Palmetto Pundit: Breaking News: Delay To Give Up Post

Fox News has just confirmed that Tom Delay will not seek to reclaim his post as House Majority Leader. More details as they become available.

UPDATE 12:57 PM

Text of Delay's letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert:

Dear Mr. Speaker,

I am writing to inform you of my decision to permanently step aside as majority leader, and of my belief that the best interests of the conference would be served by the election of a new leader as soon as possible.

The job of majority leader and the mandate of the Republican majority are too important to be hamstrung, even for a few months, by personal distractions.

I will continue to serve my constituents and seek re-election to a 12th term representing Texas' 22nd district while I work to clear my name of the baseless charges leveled against me. I will also be reclaiming my seat on the Appropriations Committee when the second session of the 109th Congress convenes later this month.

Sincerely,

Tom DeLay

This doesn't come as much of a surprise considering the growing lack of support within the Republican Party, but I thought he would stay in the fight a bit longer.

UPDATE 3:50pm

Mike's America notes the double standard:

* Where are the calls for Nancy Pelosi to resign her MINORITY Leader post in the House after being found guilty of violating Federal election finance laws?
* Where are the calls for Senate MINORITY Leader Harry Reid to resign his post after refusing to give back $68,941 he received from Abramoff and his Indian tribe clients, or the ethical questions regarding the MILLIONS his sons have made lobbying their father on legislation?
* Where are the calls for Hillary Clinton to resign from the Senate after her campaign was fined $35,000 and admitted receiving illegal contributions of approximately ONE MILLION DOLLARS for her Senate campaign?

While Republicans toss another effective leader under the bus, the shouts of "culture of corruption" and "GOP scandal" while continue to grow; feed by the same people who point at Republicans with one hand and have their other hand in the same cookie jar.

Republicans are cleaning their own house. Will Democrats follow suit or simply continue their transparent and hypocritical political hackery?

UPDATE 4:43pm
Pelosi responds in her typical clueless and hypocritical fashion:

"For years, at the expense of the American people, the House Republicans have enabled and benefited from the Republican culture of corruption engineered by Tom DeLay. The culture of corruption is so pervasive in the Republican conference that a single person stepping down is not nearly enough to clean up the Republican Congress." - House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California.