"Dancing with the Stars" is getting political

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has launched a bizarre new campaign - he's supporting a sexy brunette contestant on "Dancing with the Stars" and trying to smear one of her competitors, Jerry Springer.

The ex-Texas congressman, who resigned in June after being charged with money laundering in a campaign-finance probe, sent out a mass e-mail to his supporters urging them to vote for country singer Sara Evans, who "represents good American values." In the same breath, he implored them to reject "ultra-liberal talk show host" Springer because "we need to send a message to Hollywood and the media that smut has no place on television by supporting good people like Sara Evans."

Lest anybody think DeLay has an inappropriate interest in the Missouri-born, married mother of three, he refers to her in the first line of his note as "a good friend of mine." He also points out that Evans sang at the 2004 Republican Convention and often appears with GOP candidates. "We should all support her to keep her on the show as long as possible," DeLay shills.

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