Delay finds friendly audience with NRA


April 17, 2005 | HOUSTON -- House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, under
fire for alleged ethics violations, accused liberal Democrats and the
national media of giving him a hard time in a keynote speech at the
National Rifle Association's annual convention Saturday evening.

DeLay only briefly mentioned the ethics accusations, telling members of
the gun-rights group that he appreciated their support.

"When a man is in trouble or in a good fight, you want to have your
friends around, preferably armed. So I feel really good," the Republican
from nearby Sugar Land said.

About 2,550 NRA members paid $75 to hear DeLay's speech and dine on
salad with goat cheese and sirloin steak with peppercorn cognac sauce.
Many wore stickers that read: "I'm for the NRA and Tom DeLay."

Some of DeLay's Republican colleagues have suggested in recent weeks
that he resign as scrutiny builds over his overseas trips, political
fund raising and his association with a lobbyist who is under federal
investigation.

A district attorney in Texas is investigating a political fund raising
committee DeLay helped launch to assist Republican candidates in the
state's 2002 legislative elections.

Three DeLay associates and eight corporations have been indicted in the
investigation, although three companies have reached agreements with the
prosecutor.

DeLay has not been charged with any wrongdoing in any of the cases and
has denied any legal or ethics violations.

More than 100 protesters gathered outside the hotel that hosted the
convention, many saying they were more concerned with deterring DeLay
than with banning guns.

"He is an embarrassment to our district," said protester Patricia Baig,
a 57-year-old retired school teacher from Missouri City, Texas. 'He
doesn't represent his district and it is time for him to do the
honorable thing and resign."

The NRA, which as 4 million members, has helped elect Republican
lawmakers, such as DeLay, who support the group's efforts to limit
lawsuits seeking damages against gun manufacturers and distributors and
to make sure a ban on assault weapons isn't resurrected.

Wayne LaPierre, the NRA's executive vice president, called DeLay the
NRA's steadfast ally in Congress.

"His work to preserve our constitutional rights has earned the respect
of his colleagues, our 4 million members, and millions of law-abiding
gun owners across this nation," he said.

Earlier at the gathering, rock musician and gun-rights advocate Ted
Nugent urged NRA members to be "hardcore, radical extremists demanding
the right to self defense" and to work daily to recruit new members.