The Hammer: God, Money, and the Rise of the Republican Congress [Hardcover]

Lou Dubose (Author), Jan Reid (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1586482386 | ISBN-13: 978-1586482381 | Publication Date: September 28, 2004 | Edition: First Edition

A lively, hard-hitting biography of the pro-business, pro-Jesus, anti-government, anti-environment House majority leader who is driving today's Congressional agenda. Tom DeLay didn't look like he was going to amount to much. He started his professional career as owner of a pest control business. His colleagues in the Texas Legislature thought him unremarkable, if good fun at a party; they called him "Hot Tub Tom." Today, Tom DeLay is arguably the most powerful man in Congress; one who has helped to undermine age-old procedural traditions and to turn the House into a single-party operation-all without the backing of Karl Rove or George W. Bush. How did he get from there to here? In The Hammer Lou Dubose and Jan Reid track DeLay's rise to the pinnacle of power, illuminating not only his personality and policies but the forces in American politics which have made him a player. Long know n for his inflammatory oratory-he dubbed the Environmental Protection Agency 'the Gestapo of Government,' and said he hadn't served in Vietnam because too many minorities had signed up leaving no room for people like him-DeLay's real power resides in his mastery of the loopholes and evasions of campaign finance law and of Byzantine congressional procedure, as well as his deep ties to the evangelical Christian right. This first book-length examination of DeLay, based on the authors' long-term acquaintance with him from his early days in the Texas Legislature and recent original reporting, illuminates not only who DeLay is and what he wants, but why Americans should be plenty concerned about it.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this critical biography, veteran Texas journalists Dubose and Reid tell the story of the boy from Sugarland, Tex., who rose from smalltown exterminator to majority leader of the House of Representatives, earning the nickname "the Hammer" along the way. All the major episodes of DeLay's career are vividly covered: his rise through the House ranks, the coup against Speaker Newt Gingrich, how DeLay built his formidable fund-raising operation and (allegedly) bullied the lobbyists of K Street into towing the GOP party line, his alliance with right-wing Zionists (Christian and Jewish), and his disdain for Bill Clinton. The book is written from a progressive perspective, and the authors do not engage in substantive policy discussions about the merits of DeLay's ideas. There is no examination, for example, of the literature on the efficacy of government regulation—Dubose and Reid simply assume that Delay's hardcore deregulation position is bad. For them, the House under Delay is "no longer a deliberative body" but rather functions as a "plebiscitary" system that merely rubber-stamps the wishes of the Republican leadership. They do, however, affirm that DeLay's positions are sincerely held—that he is a "conviction politician" who may be cynical about process but not about substance.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"...it helps illuminate conservatism's decline from ideas and individualism to the shallowness of money and power." -- New York Sun, September 28, 2004

"Dubose and Reid... offer plenty of insight [on] the lives, luck and motivations of DeLay and George W. Bush." -- Austin-American Statesman, September 26, 2004

"For readers intrigued by the ways politicians acquire and use power, this book will provide... hours of delightful reading." -- Library Journal, October 15, 2004

"It's an eye-opening look at how extreme right-wing political views are seeping into our culture and affecting our lives." -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 3, 2004

"The book details his humble origins and meteoric rise." -- Dayton Daily News, September 28, 2004

"[Dubose and Reid] have calmly, clearly, and pointedly laid out the story of DeLay's rise... to power." -- Washington Monthly, November issue

"get... [Dubose and Reid's] The Hammer. I'd recommend it even if they weren't friends of mine, which they are" -- Molly Ivans

"terrific book... more than a compelling read, it's... a masterly account of an ordinary man's extraordinary climb to power" -- Dallas Morning News, September 26, 2004

"this book opens a window not only on DeLay but the new Republican House and how it operates." -- October 22, 2004, Baltimore Chronicle.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: PublicAffairs; First Edition edition (September 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1586482386
• ISBN-13: 978-1586482381
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,289,963 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Hammer Gets Nailed, April 24, 2006

By 

Edwin C. Pauzer (New York City) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Hammer: Tom DeLay: God, Money, and the Rise of the Republican Congress (Hardcover)

The interesting thing about this is the subject rather than the writing or the style of the book. I found that I labored reading this rather than enjoying it. However, it does get three stars because it was revealing about Tom Delay whom the author presented as interesting and disturbing, an American Machiavelli.

We learn a little bit of his character by his pettiness in his reaction to lawsuits against him, and his membership in a club that, using a play on words, has the initials KKK. These things give a little glimpse into the man's vindictiveness and racism. We also learn about Delay's utter insensitivity toward others with such pronouncements explaining why he didn't serve in the army--because enlistments were being taken by Blacks and Latinos, and he did not want to deny them the high pay that the Army was providing. Gee, that was big of him.

Such insensitivity turns to the pathological in his defense of "free market economics" in American Samoa. An unscrupulous asian businessman named Tan needed labor to have his products reach American markets. Convincing dirt poor Asians that their family members will get jobs in America, they go further in debt to pay the thousands of dollars required for job selection. The unwitting worker deplanes on American territory (American Samoa) and works under sweatshop conditions fourteen hours a day. They live in a virtual barracks with little sustenance, privacy or sanitation. Managers impregnate these defenseless female employees who are then forced to have abortions. In the meantime, they get further into debt producing clothes that proudly bear the title, "American made." Even Delay applauds the free-market economics and capitalism in Samoa.

We learn that during his stay in a swanky Samoan hotel, his time on the golf links, and at sumptuous banquets, desperate workers are trying to pass notes to him and his entourage to let him know of the desperate conditions under which they labor. Oblivious, Delay will block any attempt by congress to enact or improve working conditions on the island. One wonders if any of those notes addressed the forced abortions to which he is so opposed in this country!

His machiavellian skill is evident in congress as he extends the deadlines of votes for some old-fashioned arm-twisting and bribery. This true-to-life ogre may have changed the way congress does business forever. He shuts out the traditional bi-partisan debate on bills, and even demands what he expects from lobbyists--rather than the other way around. He is ultimately censured several times by a bi-partisan ethics committee.

Update: Tom Delay has since resigned his seat in disgrace, and will probably, or at least hopefully, go to jail. We must hope that his congressional legacy is not allowed to continue.

Recently a convention which held the theme that Christians are being persecuted in this country called Tom Delay a fine christian man. The main speaker said that they (I guess that means the rest of us) were after Delay because of his Christian faith, and his belief in Jesus Christ.

The one good thing about being the victim is, you don't have to accept responsibility for your actions.


Amen!

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Packed Full of Detail on the Corrupt Doings of Tom DeLay, November 21, 2004

By 

David W. Southworth (Alexandria, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hammer: God, Money, and the Rise of the Republican Congress (Hardcover)

First off, this book is not very well written. It is full of incomplete sentences, the writing is often choppy, and the authors sometimes get themselves tongue-tied. That being said, this (I am assuming hastily published) account of House Majority Leader DeLay is an excellent book for understanding the sewer-like atmosphere that characterizes doing business on The Hill today.

Authors Dubose and Reid give much detail into such activities as DeLay's dealing with far-right Christian Premillinialist groups, his support for sweatshop labor in far away American territories, and his vengeful nature when dealing with anyone who would dare look at DeLay sideways. DeLay's passion seems not in enriching himself personally. He seems much mnore interested in gaining and consolidating power for himself.

The most telling feature of DeLay's leadership is the close relationship detailed in the book between the Majority Leader and industry lobbyists. Early in his career DeLay brought industry lobbyists into his office and set them up to actually write legislation regarding the EPA, which DeLay has a passionate hatred of. Later on, DeLay recieved direct funding for his activities from such companies as Westar and Enron, having Ken Lay write checks for his Texas Political Action Committees so that they can use the money (illegaly) in campaigns in Texas House races. DeLay set this up to ensure that his plan to redistrict the House seats of Texas legislators would pass.

There are many other dirty and underhanded activities DeLay has led detailed in this book, the above mentions are just aming his greatest hits. I would definitely recommend this book for those interested in why Capitol Hill seems like such an ugly place to do business nowadays. It is because of people like Tom DeLay.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Hatchet Job on The Hammer, September 20, 2005

By 

Erich Weyant (Buffalo, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Hammer: God, Money, and the Rise of the Republican Congress (Hardcover)

OK, first off, in deference to the harsher critics of this book, it does seem like a total rush job - punctuation and spelling errors abound. These errors were obvious enough and often enough to make me wonder about the author's methods of research and interviewing - were they as spotty as their grammar? I would not be surprised if there were factual errors as well, but I don't know enough about the details of DeLay's life to spot them and although I doubt they're fatal, they still provide needless ammunition for DeLay's defenders. Their publisher should have let a copy editor spend a few more hours with the manuscript.

That said, this book is a terrific read and an excellent overview of the life and works of Tom Delay. The authors begin by touching on his upbringing in rural Texas and then chart his rise through the Texas legislature. The early chapters give a sense of how his character was formed (apparently, rather poorly) and how he came to embrace the toxic brand of conservatism that he is currently trying to jam down the throats of the American people. The latter chapters explore his cunning use of the powers at the disposal of a House Whip to steer both the Republican Party and Congress to the far right. The authors also lay bare DeLay's fundraising machinations, and show that one of the primary sources of the loyalty that DeLay enjoys from his fellow members is the cash he is able to infuse into their campaigns.

Finally we get a truly nauseating glimpse into his dealings with Saipan and his courtship of End Times obsessed "Christians." It was after reading these chapters that I stopped viewing him as merely a canny politician and instead came to view him as one of the most cynical and evil men who has ever held office in the United States. Sound like hyperbole? Just try and square his purported "pro-life" positions and chest beating over Terry Schiavo with his support for the business owners in the Mariana Islands.

The Marianas are a Commonwealth of the United States, and goods made there can be labeled with "Made in the USA." Unfortunately, none of the workers in these factories are protected by US Labor or Environmental laws. The workers spend their lives in factory "camps" working for slave wages and being exposed to all sorts of toxic materials. If any of the young women (who make up the majority of the population.) should become pregnant (rape and sexual slavery are common) they are heavily encouraged (read "forced") to have abortions in order to keep their jobs. Tom Delay fought tooth and nail to stop a bill that would have brought humane living and working conditions to these people.

I think that this book is pretty much essential reading if you are interested in seeing how our government operates. DeLay may not be Speaker, but in many ways he is far more influential than many past Speakers. The authors have provided us with an unflinching look at how power is gained, maintained and exercised in Washington.

Don't be worried about having to spend hours and hours wading through this muck, this is a quick and dirty read (and trust me, this is good for reasons both practical and philosophical, 1) you won't want to spend anymore than 300 or so pages with this awful little man, and 2) he's not worthy of a Robert Caro-ish 1000 page tome.)