(CNN) - Tom DeLay's dancing days have come to an end.
While miraculously escaping another round of elimination on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" Tuesday night, the former Republican House majority leader voluntarily withdrew from the widely-watched competition on recommendations from his doctor and the show's producers.
The man once known as "The Hammer" on Capitol Hill said he was just too injured to continue, developing stress fractures in both his feet that made it very difficult to endure the rigors of the competition.
Delay originally remained defiant in the face of such pain, declaring last week, "nothing's going to stop me from doing this dance." But this week's round of competition proved too taxing on the 62 year-old, evidenced by a wince-inducing performance Monday of the samba to War's "Why can't we be friends."
In the end, the man who gave in to few fights in Washington had to call it quits on the ABC hit series.
"If you can't practice, you make a fool of yourself out here," DeLay said. "I don't want to do that to [my dancing partner] Cheryl."
Carried out on wheelbarrow on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" Tuesday night, DeLay appeared slightly embarrassed over the development: "A boy from Texas breaking his feet dancing...," he said to laughter.
Still though, DeLay remained confident his skills could have carried him forward.
"Can you shake your booty like I can?" Delay asked a skeptical Kimmel.
Asked if he his performance will inspire other indicted politicians to dance, Delay - who was charged with criminal violations of state campaign finance laws but never convicted - said "hey, it keeps you out of jail."
"But God for bid if you end up in jail, it's not a good thing for the inmates to see on reruns," Kimmel replied.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Delay is a good sport! good for him!
He hurt himself dancing? Are you kidding? What a sissy.
It's no longer "Hammer time"
Hmmmm....seems to me that Mr. DeLay "calls it quits" on a lot of things.
Good! Now I can watch the show.
Shouldn't this unfunny clown be in jail somewhere?
Hey, is Richardson from New Mexico next, to put on his dancing shoes?
Carrying out that pathetic clown in a wheelbarrow is appropriate.
I'm a "dyed-in-the-wool" Democrat, but I loved watching DeLay dance. He didn't have to be good. I think it's great when politicians let down their guard and become a bit more like us normal folk.
Oh no...it can't be.
The Hammer is cut and running!
"If you can't practice, you make a fool of yourself out here," DeLay said.
LOL! He made a fool of himself when he could practice! Get ready for prison Tommy!
He should be dancing with Bubba, and Lefty Louie in prison. And so should Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld. Repubs dont love America, Only Money. OBAMA-BIDEN 2012
He does look like a fool but this is much better than Obama's reality program, Dancing with the Czars. Obama only gets positive reviews for his BlagoMambo, anything else, well as Jimmy and all the other Democrats in America will tell you, your a racist.
Good riddance. Now this indicted corrupt scumbag can await prosecution and be held responsible for his crimes, I will watch the trial and the frog marching with glee. Lock him up.
isn't funny that delay dance on national television with the republican elephant plaster on his back and no one said a word but if it was the democrat the RUSH party would be jumping up an down saying it was the liberal media WHAT A JOKE
Ewww! Why not get Kim Jong Il on there next? Who watches shows like that anyway?
Another Republican quitter. I wish more members of the Party of No would follow Delay's and Palin's examples and quit. Maybe then Congress could get something done and the country could move forward.
What a lame excuse....its clear that he didn't have what it takes and found a way out. I think its much like his political life...Always looking for a way to skirt the rules or the process...cause the rules don't apply to him. Good luck in recovery of those foot fractures
,)
What a loser! Another Rethuglican quitter! Cheryl's probably delighted!
He is an idiot
My husband and I thought Tom Delay was great!! It is so nice to see and realize that a politician can be "human". Sometimes they act so above us and actually they are just citizens like us. Best wish Mr. Delay.
not realy news
just another republican crook who got rich of the american family taxes and then cut and ran and play the partisan libera media card to avoid conviction LOL
go show off your REPUBLICAN TERRIORST PRIDE LOL
Yeah right..stress fractures my foot. I'll have to see the xrays before I believe that story. It would not surprise me if Delay is not continuing his crooked ways by conning ABC out of a quick and easy quarter mil. The man got legal bills to pay. In this economy, we all should have a shot at Dancing with the "Stars" to make a quick buck. Wouldn't that be nice.
Thank God he looked like a NERD anyway up against the other dancers........He failed as a Politician and now he's failed as a dancer.......what is next for this loser
Awwww, DeLay was awesome!!!! He will be missed