Lobbyists Say DeLay Could Be One of Them--Birnbaum, WaPo

[Demeter]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/16/AR2006041600607.html?referrer=email


... I called top lobbyists and asked a simple question, "Could Tom DeLay become a lobbyist now that he's leaving government?"

The answer was a resounding "Yes." DeLay may have found himself on the wrong end of several ethics committee reports, they said. He may have been too radioactive a few years ago to run for speaker of the House. He may even have been too tainted by his ties to convicted felons to be reelected to Congress this year. But he could still make a bundle on K Street, they concurred. Leaders of law and lobbying firms made it clear that they would happily hire him, especially if federal prosecutors don't indict him as part of the Abramoff affair.

The reasons have everything to do with his ability to manipulate the system, a specialty much-prized among lobbyists. "Tom DeLay has been the greatest strategist for getting legislation through the House in his generation in addition to having a lot of great relationships with Republicans in the House and Senate," Black said. "His strategic insight on how to get things done up there is unsurpassed. And for clients, that's absolutely needed. There are 30,000 workaday lobbyists but very few who have the strategic insight and an understanding of the tactical process of getting something through Congress like he does."

Wayne L. Berman, chairman of the Federalist Group LLC, another lobbying firm, agreed. "He would be an enormously successful lobbyist. I can't think of anybody who has more friends on Capitol Hill or, more important, more understanding of the process and the rules on Capitol Hill.

"Tom would find a lot of places where he would be quite sought after downtown," said former representative Vin Weber (R-Minn.), now a lobbyist with Clark & Weinstock. "There would certainly be a few where he wouldn't because of partisanship or fear that he might be radioactive. But he understands the system better than anybody. He's beloved by the House Republicans. If he wanted to do it, he would find a lot of people interested in hiring him."

Still, his future seems assured. A longtime Washingtonian who knows DeLay well said the Texas Republican is likely to get plenty of paid speaking engagements and a book deal. He also would be open to "strategic consulting" arrangements with corporate interests, but not "registered lobbying" because of the press coverage that type of disclosure would attract.


Jeffrey Birnbaum writes about the intersection of government and business every other Monday. His e-mail address is [e-mail].



K STREET SHOULDN'T COUNT ON TOM'S "FRIENDS" IN MY OPINION---HE'S BEEN AN ENFORCER, NOT A LEADER.

[sam sarrha]

1. so we maybe put him in a more powerful position..? if he gets out of jail