LEAGUE CITY — U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay received an enterprise award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce today as well as getting an endorsement from the national group. DeLay, R-Sugar Land, was presented with the “Spirit of Enterprise” award from the chamber group during a Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Peter Havel, regional executive director for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Dallas, presented the award to DeLay for his “outstanding leadership” and “for voting with the business community on a consistent basis.”
So, the moral of the story here is the the US Chamber of Commerce has no scruples whatsoever? That business really is only about the bottom line? That whatever makes life easier for business is a good thing? Apparently, the fact that DeLay is a dishonest, corrupt thug matters not a whit to the Chamber, because DeLay has been a faithful lapdog servant to the cause.
You see, this is the great thing about being a Republican. No one really cares if you’re the second coming of Niccolo Machiavelli or if you spend your weekends channelling Lee Atwater. You can be the most corrupt, venal, mean-spirited demagogue this side of Joseph McCarthy, but it’s not going to matter. As long as you come through with legislation that guarantees your buddies their inalienable right to make a fortune, you’re golden.
It’s too bad that the US Chamber of Commerce seems to care so little about the perception that they’re backing perhaps the most corrupt, mean-spirited, and self-interested politician in modern history. That their endorsement makes them look horribly and irretrievably self-interested seems not to matter to these folks. Hey, they’re making money; what else really matters?
Havel said the chamber group relies on legislators such as DeLay who believe in free enterprise, fewer taxes and job creation.
Havel also announced the national chamber group’s endorsement of DeLay as he seeks re-election for Congress.
“We want to let you know we’re behind you,” Havel told DeLay.
Translation: As long as you keep greasing the skids for us, we don’t care if you bugger goats. All we care about is making money. You go, Tom….