House Republican slams DeLay

GREENWICH, Conn., April 10 (UPI) -- A prominent house Republican has described House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, as an "embarrassment" to the Republican Party.

"He is an absolute embarrassment to me and to the Republican Party," said U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., at a Town Hall meeting in Greenwich, Conn.

Shays was hosting a public forum on current issues and events at the Town Hall building, the Greenwich Time reported Sunday.

"He knows that . . . if he ever runs for speaker, I get to vote on the House floor, and my 'No' vote combined with the Democrats means he will never be speaker," Shays said, drawing applause from the room. "One of the things I want to say here is that Tom DeLay will never be speaker in Congress."

A grand jury in Texas has indicted two of DeLay's political associates on charges involving illegal campaign contributions, and a Senate committee and the Justice Department have been investigating whether lobbyists paid for trips and other gifts to influence the DeLay's legislation.

"Do I think Tom DeLay will be the majority leader by the end of this term? No," Shays said. "I don't think Tom DeLay is going to survive."