Texas Democrats revel in DeLay's departure

FORT WORTH, Texas - Barely a day after leaving office, former House Majority Leader
Tom DeLay was anything but off the hook among Texas Democrats at their state convention Saturday.

"If the sun seems a little brighter today; if our step seems a little bouncier; if life seems a little better today, there's a good reason for it. For the first day in 22 years, Tom DeLay is not a member of Congress," U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards (news, bio, voting record), D-Waco, said as the crowd cheered wildly.

DeLay, a Sugar Land Republican who recently moved to Virginia, announced his resignation in April but made it effective Friday. DeLay faces money laundering charges in Texas, accused in a scheme to route corporate money through the
Republican National Committee to state GOP legislative candidates for their 2002 races.

At the state Democratic convention Saturday, Senate contender Barbara Ann Radnofsky said her opponent, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (news, bio, voting record), hosted some "K Street Project" events ā?? a DeLay-backed initiative that pressured lobbying firms to hire Republicans and fund GOP causes.

Then Radnofsky brought out what she called a gift for Hutchison: a Virginia tote bag that she said symbolized Hutchison's relocation.

"I couldn't find a `Virginia is for lovers' bag so that she and Tom DeLay could enjoy themselves," Radnofsky said, later adding that she meant the two "are very closely aligned."

But highlighting what they call the GOP's ethics and policy failures isn't enough, some Democrats said. Edwards said Democrats must do a better job of defining their own party and its values, because "too many of our fellow Texans have been falsely led to think we don't believe in God."

He also said Democrats must quickly "counterpunch" when opponents attack.

Not only was Edwards the only Democrat in a competitive race for office who survived Texas' GOP-led 2004 congressional redistricting, but he was re-elected in the district that includes
President Bush's Crawford ranch.

"I live in the most Republican district in America," Edwards said. "I'm living proof that our message of fighting for average working families is a winning message for Texas and America."

Maria Luisa Alvarado, who is running for Texas lieutenant governor, said Democrats must target the 10 million registered voters who don't go to the polls.

"It's not payback time; it's take-back time," Alvarado said.

Late Saturday afternoon, Democrats elected Graham attorney Boyd Richie to a four-year term as the state party chairman. He had held the post since April, when trial lawyer Charles Soechting stepped down after two years.

Richie had been in a runoff with Glen Maxey, an Austin gay rights activist and former state lawmaker, after none of the four candidates got more than 50 percent of the vote. The other two candidates were Charles Urbina Jones of San Antonio and Lakesha Rogers of Houston.

Earlier Saturday, Hispanic members of the Texas House of Representatives said they were united in opposing the Republicans' proposals for illegal immigrants and had formed a group called Democratas Unidos. The group supports earned legalization that includes background checks and a requirement to learn English.

"Nobody's going to have a free ride," said state Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas.

The Libertarian Party of Texas was holding its annual convention this weekend in Houston. The Republican state convention was last weekend in San Antonio.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060611/...exas_democrats

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Gumby Reviewed by Gumby on . Texas Democrats revel in DeLay's departure Texas Democrats revel in DeLay's departure FORT WORTH, Texas - Barely a day after leaving office, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was anything but off the hook among Texas Democrats at their state convention Saturday. "If the sun seems a little brighter today; if our step seems a little bouncier; if life seems a little better today, there's a good reason for it. For the first day in 22 years, Tom DeLay is not a member of Congress," U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards (news, bio, voting Rating: 5