Just a day after Tom DeLay has the chutzpah to threaten
filing an ethics complaint against against Cynthia McKinney (yes, right on the heels of his resignation announcement) he sends out his attack dogs to disrupt a Nick Lampson press conference and
assault little old ladies. Marsha Rovai, the 70 year-old victim, a retired CPS caseworker, describes the attack.
"I can't believe my Congressman, Tom DeLay, would organize this type of assault," Rovai said. "I was assaulted by two different people. One of the men hit me and another shoved his sign into my face, and then when I pushed his sign away he violently pulled my hat down over my eyes and pushed me. I'm considering filing an assault charge. This is just very upsetting and I'm so disappointed in Tom Delay for organizing this attack."
And organize this attack he did. Here's the e-mail attributed to Chris Homan, DeLay's campaign manager:
We would meet tomorrow morning at 9:45 am on the first floor of the parking garage attached to the Marriott. Please get folks to call our campaign office 281.343.1333 and let us know they can do it - or e-mail Leonard Cash (in the cc field above) so that we can get some head count. Let's give Lampson a parting shot that wrecks his press conference.
Yes, this is the same Tom DeLay who starred at the War on Christians conference, that poor persecuted soul who has been drummed out of Congress solely as a result of his taking "his faith seriously into public office, which made him a target for all those who despise the cause of Christ."
This can only backfire against DeLay and whoever he hand-picks as his replacement for the general election. Republicans in District 22 are going to be carrying the stain of DeLay for a very long time. But it wouldn't hurt to go show Nick Lampson a little love.
Hat tip to mini mum who diaried the story here.
Update [2006-4-6 17:43:42 by mcjoan]: There are still photos of the press conference and the disruption (but not the assault) here, with a promise of more to come. Were any Kossacks at the press conference? Did any of you take pictures?
Update [2006-4-6 19:24:35 by mcjoan]: From the comments, the Lampson campaign provides a video link.