WASHINGTON (By Billy House, Arizona
Republic) June 3, 200 - House Democrats last week began a campaign to
promote connections in Arizona voters' minds between Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz.,
and both disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and House Majority Leader Tom
DeLay, R-Texas.
Their efforts are the surest signal yet that Hayworth may be among House Republicans who are targeted for defeat next year by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Hayworth's office was provided copies of the e-mail releases dispatched to reporters from the Democrats, including one that labeled Hayworth as "Tom DeLay's Latest Crony of the Week."
Upon receipt, Hayworth spokesman Larry VanHoose wondered aloud if the authors had instead written these e-mails in crayon.
"Because they are insipid, infantile and stupid; it's like being stabbed with a wet noodle," VanHoose said.
Well, the first of those "wet noodles" listed several ways in which Democrats say Hayworth has been "loyally toeing the party line and following the ethically challenged leader (DeLay) in Congress." It notes that Hayworth has taken $15,765 from DeLay's political action committee, ARMPAC, and contributed $1,000 to DeLay's legal defense fund.
The second e-mail from the Dems listed several published accounts of Hayworth's ties to Abramoff, including Hayworth's failure to initially disclose that he conducted fund-raisers five times in Washington, D.C.-area sports skyboxes provided for free by Abramoff, who was billing the cost of the boxes to tribal clients.
"Where do you start?" VanHoose responded when asked for a reaction to these e-mails.
"The Democrats don't get it, that Arizona rejects their left-wing, liberal agenda. And that they (Arizonans) certainly agree with their Republican delegation in Congress about lowering taxes, reforming welfare, providing prescription drugs for the elderly, reforming medical liability and on education and veterans' benefits," VanHoose said.
Their efforts are the surest signal yet that Hayworth may be among House Republicans who are targeted for defeat next year by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Hayworth's office was provided copies of the e-mail releases dispatched to reporters from the Democrats, including one that labeled Hayworth as "Tom DeLay's Latest Crony of the Week."
Upon receipt, Hayworth spokesman Larry VanHoose wondered aloud if the authors had instead written these e-mails in crayon.
"Because they are insipid, infantile and stupid; it's like being stabbed with a wet noodle," VanHoose said.
Well, the first of those "wet noodles" listed several ways in which Democrats say Hayworth has been "loyally toeing the party line and following the ethically challenged leader (DeLay) in Congress." It notes that Hayworth has taken $15,765 from DeLay's political action committee, ARMPAC, and contributed $1,000 to DeLay's legal defense fund.
The second e-mail from the Dems listed several published accounts of Hayworth's ties to Abramoff, including Hayworth's failure to initially disclose that he conducted fund-raisers five times in Washington, D.C.-area sports skyboxes provided for free by Abramoff, who was billing the cost of the boxes to tribal clients.
"Where do you start?" VanHoose responded when asked for a reaction to these e-mails.
"The Democrats don't get it, that Arizona rejects their left-wing, liberal agenda. And that they (Arizonans) certainly agree with their Republican delegation in Congress about lowering taxes, reforming welfare, providing prescription drugs for the elderly, reforming medical liability and on education and veterans' benefits," VanHoose said.
