Former Republican House leader taking to the dance floor on a TV show, writes MATEA GOLDin New York
CAN THE onetime “hammer” of the US House of Representatives do a mean Texas two-step?
In a move startling even by the outlandish standards of reality television, Dancing With the Stars, the US equivalent of Strictly Come Dancing, has announced that former Republican House Majority leader Tom DeLay – a pugnacious politician under indictment for alleged money-laundering – will be a contestant in the upcoming season.
DeLay will join singer Macy Gray and entertainer Donny Osmond on the ninth season of the ABC show. It’s the highest profile move by the former power broker since he left Congress in 2006 after being indicted in Texas in 2005 in connection with alleged campaign finance violations, in a case that is pending.
"Every season we try to change the game a little and spread the net a bit wider," said Conrad Green, executive producer of Dancing With the Stars.
“We wanted someone sort of iconic and who the audience would have strong feelings about.”
That would appear not to be a problem, given DeLay’s outspokenness on abortion, religion and the environment.
Green said he hopes that the participation of a onetime prominent Republican lawmaker will help him land one of his dream contestants: former President Bill Clinton.
“For the honour of the Democratic Party, he needs to step up,” he said.
For his part, DeLay (62) seems to have put politicking on the back burner and thrown himself into his new role as a reality-show contestant. His blog, TomDeLay.com, had been scrubbed of political content on Monday and renamed “Dancing With DeLay”.
“I think you’ll be impressed by my moves,” he wrote on his new Twitter account.
DeLay’s wife Christine said the longtime politician is a big fan of the show and has been working out all summer to prepare for the rigorous contest. He has a repertoire that includes the two-step, polka, waltz, country swing and disco, she says.
The news of DeLay’s selection triggered irate complaints and some amusement. Shortly after host Tom Bergeron announced the new cast on Good Morning America, viewers posted comments on ABC’s message board denouncing the decision.
“Tom DeLay is an albatross that you’ve hung around your own necks,” read one message.
“I guess you guys couldn’t help but to put a disgraceful political personality out there – what’s next, a famous murderer? I hear Squeaky Fromme is available.”
"I guess you couldn't get Bernie Madoff," wrote another viewer. – LA Times-Washington Postservice