DeLay's campaign fund now a defense fund-- K Street is not amused

The accepted take on DeLay's abrupt decision to drop his re-election bid after winning the Republican primary is that it provided the indicted Texan with a handy way to keep fundraising for a while longer-- so that he could channel whatever he made to his attorneys.

A Roll Call article (subscription required) quotes several career lobbyists fuming that they've been had.

"If I wanted to give to a legal fund, I would've done it directly," snarled one GOP lobbyist who refused to have his name attached to such callous-sounding sentiments, even if DeLay is leaving Congress.

Another lobbyist who gives to Members on both sides of the aisle said, "It's nauseating to think about" his campaign contribution going to fund DeLay's legal team. "I'm realistic about it. He wouldn't resign for no reason," this lobbyist said, noting that the timing of DeLay's departure came awfully close to the announcement of a plea agreement by his former aide Tony Rudy. "That all this money will go to the legal defense fund, it sickens me," he added. "I have to pay for that?"

"C'mon, DeLay, we're giving you all this money to rip off other people!"