Tom Delay: "I am the federal government."

[wicket]

Anyone remember this gem from Tom Delay? He said it to a government employee who was trying to prevent him from smoking on federal property.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Tom_DeLay

More here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A57541-2003May14¬Found=true

House Majority Leader Tom "The Hammer" DeLay is a tobacco-chewing, meat-eating Texas Republican who likes to drink red wine and smoke cigars.

We're told that during a recent dinner with about 30 political supporters at a downtown Washington steak house, DeLay walked out on his guests before dessert when the manager told him he could eat and drink but not puff.

The dinner was organized by the leader's daughter and campaign manager, Danielle DeLay Ferro, as a fundraiser for Armpac, Delay's political action committee, at Ruth's Chris Steak House on Ninth Street NW. But because the restaurant leases space in a building owned by a federal agency -- in this case, the Smithsonian Institution -- the law forbids smoking. The prohibition is posted on numerous signs inside and outside the restaurant.

But after the main course, DeLay went into "hammer" mode, trying to compel manager Tom Khandker to flout federal regulations and lift the ban. We hear the conversation went something like this:

Khandker: "I'm sorry, sir, but this is a federal building, and it's against the law of the federal government."

DeLay: "I am the federal government."

But Khandker stood his ground, and DeLay and several cigar-chomping compatriots left for the smoke-filled Caucus Room before the cheesecake course.

[Terran1212]

1. Wow

DeLay = The Emperor?

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Yep.

And anyone with the ears to listen knew that we would be hearing more from him in the days ahead. And so we have.

[wicket]

6. I hope he keeps it up

He's digging his own grave :rofl:

[tubbacheez]

3. "L'etat, c'est moi." n/t

[TahitiNut]

12. Louis XIV had "mommy issues," too.

Narcissist? Ubetcha.

[Lone_Wolf_Moderate]

4. Flying ever closer to the sun. DeLay's naked hubris will do him in.

[bertha katzenengel]

5. Your lips to God's ears.

[davidinalameda]

9. I'd prefer the voters' ears from his district

ego-manic comes to mind

[Mutley]

7. he's not the smartest pubbie, is he?

[wakeme2008]

8. Are you sure....

why I say that is I heard this story about Bug man when he was in a restaurant with his favorite K street boys....... Same reply...

[wicket]

11. Yes, same story

The restaurant leases its space from the Federal Government. Here's the story in the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A57541-2003May14¬Found=true

Oh and, welcome to DU! :hi:

[wakeme2008]

16. Tanks

:hi:

[jean]

10. haha - yeah, which is why I jokingly said his email addy is

iamthefederalgovernment @ txbugman.com

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3442430&mesg_id=3442452

[wicket]

13. LOL!!!!

Now that's a good one! :rofl: :)

[indepat]

14. Just think how corrupt that makes the Federal government

[Lisa]

15. So THAT'S why it's so messed up!

Way in debt, not able to deliver what it promises, and even its own constituents hate it.

Yup, that sounds like ol' Tom, all right.

[demgurl]

17. Reading this makes me think......

Yeah, but it's Clinton's fault! Isn't everything????? :rofl:

[wicket]

18. LOL!

:D