'Dancing with the Stars' 2009 Lineup: Tom Delay to Bring "Hammer" Time?

Politician Tom DeLay has been named to the "Dancing With the Stars" 2009 lineup, announced Monday morning on "Good Morning America." That's right; former Majority Leader of the House of Representatives Tom DeLay is about to break loose and show us what it really means to witness "Hammer time." The Republican from Texas known most for his ability to "hammer" legislation through and get things done is going to have his hands full on "Dancing With The Stars" 2009. Up against a bunch of athletes, singers, actors, models, and reality show celebrities, Tom DeLay will no doubt hold his own in a contest of egos, but whether his renowned ability to wrangle enough votes to pass a bill transfers to his feet remains to be seen.

As the Washington Post noted, Tom DeLay has had ties to "Dancing With The Stars" in the past. He lobbied for country singer Sara Evans to win in 2007 but she quit mid-season during a vicious and highly publicized divorce battle with her husband.

But his family is excited about his appearing on the highly rated dance competition reality show. They said he lost weight and slimmed down practicing for the upcoming season. His daughter and former campaign manager, DanI DeLay Ferro, told the Sleuth, "He's taking this very very seriously and we are all sooooo excited! People probably don't know that he's a really good dancer!"

Perhaps not, but many do know that he used to be a powerful politician in Washington. A series of scandals which involved the Republican representative peripherally, plus an indictment by a Texas Grand Jury for campaign finance violations, caused him to resign his position as the Majority leader of the Republican-controlled Congress in early 2006. Although he ran for re-election in his home district, he withdrew from the running when two of his aides were convicted in the Jack Abramoff Indian lobbying scandal.

Congressman Tom DeLay's political woes seemed to be only the beginning for the Republican Party as they lost control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate to a Democratic Party majority in the 2006 mid-term elections.

But all that is behind him now. "The Hammer" is going on Hammer time...

The former Congressman will be up against the largest lineup "Dancing With The Stars" has ever cast -- 15 other performers. The "Dancing With The Stars" lineup for Season 9 (2009) includes singers Donny Osmond, Mya, Macy Gray, and Aaron Carter; supermodels Joanna Krupa and Kathy Ireland; former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin; reality show celebrities Kelly Osbourne ("The Osbournes") and Mark Damascus ("The Iron Chef"); Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin; Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Chuck Liddell; snowboarder Louie Vito; and actors Melissa Joan Hart, Debi Mazar, and Ashley Hamilton.

Tom Delay begins rehearsal Tuesday and moves out to Los Angeles in a couple of weeks. "He'll stay there until he is voted off which, I hope, isn't till the November finale!" Dani DeLay Ferro told the Post.

Someone should tell her that if she wants her dad to win, she doesn't want him voted off at all...

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"Good Morning America," ABC Television
WashingtonPost.com