AUSTIN, Texas (CNN) - A Texas judge is sending "The Hammer" to prison. Former Republican leader Tom DeLay was sentenced to three years in prison Monday after a jury found him guilty of money laundering and conspiracy.
DeLay emotionally asked the judge for leniency. "I've lost my right to vote. Just because someone disagrees with you, it's not enough, they have to bury you, throw you in jail." DeLay arrived at the Austin courthouse in good spirits earlier today jokingly telling reporters he "had a date with the judge today." During his days in Congress, he earned the nickname "The Hammer."
"Mr. DeLay has suffered enough. He lost it all already." said DeLay's attorney, Dick DeGuerin. "He did not rob, he did not line his own pockets. He did what he did because he believes in conservative values."
The judge will allow DeLay to post a $10,000 bond while his case is being appealed. DeGuerin says DeLay is posting bond and will be released soon.
From CNN Politics
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Ooooooooooooohhhhhhh Plllllllleeeeeeeeaaaaaaase .........
These losers are all the same
Ya Do The Crime .... Ya Do The Time
I could only wish you would go to a real jail, instead of the white collar country club they'll send you to
There, your dance lessons would come in real handy
"I've Lost My Right To Vote" ..... oh please
Like you give a crap about this country or it's people
It should be 30 years !!!
Republican leadership at its finest...and Tom, you haven't lost it all if you can still post a $10,000 bond.
"He did what he did because he believes in conservative values." Love that quote. So one of his vaunted "conservative values" is clearly that those with power, influence and wealth should live under a different system of laws than the rest of the country. Funny how conservatives support harsh prison sentencing guidelines and punishment until their own crimes come to light (he rabidly went after Clinton, forgoing a censure and insteand urging impeachment). What a hypocrite.
Best politicians money can buy. Lets start putting more of them in jail. Like all the ones who went along with the bank and auto manufuacturer bailouts. That cost the little guy (us) and this a-hole is also costing us. When do people start getting mad and speaking up. This SOB didn't care when he was stealing and has the guts to ask for lieniency. Bankrupt him and let him see what it feels like to lose everything and be homeless. rest assured this slick so and so will come out smiling and as wealthy as before. When are Americans going to start demanding service from there elected officals and accountability for there actions and voting records.Best damn country in the world but not for long if we keep letting crooks run teh show.
Crime! A good ol conservative value!
"He did what he did because he believes in conservative values." ... so....apparently illegal money laundering is a conservative value?
He did not rob, he did not line his own pockets. He did, however, break the law.
As a fellow Texan, I feel he should have gotten the full 99 years...
Why does DeLay deserve leniency? Even AFTER conviction, he is insisting that this is based upon a "disagreement," rather than the findings of NUMEROUS courts that the charges were legitimate, and the finding of a jury. Quit whining – the facts of the case were very clear. You can't just ignore Texas law because you think you are above Texas law.
Justice is served. Anyone hungry?
Maybe he will get former Congressman Jim Trafficant's old prison cell?
Birds of a feather . . .
His lawyer tried to explain aaway Delay's guilt by saying, "He did what he did because he beleives in conservative values." I wonder which one of those conservative values included breaking the law.
For more on Congressional antics read here: http://middleofthefreakinroad.com/2010/09/23/republican-party-pledge-to-america-2010-gop/
"he did what he did because he believes in conservative values". I didn't realize conservative values included ignoring the law when doing so advances your political cause. Congrats, Hammer, on making it clear to the people exactly what you are.
Serves him right! Values? Yeah right. What a hypocrite. I wouldn't urinate down his throat if his guts were on fire.
He thought that he was above the law; guess now he knows he is not. You did the crime you do the time Hammer. He is being a wimp now, so the name Hammer is not fitting any longer. Bubba will comfort you in prison, so I would not cry there.
I'm more than a little offended by DeLay's pleas for mercy. If you take a look at the sheer magnitude of the K Street Project, in which he was involved with Jack Abramoff, it becomes readily apparent that he was trying to make the Republicans a permanent majority party. Aside from the fact that so far as I know he didn't promote violence, that makes him no better than the likes of Lenin, Stalin, and Hitler. He deserves every bit of public approbation he has gotten and in my opinion three years in jail is hardly enough for what he did to this country.
I wonder why this isnt plastered all over the media, bet it was "forgotten".
It is a great day for a Political and Judicial system that actually worked. He belongs in prison. Next up.....Karl Rove...
You got to love bonds.
"He did what he did because he believes in conservative values."
Is that really a defense for willingly breaking the law?
"He did what he did because he believes in conservative values." That's a good one...
DeLay emotionally asked the judge for leniency. "I've lost my right to vote. Just because someone disagrees with you, it's not enough, they have to bury you, throw you in jail." .
Now he knows how it feels. How all those inmates feel who get locked up for petty crime or a little bit of marijuana. I just smoked a little pot I wasnt hurting anyone so I lose my right to vote. I hope they show him a real good time in Prison.
1 down and about 535 others to go.
DeLay's remarks and those of his attorney lead me to believe that this sentence is too light. They continually say that they are guilty only of being conservative and of disagreeing with those in power. The fact is that DeLay was found guilty of crime by a jury. This is not politics; he IS a criminal and belongs in jail–not out on bond.
"He did what he did because he believes in conservative values." Breaking the law is neither conservative nor independent nor liberal. It is against the law. Period.