The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

(Page 3 of 3)

Dick Gephardt 's candidacy for president. But one man who was, was Rep. Tom DeLay , who has long been advocating for the Bush Administration to play hardball with organized labor instead of playing nice in naive hopes of future considerations. /p>

DeLay's approach would appear to have been the smarter one, particularly given Hoffa's gamesmanship with the GOP. Recall that Hoffa dangled the prospects of a Bush endorsement in front of Republicans leading up to -- and well into -- the 2000 convention in Philadelphia. He was the toast of the town, being wined and dined like he was the nominee, yet left town with a big Cheshire Cat smile and the Bush team with nothing to show for its efforts.

"DeLay is usually right about these kinds of things," says a congressional ally of the House Majority Leader. "The White House wouldn't hurt itself too much by listening to him once in a while."

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Taxes, NATO