Key Republicans Falling Even Further Out of Touch with American People

The Vice-President cuddles with Tom DeLay as Felony Money Laundering Charges Gain Momentum and Texas Turns Against Him

Washington, DC - In the most recent example of the wrongheaded priorities of the White house and the  Republican House Leadership, Vice-President Dick Cheney skipped the White House Christmas Party on Monday so that he could attend an exclusive fundraiser for now indicted former Majority Leader Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX-22).

Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY-28), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and a leading voice for ethical reform in Congress today chastised the Vice President for his public association with Mr. DeLay.

"We are seeing our nation's federal agencies abused for partisan political gain, our congress is in an ethical crisis and the White House is mired in scandal," Rep. Slaughter said. "The American people want to know how we have sunken so low. Events such as these hold all the answers they need."

"Mr. DeLay is under felony indictment, and is already the most admonished Member of Congress in generations," Ms. Slaughter continued. "The Vice President of the United States stumping for Tom DeLay shows just how out of touch the White House and Congressional Republican Leaders are with the American people," Rep. Slaughter said. "Americans want their leaders to clean up the ethical mess in Washington, not get deeper down in the mud. 

At a time when even Mr. DeLay's own constituents want change, all the Vice-President wants is more of the same."

At the fundraiser, individuals had the opportunity to take a picture with Mr. Cheney (price tag: $4,200 donation) and Mr. DeLay (price tag: $2,100 donation). Vice-President Cheney also gave an address to those in attendance. A source at the event commented that his speech "expressed deep friendship for Mr. DeLay," and made clear that Mr. Cheney "wanted everyone to know he valued the support Mr. DeLay has shown to the president and vice president in both the good times and difficult times."