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By krempasky Posted in Republicans — Comments (3) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

I spent last evening at the Capitol Hilton in Washington, DC for an event organized by the American Conservative Union entitled, "The Conservative Movement Salutes Tom DeLay." A dinner banquet attended by no less than 950 people, the celebration should not go ignored nor dismissed.

Going into this evening, I was in the 'defend-DeLay' camp. Not all of my RedState colleagues agree, and I understand their beliefs and reasoning behind them. However, watching every single conservative leader that I personally respect and admire stand shoulder to shoulder with Tom DeLay has moved me into the 'enthusiastically-defend-DeLay' faction. (There were too many to list, but if someone would name a prominent conservative activist - I'll bet a dollar they were in attendance)

Before I get to the substance of the evening, let me say for the record that I believe a couple things. First, the charges against DeLay surrounding political activity in Texas are, well - let's say that dog won't hunt. Cleta Mitchell disposed of href="http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/commentary/a0036509.cfm">them nicely. Second, while at first glance the charges surrounding activities in Washington have a high 'ick' factor - I have to say that my reaction as someone naturally suspicious of politicians in the first place is - so what? DeLay's activities are certainly not unique, or even rare in kind and while we can rightly ascribe a failure in judgment, I don't believe it comes close to justifying voting him off the island.

For all the political people praising Tom DeLay - no account or testimony was more powerful than that of one Ena Feinberg,whose Jewish family was trapped in the Soviet Union and branded "refusenik" by the Communists. After attempting to leave the USSR in 1979 and being denied, fired, and blacklisted - the Feinberg family by sheer chance caught the attention of Tom DeLay. Tom and Christine DeLay adopted the Feinbergs and fought for YEARS to secure their right to escape opression and live in freedom. Six or seven years after first trying to leave, the Feinbergs were visited by Tom and Christine DeLay - traveling on tourist visas with no official capacity. Mrs. Feinberg told a powerful tale of the DeLays (evangelical Christians themselves) bringing with them everything needed for a seder meal. And with the DeLay's help, the Feinbergs celebrated the first seder meal ever held in their own home. Tom DeLay helped them escape the Soviet Union in 1987 going so far as pressuring the State Dept. into adding their names to a priority list and Mrs. Feinberg's tribute to DeLay's commitment to freedom was moving. (by the way,if you would read this story in a political light - google Mrs. Feinberg's name - I can't find any evidence of her speaking of it before now)

Also - a decent rule of thumb I often use is, if the damn dirty hippies are for it - well, I'm generally against it. From the looks of the protesters outside, it works for me here as well. ("Ronald Reagan was a very bad man," they kept repeating)

Some on the right see Tom DeLay from 2000 to present, and rightly point to some serious policy failures of Republican leadership in that period.

I yield to very few in my willingness to say that, for instance, the Medicare-Prescription Drug Benefit was a disaster of monumental proportions - and the actions of all involved, including Tom DeLay, should earn no praise from conservatives.

At the same time, it's certainly not the case that these failures are Tom DeLay's alone. In fact, I think it would be very difficult to identify instances of bad policy coming out of Congress (from a conservative viewpoint) that didn't bear the President's fingerprints aplenty.

But Tom DeLay's career didn't start in 2000, and every conservative leader of any import from the last thirty years that could attend tonights event did so - and did so enthusiastically. And their message was the same - that Tom DeLay has been one of the most effective conservative Republican leaders our movement has ever seen.

The most important things that separate us from liberals (aside from our ideas, which are clearly insufficient for change) are our institutions and our infrastructure. Organizations, coalitions, some call it a machine - it all goes back 40 years. Without it there's no Ronald Reagan, there's no Republican majority - there's nothing but a barren wasteland of liberal ascendance.

Tom DeLay has understood the value of conservative organizations at the state and national level. He's always willing to sacrifice his time to help build institutions - from raising money to raising profiles - you'll have to look very hard around the movement to find a leader who asked DeLay for help building their organization and was refused.

Even just going back to 1994, I believe that every good thing to come from Congress since 1994 is rightly credited, in no small part, to Tom DeLay. I listened to current and former Members of Congress describe DeLay as the single most effective Whip and someone who has transformed that very position into one of strategic and tactical political victory.

Welfare reform, protections for the sanctity of life (while less than I would like, there's no question that we've gotten more than we did - or would, from Democrats), a balanced budget, tremendous tax cuts, protecting the Second Amendment, the impeachment of a corrupt President, the Defense of Marriage Act, the Contract With America - the list goes on and on. The Republican majority really has changed this country in 10 years - tens of millions of jobs, almost as many new homeowners, increased prosperity, lower taxes, low inflation, and low interest rates.

Add to the list of accomplishments this additional observation. Since 1994, using the Republican majority that Tom DeLay was crucial in achieving, and putting aside blatant failures in leadership from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue - what have the Democrats actually gotten?

Not much.

Every step the Democrats have taken, every time they pursue their goals - Tom DeLay is in the way. They are forced to contend with the single most effective whip/majority leader/manager of the modern era. And while his powers can clearly be used for bad (Medicare) - the overwhelming majority of his work career has been to frustrate our opponents.

Further - the fact that we can talk and debate how and how far to push our conservative agenda rests ONLY on the fact that we've got a majority. Being in the minority most certainly allows for more ideological purity - but you can only defend, not advance.

And finally, I don't believe the alternative to Tom DeLay is one that conservatives should accept. Who would replace the man? No one better on our issues - and no one REMOTELY as effective, that's for sure. Would the Democrats decide not to run "against" Tom DeLay? Not a chance. For that matter, even if DeLay stays and they try to run against him, this isn't 1996, and Tom DeLay isn't the leader of the Republican Party. That guy lives at 1600 Pennsylvania. And giving the Democrats a body to put on a pike will, I believe do two things - embolden Democrats to keep attacking (we sure would if situations reversed) and make sure that no other conservative would step up to lead - and who could blame them?

No - for me, the conservative movement is best served by defending Tom DeLay. He's worked long for us, and he's got some work left to do. Let the conservatives help him now - for better or worse, he's the best chance we have of moving our agenda forward.