(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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The foot fractures are a pre-existing condition caused by too many times inserting them into mouth. When you think you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Typical Republican ---–> Quit!
Now he can fully concentrate on his indictments
Well, watching him walk is even difficult for me! Mr. DeLay's mannerisms are so affected that he's difficult to take seriously, anyway. Sorry he's hurt but glad he's gone.
Oh come on, people! The guy's got heart! I'm no fan of his policies or philosophies, but he broke both feet. Cut him some slack. This wasn't about politics and it's not fair to attack him on a political level as many of my fellow Libs are doing here.
Seriously people.. some of you are so black hearted.. this is a dance competition where the guy quit because he was in extreme pain due to fractures in his feet. How can anyone equate that with Palin and call him a sissy.. he's a 62 year old man for God's sakes.
Some of you people are cruel.... and this is coming from someone who's as anti-republican as they get
Thank God Tom DeLay quit "Dancing With The Stars", he made a complete fool of himself. Yes, he did look like a big sissy.
He should be in jail anyway!!!!!
He realizes that democrats one who kept him in competition to make him laughing stock..
I wonder what Steele, Limbaugh and Beck have to say for this clown. He shoudl have been locked up in a federal penitentiary for the crap he did.
This guy should be in JAIL like where all Republicans belong.
CNN...what a joke. Delay is slammed for dancing – Rangel's outrageous corruption is not even mentioned. No wonder CNN continues to slide in market share and credibility.
Maybe he figured out that we were all making fun of him...that we've always been making fun of him. Way to go Tom, you're finally in on the joke...and its you.
He is one of the reasons we stopped watching . Having that creep on was sickening.
Dancings choice of competitors has been awful .
That Samantha has got to go .
Maybe they will have to haul Tom to the infirmery in a wheelbarrow after his jail cellmate has his way with him.
He'll get another chance to "dance" in prison.
Delay is such a joke.............I could not even watch the show with him on it, maybe next year...
oh hahaHAHAHA
it's so nice that tom delay can make a joke out of making a mockery of our already corrupt campaign finance laws. what a great sense of humor he has!!!! and he can dance on top of that? this man is truly one of kind.
I do not care but now that he is gone please please CNN never report on this guy again unless it is to say he is in jail or dead.
I'm a yellow dog Democrat and I think he's a good sport to do any of this. It's good to see some real humor and fun from pols once in a while. Lighten up, folks, you'll live longer.
When he was in office, I loathed Tom DeLay. But,now I see him and his courage, I have to respect him.
His time in DC demonstrated to the country that Delay had no ethics and time will tell if he spends time in jail for criminal behavior. We now know he also has no dignity. He made a fool of himself which just goes to show, there's no fool like an old fool. It was, however, probably a ratings grabber for the show, since people that would not ever watch this program tuned in to see this train wreck.
we have twitter,my space,face book, now we can add another....how about "quitter" for the republicans.
One has to give him credit for trying the democrates logo "YES WE CAN" and found out " no he cant"!
Wow, this is the lead story and not a single thing on Rangel managing to keep his leadership of the House ways and means committee.
nice set of priorities there, CNN!
Very Nice Tom!
Let's Bring Hannity to dance with Ann Coulter. That will be fun!