By John Wilkes from Eyesonobama.com:
Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, the indicted Texas Congressman whose aggressive behind-the-scenes tactics earned him the nickname "The Hammer" throughout his career in the 90s and early 2000s, will appear on the ABC dance competition, "Dancing With the Stars."
Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, the indicted Texas Congressman whose aggressive behind-the-scenes tactics earned him the nickname "The Hammer" throughout his career in the 90s and early 2000s, will appear on the ABC dance competition, "Dancing With the Stars."
Seriously.
Giving new looseness to the term "star", ABC has signed Twinkle Toes DeLay on for its upcoming season, which is set to premier on September 21. His dance partner has yet to be named, though he's supposed to meet with her next week to begin dance rehearsals.
Past participants have received anywhere from $200,000 to $300,000 for appearing on the show, regardless of where they finish in the finals rankings. DeLay's costars will include former Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin, swimmer Natalie Coughlin, cage fighter Chuck Liddell, singers Donny Osmond, Kelly Osborne (daughter of Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy), Mya, Macey Gray, and Backstreet Boy Aaron Carter, actresses Melissa Joan Hart, Debi Mazer of Entourage, andAshley Hamilton (daughter of season two contestant George Hamilton), Iron Chef Marc Dacascos, models Kathy Ireland and Joanna Krupa, and professional snowboarder Louie Vito.
DeLay wouldn't be the first disgraced politician to attempt try his hand at reality TV, although he may be the first one to actually pull it off. Former Democratic Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, was rejected as a cast member for I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!. His wife, former Illinois First Lady Patricia Mell Blagojevich, took his place on the show.
DeLay resigned after his implication in a federal bribery scandal that led to the imprisonment of Jack Abramoff.