(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
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Although I don't like Tom DeLay's politics, I thought he did an awsome job on DWTS. He's a good sport.
what a scumball
yeah right, tough guy. "the hammer"?? how about the "nerf hammer".
and that statement about how you didn't want to embarrass yourself, sorry-too late.
'Now is not the time for cold feet,' Palin says of Tom Delay !
When will Sarah be on dancing with the stars ?
Gad, there is NOTHING appealing about this guy.
It is terribly unfortunate that better and more serious dancers were voted off DWTS because this jerk was voted for by many because of a "vote for Dad" campaign by his daughter.
Sick, sick, sick!
We have sunk to a new low in this country. What ever happened to the politician as statesman?
Not very statesmanlike, Tom. Just another Republican out there shaking his booty for a buck. I guess your quitting disqualifies you for Viagra commercials. You're right about one thing, though. Your partner deserved better.
Aside from being a horrible dancer, he's a quiter.
He should have been in jail, not dancing on TV.
A quitter, just like Sarah Palin.
Maybe I will watch the show now that Tom DeLay is gone!!
proof there is a GOD!
Yeah, he dances quite well, around ethics, breaking the law, and cheating his constituents. As a Texan, I'm thoroughly embarassed by Delay most times, but now, even more!
Very sad. Seeing a 62-year-old anything "shake his booty" is not really something I'll be going out of my way to see.
He should have gone to jail.
DeLay must truly be one of the most dispicable human beings on the planet. The only news I want to hear about him is either conviction or incarceration.
wow! Another repuke quits? Is this a surprise? Actually, I am thrilled I refused to watch the stupid show with him on it. He is a traitor to this country and should NOT be put on stage unless its the courtroom stage. I hated him on theshow, it was enbarrasing watching him. AND if he is not a closeted gay man, then I dont know who is..PA-LEEEZ, He is gayer than Elton John...
"Still though, DeLay remained confident his skills could have carried him forward."
Yeah, right. If it had not been for his daughter's massive PR campaign which began before the he even started he never would have made it through the first round.
Skill? Afraid not. Misplaced pity is more like it...
Why is this a political story??? Methinks CNN"s Freudian slip is showing. And all I heard on MySocialistNBC this morning was quitter, quitter, quitter. It's a dance competition, folks, and stress fractures in foot bones are mighty painful.
The mere fact that I feel compelled to comment on this means that my life is equally pathetic to those whose comments will come after this. I'm getting back to work–someone has to pay for your bailout.
tv is cheapened, isn't there a real cause a serious minded polictican can tkae on, jon&kate cheap, octmom cheap, think about it a fomer socalled leading polictican twisting his bottom on national tv
He was a good sport, but when you can't no longer tippie toe you have to call it quits.... and let the others compete....
Maybe he should have tried some of the fancy steps he used in Congress or when he was up to no good taking advantage of his position as a Congressman?
Did he trip over his own words? Bwahahahahahaha
Stopped watching this program when Jerry Springer was on. Decided they must be searching for the most undesirable specimens of human life...and guess what they found them! Tom Delay belongs in jail...this fall from grace is nothing compared to what he should have experienced as a defrauder of the government. Creepy show with a bunch of has beens.
Who cares!?! What happened to real journalism? This is a pathetic story.
Let Obama take his place...He is a great tap-dancer, and seems to have plenty of time (has time for talk shows and jetting off to Copenhagen).