WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2009
Did "The Hammer" Nail the Cha-Cha?
Washington Has Mixed Reactions to Tom Delay's "Dancing with the Stars" Performance
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Play CBS Video Video Tom DeLay, Cha-Cha Dancer? Former Congress member Tom DeLay's exuberant hip shaking on "Dancing with the Stars" left his former colleagues captivated. Nancy Cordes reports.
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Former House Republican Whip Tom DeLay, 62, dances on the ABC Television's "Dancing with the Stars," in Los Angeles. Sept. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/ABC, Adam Larkey)
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A fellow Texan, Congressman Henry Cuellar rated him a 7.
Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen took issue with his technique.
"Doing the cha-cha, it was like a bad car accident," Ros-Lehtinen said. "You want to look away but you can't."
The former House majority leader was hardly a soft shoe in the halls of Congress, where his nickname was "The Hammer."
His dancing debut marks a new stage for DeLay, who exited the national spotlight in disgrace after being indicted for violating Texas campaign laws.
"The man is back! I don't know what he's running for," said Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y.
One judge called DeLay's performance "half magic, half tragic."
"You're crazier than Sarah Palin!" said Bruno Tonioli, a "Dancing with the Stars" judge.
Republican leaders didn't know quite what to call it, but Democrat Dennis Kucinich gained a new respect for his old foe.
"He's kind of the 21st century John Travolta and Fred Astaire wrapped into one," Kucinich said.
And how does DeLay think he did? Well, after the show, with his trademark bravado, The Hammer declared, "I nailed it."
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Add a Comment See all 13 Comments
- I don't know what is worse, we have a convicted felon in Delay, making a fool of himself, and a known racist in Beck who hates our President and shouldn't even be on the air ever again, never mind on the Evening News to legitimise him. Aren't there enough people available with integrity to interview? I'm extremely disapointed in CBS, but then it's journalistic integrity left when they pushed out Dan Rathers. Clearly CBS is becoming the new FOX. I won't let the kids watch this.
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- One word: "eeeuw"!
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- What an embarrassment!!!
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- Wow,from torturing with Cheney to dancing with the stars-he can do it all.
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- With those shaking hips it looks like he goes from the Hammer to the Humper
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- Wih the passing of Patrick Swayze, maybe there is an opportunity for old tom to fill a big void in the dance world.
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- The most rediculous Cha Cha I have ever seen.
Cheryl yes, the Hammer no. - Reply to this comment
- Did "The Hammer" nail the cha-cha? A Better question is does ANYONE care?! I will be glad when producers get over this ridiculous fascination with reality TV. Want to see everyday people doing everyday things? Then you should open your door, not turn on your television. Want to see celebrities doing everyday things like normal people? Then you need a life.
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- He was leaning over too far to the right...
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- He was leaning over too far to the right...
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- Did "The Hammer" Nail the Cha-Cha?
When will the courts have the opportunity to make Tom Delay worry about "Nailing the Cha-Cha" in Jail? - Reply to this comment
