Posted on 10/25/2005 3:59:42 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Perry defends DeLay, calls Earle 'overzealous' ASSOCIATED PRESS
FORT WORTH (AP) - Gov. Rick Perry defended U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay on Monday, saying his recent indictments on conspiracy and money laundering charges stem from work by an "overzealous prosecutor."
"I'm for Tom DeLay. I don't get confused about what's going on here," Perry, a fellow Republican, said after speaking about economic development at a Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce lunch. "The fact of the matter is - I happen to think that this is an overzealous prosecutor who is working very hard to take a Texan off of the national stage who's been doing some great and good things for the state of Texas."
DeLay and other Republicans have accused Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle of partisanship, allegations the Democratic prosecutor has denied.
Gov. Rick Perry came to the defense of U.S. Rep Tom Delay, R-Sugar Land, while speaking at the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Monday. Perry said the conspiracy and money laundering charges brought against DeLay were the work of an "overzealous prosecutor."
When Perry said he believed DeLay should remain the House majority leader, the crowd of about 450 people erupted in applause. The felony charges forced DeLay to give up his House leadership post, but he wants his job back.
DeLay, of Sugar Land, turned himself in Thursday at the Sheriff's Office in Houston and was fingerprinted, photographed and released on $10,000 bail. In a brief court appearance Friday in Austin, his attorney asked the judge to step aside for making campaign donations to Democrats and their liberal allies.
Further proceedings are delayed until a hearing can be held on the congressman's request for a new judge.
DeLay and two political associates are accused of violating state law banning use of donations for election or defeat of state candidates.
Two grand juries in Austin accused the men of sending $190,000 in corporate money, raised by a Texas group founded by DeLay, to the Republican National Committee in Washington, and having the money routed back to Texas candidates.
The Republican fundraising helped the GOP gain control of the Texas House, and set the stage for the Legislature to adopt a DeLay-engineered congressional district map that put more Texas Republicans in Congress.
DeLay's attorney, Dick DeGuerin, has filed a motion to move the trial out of Austin, one of Texas' most liberal and Democratic cities. DeGuerin has said he hopes the trial is moved to Fort Worth, which is a heavily Republican city.
Good for Perry.
Hyper-partisan, reaching, and desperate, perhaps. But overzealous is an understatement.
As a governor, Perry impresses me less than the process oil takes to age - but, for a change, he is speaking out about the difference between honor and ethics, and sheer despicable evil.
Ronnie Earle deserves to be horsewhipped, tarred, feathered and run out of Texas on a rail.
But, don't worry, Taxachusetts or Mexifornia will take him. They love his type.
Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle acknowledged that prosecutors presented their case to three grand juries — not just the two they had discussed — and one grand jury refused to indict DeLay. When questions arose about whether the state's conspiracy statute applied to the first indictment returned last Wednesday, prosecutors presented a new money-laundering charge to second grand jury on Friday because the term of the initial grand jury had expired.
the second grand jury refused to indict DeLay. Normally, a "no-bill" document is available at the courthouse after such a decision. No such document was released Tuesday.
Ronnie Earle is a disgrace to the legal profession and the people of Austin, Texas. I'm not sure whether his abuse of his office is ground for disbarment or not, but, in any event, his shameful political pursuit of Tom DeLay must end.
Delay has done nothing wrong, and if Earle thinks he did, he should turn himself and his fellow democrats in as well because they has done the same thing through the DNC.
At least Delay has the backbone to fight this, and stick it right back to the RATS. We need more Delays in the Republican party.
If this is Perry's first comment on this it sure took a long time for him to speak up.
I am glad that Delay is standing up for himself, because he didn't deserve this treatment. The law he is charged with didn't take effect until after this transaction had been completed.
But as far as Delay's spending habits go, we would be better off with More Mike Pences (House) and Tom Coburns (Senate). Sad to say, as much as I like Denny Hastert, I regret that he has failed to invoke fiscal discipline in the House as well.
Tom DeLay is a genius and basically the only Republican I still like.
I heard this morning on Fox that Delay has a degree in Biology. I did not know that. I've only heard about him being an exterminator-which will help him more than his biology degree in getting Earl.
DeLay's lawyer is a master at PR, too. I think he'll survive, not only survive, but be even more powerful after the dust settles. Yahoo!
Really? They must be doing poll results using crayons for him.
I don't like Gov. Brealcream because I don't think much of guys that want to build big roads just to build big roads and in doing so take peoples land without real compensation.
Rick Perry is a 40 watt at best.
You are too kind to him.
Earle is getting daily emails from Moveon.hate telling him.. ataboy... get Delay at all costs.
Earle is a joke here in Texas.
There are some folks here that apparently have some $$$ interest in the Trans-Texas Stealidor that come out and defend hair boy whenever anyone says anything negative about him.
RICK PERRY: "Hey could we knock this building behind me down so the Mexicans can drive through quicker?"
Booya!!!! as Bill Dance would say.
I wonder what Carol Keaton " I'm really a dem who takes liberal money" - whatever her last name is today will say about this stuff.
She has taken donations from big Austin Dems. Some from the same circles and Earle.
So my guess....is she hides
This is Earle's last hurrah. He is retiring soon and wants to go out in a blaze of glory. But even his fellow liberals don't think much of him. Maybe he is just trying to win their respect.
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