DeLay: 'I think I was a target of the Democrats '

Chris Matthews Host of 'Hardball' • Profile

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay sat down with MSNBC's Chris Matthews for an interview on 'Hardball.' Here is an excerpt from the interview.

CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST, "HARDBALL":  Last night around 9:30 I got a call on my cell phone from former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, saying he would be withdrawing from his re-election campaign in Texas. Today he made the formal announcement.    

If you had to point to one reason for your resignation from the House, which apparently you announced today, what would it be? 

REP. TOM DELAY, REPUBLICAN, TEXAS:  The Republican majority.  I’ve worked a long time building that majority, and helping build it, and working on it, and my constituents deserve a Republican to represent the 22^nd District and now we’ll have one. 

MATTHEWS:  Do you think you bet too much on the Republican Party?  I mean, you’ve given a lot.  You raised a lot of money for them. 

DELAY:  I believe in it.  I believe it’s the Republican Party that will advance the conservative cause, and that’s why I got into politics in the first place. 

Ronald Reagan enticed me as a Republican precinct chairman with only five Republicans in my precinct in 1976. 

MATTHEWS:  Ken Mehlman, the chairman of your party, said something pretty nice about you tonight and I think you’d have to respond to it:

“The essence of leadership is not just coming up with good ideas, it’s making those good ideas happen.  For the past two decades, Tom DeLay has tirelessly and successfully transformed very important ideas into very successful laws.  Conservative legislation from welfare reform and a balanced budget, to tax relief, education reform and a ban on partial-birth abortion all bear the signature of Tom DeLay.” 

DELAY:  Well, that’s very nice to say, but there were a lot of other Republicans that did that too. 

MATTHEWS:  Why wasn’t the president a little more outward in saying that kind of thing today when he was asked about your retirement? 

DELAY:  You’ll have to ask him that. 

MATTHEWS:  He said nothing.  I mean, I would be concerned if the president of the United States, whose legislation you put into action, had this to say about me,

“I had a talk last night on my way back from the ballgame with Congressman DeLay.  He informed me of his decision.  My reaction was it had to have been a very difficult decision for someone who loved representing his district in the state of Texas.  I wished him all the very best.  I know he’s looking to the future.”

He said nothing good about you.

DELAY:  That sounds good to me.

MATTHEWS:  What’s the good part?

DELAY:  I thought he was very gracious when we talked on the phone.  I was very proud of what he said.  I also talked to the vice president, and he was very gracious.

They know me, both men.  I’ve worked with both men for a long time.

MATTHEWS:  It just seems like they’re skipping away.

DELAY:  No, I think they have a little sadness about me leaving, and at the same time they’re not shocked for the reasons that I gave them, and they know that I can do more outside of the House right now than being locked in a reelection battle in Sugarland, Texas.

MATTHEWS:  Let me read you something.  I have no idea what you’re going to say to this.  These are the best questions, I have no idea what you’re going to say to Rick Scarborough. Do you know him?  He’s an evangelical minister.

DELAY:  He was a minister of the First Baptist Church.  A very dear friend of mine.  And he and I worked together to create Vision America.

MATTHEWS:  He said, “I believe the most damaging thing that Tom DeLay has done in his life is to take his faith seriously into public office, which made him a target for all those who despise the cause of Christ.  God always does his best work right after a crucifixion.”

I mean, he says that you were brought down by your faith.

DELAY:  No. I think I’ve been strengthened by my faith.  I think that probably was taken out of context. I know Rick. I was with him Saturday, and talked to him about this decision.  He’s a wonderful man, a great friend.  And he understands what I’ve been through.  And my faith has been strengthened.  I have matured as a Christian over these attacks. When you go through these kinds of things your faith is stronger than ever and you rely on the lord more than ever.

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