to benefit equally TRMPAC and DeLay’s Americans for a Republican Majority (ARMPAC), according to an e-mail from an ARMPAC staffer to TRMPAC’s accountant.

The Majority Leader has insisted that there was no relationship between the solicited money and any actions to influence the legislative process in Congress. Furthermore, DeLay has claimed—while lashing out at Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle—that he had no more than an advisory role in TRMPAC. Still, it’s not hard to see why the Williams Company might be confused about where to send the check and who was in charge (see here ).

If Tom DeLay set the tone for TRMPAC, Mike Toomey may have been a key player in keeping the operation moving forward on the ground. (Toomey refused to comment for this article.) During the civil trial, political consultant Chuck McDonald testified about regular meetings between himself, Colyandro, Texas Association of Business (TAB) President Bill Hammond, and then-lobbyist Toomey. Together they coordinated aid to the 23 candidates that the corporate-backed campaign had decided to support. “If they were doing something in a race, then the TAB effort could be expended elsewhere,” testified McDonald.

...more... (go to link for imbedded links of interest)

[Montauk6]

13. How sad...

When my wife had her baby shower, it was thrown by friends and relatives. And it was mostly women there.

Are they so caught up in the corporate web that the folks-in-suits are the only people that can be counted on in such a personal, intimate environment? Ahh, the ways of the powerful...

And they talk about how phony the Clintons qua close family are! sheesh...

[d.l.Green]

18. That's what I was thinking, and in an office atmosphere, no less...

Rosemary's Baby, for the male suits. Indoctrinate them with influential tainted moolah while still in the womb....:evilgrin:

[BronxBoy]

54. Yeah Right......

I know we are living in a more tolerant age. But do men really frequent baby showers now.? I'm a little older but I thought that baby showers were a woman bonding sort of thing.

You from LI?

[AuntiBush]

56. In all my years... NEVER do MEN attend BABY SHOWERS!

Never! Good grief!

:crazy:

Men do not attend BABY Showers! Maybe they pass through the house and can't wait to get out of the house; or attend to the food servings, etc., in public settings, but NEVER, do men attend these events.

Rosemary's Baby. Now, there's a thought :evilgrin:

Delay's not playing Rove's way.

[BronxBoy]

57. I know I didn't........

And it was the one time I could beg out of a MAJOR event and not catch any grief.

Oh man....this guy is toast. The only question is whether he'll be a piece of toast we can sink our teeth into.

[vickie]

15. ...and the sludge just keeps coming.....

[The Backlash Cometh]

17. Holy Shitah.

This guy is such a crook. Why did it take so long?

[Bethany Rockafella]

19. What's this lobbyist phone number?

My niece is having a shower this weekend. We'd like for him to show up.

[Robbien]

22. Not just show up, have his client pay for the shower AND hire your niece.

But you can always later tell investigators you barely know the man.

[hatrack]

20. And the hits just keep on comin'

Shame nobody will even pay attention.

[Nostradammit]

33. I'm paying attention.

As are many others.

[Roland99]

23. His website is SCREAMING for a parody

http://tomdelay.house.gov/index.htm


BTW, I didn't know this:
http://www.dkosopedia.com/index.php/Tom_DeLay

DeLay is also estranged from his mother, whom he did not invite to his daughter's wedding

So much for "Honor thy father and mother."

[Patiod]

28. They probably fell out over who got the settlement

from the frivolous lawsuit over the homemade funicular/trolley that killed his dad.

[gmoney]

63. He misspells "guaranteeing" benefits

"Your honor, these benefits were not "Guaranteed"... they were "Gauranteed" which is a Texas legal term meaning "to eliminate"

[Bridget Burke]

26. Did every veteran mom mention just how many hours she'd been in labor?

Did they have competitions about who'd gotten the most stitches? In short--did any males & non-mom females almost faint?

If not, it wasn't a real baby shower.

[elehhhhna]

30. Check her wedding-rumour is the lobbyists paid for that, too.

[BronxBoy]

55. Was she ......

preggies before she got married? I would love to know that? Family values and all.

[despairing optimist]

32. Ah, what a lovely spring! DeLay's swan song is sweeter than a mockingbird

As for why all the dirt on him is surfacing so quickly and simultaneously, a wise man long ago advised me when unexplainable good things happened not to question gifts from the gods.

One down (soon). How many to go?

[bearfan454]

34. Pile it on him

He deserves all of those FELONIES HE COMMITTED !

[Career Prole]

36. I'm just sitting here in my shop

with a big old grin on my face.

This feels good...this feels right...this feels right good. :D

[Robbien]

41. Want a bit more? Delay's daughter has been subpoenaed

see this thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1708276&mesg_id=1708276

[Career Prole]

44. Thanks for that!

This is great! :bounce:

[Bridget Burke]

46. Juanita's having fun, too.

April 5 - Tom DeLay needs to give his publicity manager a raise. You'd think he was marrying Brittany Spears and Lisa Marie Pressley in a strange menage a tres semi-gay wedding at the Neverland Ranch. He's on the front page of every newspaper in America. I have heard, although it's far too early in the morning for me to go look for myself, that he made the Drudge Report.

http://www.brazosriver.com/wait.htm

She lives in Fort Bend County & keeps an eye on her Congresscritter.

[Career Prole]

49. Know what? I'd forgotten about Juanita since

last summer. My bad!
Bookmarked now! :thumbsup:

[Liberty Belle]

37. So the kid will be a real bundle of energy, right?

Reliant is one of the companies that ripped off California ratepayers and never paid us back.

Guess they were too busy spending my power bill payment on lavish shower gifts for DeLay's daughter. <gag>

[E-Z-B]

38. Looks like DeLay is blaming all his woes on the liberal media

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/04/06/delay.reponse/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House Majority Leader Tom DeLay defended his family Wednesday, saying newspaper articles about his wife and daughter and about his trip to Russia were "seedy" efforts by the "liberal media" to humiliate him.



Is it just me, or does it look like he's about to cry?

[Judi Lynn]

48. Surely does! Maybe the Hammer hit his thumb! Terrific. Thanks. n/t

[Renew Deal]

39. lol, That's ugly

lol

[rainbow4321]

42. Delay's daughter partied w/ the lobbyist (hot tub/champaigne)

http://www.offthekuff.com/mt/archives/002326.html


The weekend included a late-night party Saturday in DeLay's suite at the Rio Hotel and Casino, which featured a living room, bar and hot tub on the balcony. DeLay was not present, aides said; the event was hosted by his daughter, Dani Ferro, the campaign manager for DeLay's reelection campaign. After the party, Ferro told associates that a lobbyist poured champagne on her while she was in the hot tub.

[Ilsa]

45. And Tom DeLay's response, "What's wrong with a baby

shower? My daughter is married."

Everything is a moral issue with this goon.

[Ilsa]

47. Looks like the "Truth Out" magick is working!

One of our DU'ers (You can reveal yourself if you wish to) has used a truth spell to bring forth some honesty in government! :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[LiberalinNC]

50. It's a family affair!

Scandal must run in the family ;)

[rainbow4321]

58. His brother the lobbyist...

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1316/is_n6_v29/ai_19482849/pg_1


Questions have also been raised about DeLay's work on behalf of interests represented by his lobbyist brother, Houston lawyer Randy DeLay. The younger DeLay got into the lobbying business almost immediately after his brother was elected majority whip. The clients came running. According to Frank Greve of Knight-Ridder, Randy DeLay raked in over $550,000 during his first year in business.

Among DeLay's customers was a Mexican cement company called Cemex, which was involved in a trade dispute with the United States. Cemex had been slapped with an anti-dumping tariff for selling its cement over the border at unfair prices. According to Greve, Randy DeLay met or called his brother 21 times for the specific purpose of lobbying him on the Cemex issue. In August of 1995, Congressman DeLay wrote letters to the U.S. Trade Representative and the Secretary of Commerce unsuccessfully urging that the tariff be lifted. DeLay also helped draft a failed bill which would have accomplished the same thing. And both DeLays got other prominent Republicans to sign letters in support of Cemex.

This was not the only time the brothers DeLay worked in tandem. When Congressman DeLay fought to allow Union Pacific Railroad to acquire Southern Pacific for $5.4 billion, some Texas voters were confused. There was significant concern that the merger would have anti-competitive effects -- particularly in Houston, where the deal would give Union Pacific control over 11 of the city's 13 rail lines. Why would DeLay act against his constituents' interests? Perhaps because Union Pacific was one of his brother's clients. Rep. DeLay was also a major supporter of the I-69 Mid-Continent Highway Coalition!s bid for designation as a federal highway. Randy DeLay is -- you guessed it -- a lobbyist for the coalition.

At the very least, the elder DeLay's relationship with his lobbyist sibling violates the House prohibition against "discriminat unfairly by the dispensing of special favors or privileges to anyone."

[DearAbby]

52. Bugman..."sniff sniff...what's that smell?.......R A I D!"

Bwahahahahahaha







:popcorn:

[Callboy]

61. what is it with this guy????

[The Donkey]

64. I think that every scandal in Washinton is tied to this guy . . .

I bet that if you look at every scandal in DC for the past few years, you can play "six degrees of Tom Delay" and make the connection in two or three.

:spank: