Keeping in mind that the article was written by Dana Milbank - that conference sounds really weird. I don't know how anyone can point to DeLay's problems as resulting from his supposed Christianity.

But of course, that doesn't mean that there is no way on Christians.
Sydney Carton | 03.30.06 - 4:37 pm | #

Mark, Delay has spoken out on behalf of persecuted Christians abroad for decades. Just to cite one of numerous examples:

"*EPF411 03/16/00
Text: House Majority Whip DeLay Speech on U.S. Foreign Policy
(Urges tough policy toward Beijing/support for Taiwan) (4830)

Representative Tom DeLay (Republican of Texas) criticized current U.S. policy toward China in a March 16 speech Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Instead of following in the footsteps of British wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill and U.S. Presidents John Kennedy and Ronald Reagan who waged a crusade for freedom, the current U.S. administration seems more concerned that it not offend China, the leading Republican lawmaker said in a speech entitled "Returning to a Principled Foreign Policy," in which he asked his audience of foreign policy experts to imagine an Asia that was completely democratic.

"America today," he lamented, "has no coherent foreign policy. We seem, more than ever, to be without a direction or a purpose, without a course or a mission."

DeLay is the House Majority Whip, the third highest ranking Republican in the House of Representatives. While critical of U.S. policy toward China, and that nation's rulers, DeLay said he would support permanent Normal Trade Relations status for China.

"How we handle the emerging empire ruled from Beijing is the leading national security issue of our time," DeLay told his CSIS audience.

For the past decade, the Texas Republican said, "China has been engaged in a massive build-up of modern nuclear and conventional forces. Their aim," he claimed, "gaining unmatched military power in the region."

DeLay cited a Hong Kong newspaper's quote from China's Minister of Defense, "'We cannot avoid [war]. The issue is that the Chinese armed forces must control the initiative in this war.... We must be prepared to fight for one year, two years, three years or even longer.'"

China's territory, Delay stressed, "is not truly threatened, the Chinese Communist Party, on the other hand, has formidable enemies, beginning with the Chinese people themselves."

For fifty years, he said, "the Communist Party has denied the Chinese people the basic elements of democracy and human rights: a free ballot; honest judges and the rule of law; freedom in belief, thought, speech and the press."

China's military modernization, he said, is backed by "an increasingly sophisticated espionage and political influence effort aimed at the United States and its allies."

America, he said, "must make clear that threats to a free, democratic people will be met with the force required to deter and, if necessary, confront aggression."

The United States, DeLay emphasized, cannot "under any circumstances allow the People's Republic of China to impose a communist future on Taiwan."

DeLay criticized what he termed "our government's growing reluctance to speak the truth for fear of placing our values in conflict with the values of communist China."

Clearly, he said, "we have lost our way at a moment in history when the stakes are incredibly high.

"Imagine, for a moment, what democracy across Asia would mean," DeLay told his audience.

"The nuclear threat would be considerably reduced; terrorist nations would have to look elsewhere for their supplies of missiles, biological weapons, and the like; no one on China's borders would feel threatened; Tibetans could begin to rebuild their ancient culture in peace and harmony; the Burmese military junta and the North Korean communist regime would collapse; and of course, the Chinese people would join us in freedom," he said.

The fall of the Berlin Wall, DeLay said, freed "500 million people from the Soviet system, three times that many, a billion-and-a-half, remain the captives of communist parties."

Beijing, he said, is the hub of an "empire (that) gathers strength daily."

China's Communist Party, DeLay said, "rules the people of the mainland with the authority of the bayonet, not the ballot box."

Tibet, he charged, "is a nation under military occupation, no more, no less."

Beijing, Delay said, sustains "military rulers in Burma and North Korea to keep democracy away from its own borders."

Counterpoised to this "empire," DeLay said, "is a great arc of mostly democracies, anchored by Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei in the East and New Delhi in the West."

If the people of mainland China, DeLay said, "could freely choose their leaders, the way Taiwan does, there would be no issue at all."

The Texas Republican scored China's record of religious persecution, but added that communist governments have "always viewed religious faith as a threat."

"Looking at it from afar, it is hard for us to imagine how a 60-year-old woman doing breathing exercises in the park could be a threat to the all-powerful communist state. But, that is certainly the way Beijing sees it," DeLay said.

Beijing's rulers, he said, "know the role that the Catholic Church in Poland played in the ultimate end of the Soviet system. A rise in individual worship led to demands for freedom in the workplace and ultimately pressure for a democratic state."

Taiwan, he said, "is a democratic and capitalist nation that shares many of our beliefs and priorities. Within 48 hours the people of Taiwan will begin the process of voting for a new President."

DeLay pointed to how this "demonstration of genuine democracy has thrown Beijing into something akin to panic. Threats of invasion seem to pour out of Communist Party Headquarters daily," he said.

In the face of this belligerence, DeLay said, the Clinton Administration "has treated Taiwan with a thinly veiled disdain once reserved for states on the edge of the community of civilized nations."

The Taiwanese, he said, "who have nurtured liberty in the shadow of tyranny have been all but abandoned by a democratic superpower of unrivaled strength."

Just as American presidents during the Cold War aligned the United States with "those fighting for freedom against communism, we should now support those who fight for democracy and human rights against post-Soviet tyrants," DeLay said."
Donald R. McClarey | 03.30.06 - 5:34 pm | #

Delay has never had an ounce of concern for Christians living under Israeli occupation. Of course they don't fit very well into his Christian Zionism plans.
William | 03.30.06 - 5:59 pm | #

Tom DeLay is not a champion we want on our side.
Mark S. (not for Shea) | 03.30.06 - 6:03 pm | #

Thank you for the correction Mark!
Donald R. McClarey | 03.30.06 - 6:26 pm | #

Before you guys embrace Tom Delay, remember who he is. This is the guy that supports the rights of sweatshop owners in Saipan not to apply US labor laws for their unfortunate workers. But that isn't even the worst: Delay turned a blind eye to the practice of forced abortions there. For him, mammon is everything. For him, and for his corporate cronies. Let's not even get into the money he took from shady Russian energy companies. This is a guy that use religion for his own ends, pure and simple. If a Democrat did even a quarter of these things, you guys would be all over him.
Tony A | 03.30.06 - 6:55 pm | #

This "Tom DeLay supports forced abortions" slander is crap, simply put. Failure to support maternity leave is not the same as support for abortion, no matter how much you would like to shift the blame to someone you find uncongenial.

If you're Catholic, you'll care about false witness and talk with your spiritual advisor about it.

PVO
mulopwepaul | 03.30.06 - 7:05 pm | #

Tony A.:

http://markshea.blogspot.com/ 200...375169601498810
Mike E. | Homepage | 03.30.06 - 7:37 pm | #

Whatever DeLay's history is concerning his opinions on faith, here's my concern: That the host of this conference heralded DeLay himself as "Persecuted Christian" Exhibit A.

It seems to me that there's an awful lot of talk about Christians in America being "persecuted" by the media, when that kind of caricature pales in comparison to more flagrant abuses and persecution around the globe.

In cases like this one, where it seems that DeLay was under the microscope for allegations worth investigating, I hardly think this is a case of "Look, if you're a Chrstian in America they'll crucify you." The label doesn't really fit for me, in this case. Feels more like a well-timed cry for sympathy that distracts us from the serious matter at hand.

And the comment made by the conference host -- "God always does his best work right after a crucifixion" -- equating DeLay's fall with the death of our Lord... that seems grossly inappropriate.
Jeffrey Overstreet | 03.30.06 - 7:55 pm | #

Mulo,

I'm not talking about failure to provide maternity leave, I'm talking about an employer saying: have an abortion or you're fired. This has been documented in the Northern Mariana islands. If you choose to ignore it, your have some issues to confront yourself.
Tony A | 03.30.06 - 8:14 pm | #

That the host of this conference heralded DeLay himself as "Persecuted Christian" Exhibit A.

In which case, this *is* just a self-serving politician at work. I'm glad of his record noted by Donald, but this sort of crap just stinks.
Mark Shea | Homepage | 03.30.06 - 8:54 pm | #

Someone said DeLay shows no support for Christians living in Israel. What is his position on the so-called "security wall" that Henry Hyde, among others, says is cutting off access to Christian holy sites? The Bush administration won't do a thing about it, but Colin Powell, according to Robert Novak, had a change of heart once Hyde showd him the evidence.
Sean P. Dailey | Homepage | 03.30.06 - 10:12 pm | #

DeLay is a scrappy politician who uses certain moments when available. He certainly stood strong for Terri. The formerly anointed Frist is the one to watch. We've learned he's no more than another smooth "watch the way the polls blow" type. Those are the ones who've done more damage to the principled foundation of the country.
Chris K | 03.31.06 - 7:28 am | #

The Israelis have a non-border with people who wanted to kill them all back when the border was indefensible.

Show of hands - who would object to the fence if it exactly followed the Green Line?
Ed the Roman | 03.31.06 - 9:54 am | #

William raises his hand immediately, looks back sharply at Sean, who gets his in the air as well.....
Janjan | Homepage | 03.31.06 - 10:48 am | #

I don't even know what Ed is talking about. What is the Green Line? All I know is, cutting off access to holy sites for Christian pilgrims rather upsets me.
Sean P. Dailey | Homepage | 03.31.06 - 11:02 am | #

Yeah , well sh*t happens.
Janjan | Homepage | 03.31.06 - 11:38 am | #

Yeah, "Christian" access to "holy sites" is the only thing worth knowing about so-called "security."
Victor Morton | Homepage | 03.31.06 - 12:28 pm | #

Ummmmmmmmmmm....no, but to some of us "Christians" it is kind of "importnant."
Sean P. Dailey | Homepage | 03.31.06 - 3:50 pm | #

Hey Sean,
what about this holy site?

I am certsin you found that equally grievous, and voiced your concern.
Janjan | Homepage | 03.31.06 - 4:16 pm | #

All I know is, to some of us "human beings," not being blown to bits is kind of "important" too.
Victor Morton | Homepage | 03.31.06 - 4:26 pm | #

Oh no, Janjan ... see ... the Arab hostility that this (I of course agree) despicable act is the result of Zionist occupation and US imperialism.
Victor Morton | Homepage | 03.31.06 - 4:49 pm | #

Voicing concern over interrupted access to Christian holy sites does not imply sympathy to Arabs or Palestinians or Muslims or indifference to violence against Jews. It is cheap and low of both of you to imply that it does.
Sean P. Dailey | Homepage | 03.31.06 - 5:49 pm | #

Using the term "so-called" and sneer quotes around "security wall" is ... more than "voicing concern" about holy sites. And if "all [you] know" about the fence is that matter, it certainly implies indifference to ... quite a lot of things.
Victor Morton | Homepage | 03.31.06 - 6:05 pm | #

"Methinks the lady doth protest too much."
Sean P. Dailey | Homepage | 03.31.06 - 8:34 pm | #

I am hoist by my own petard - I see a couple of replies intimating that people don't know what I'm talking about, followed by replies that I do not understand.
Ed the Roman | 03.31.06 - 10:03 pm | #

That line was uttered by a character trying to deflect her own guilt, if you'll remember.
Victor Morton | Homepage | 04.01.06 - 12:53 am | #

Delay's foreign policy has always been one that looked out for interests of Israel before the interests of America.
William | 04.01.06 - 3:01 pm | #

I note for the record that William has just de facto accused DeLay of treason. Didn't use the T-word of course. But if an elected official were to "look[] out for interests of [any country X] before the interests of America" (and to do so "always" no less), said official would be a traitor.*

I mean ... I never thought I'd live to see the day where "dual loyalty re Israel" was a charge made not against Jews, but against Christians.

But no, William ... maybe DeLay's conception of "the interests of America" differ from yours. If I thought about others like you do, I could justifiably say "William's foreign policy has always been one that looked out for interests of Palestinian Arabs before the interests of America."


* Yeah, yeah ... I know the US Constitution restricts "treason" to acts during wartime, but this is not a universal definition. But certainly to betray one's country in peacetime is, morally-speaking, treason.
Victor Morton | Homepage | 04.01.06 - 4:12 pm | #

Hey Victor, Delay is certainly not the only elected official to put the interests of Israel before carefully considering what might be in the best interest of the United States!
William | 04.01.06 - 9:57 pm | #

DeLay is to morals and ethics what Dom DeLuise is to physical fitness.

This is not a guy we want on our side.
Mark S. (not for Shea) | 04.04.06 - 12:39 pm | #

Mark S.

Your comment about Tom Delay is spot on if understated. Tom Delay is a foul and nasty human being who corrupts politics just by his presence.
Sean O'Kane | 06.07.09 - 11:32 am | #