DeLay Blasts Senator’s Criticism of Iraq Policy

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay lashed out at Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy for criticizing President Bush’s Iraq policy, describing the comments as a “new low.”

Kennedy, of Massachusetts, said Thursday that the case for war against Iraq was a fraud “made up in Texas” to give Republicans a political boost and the money for the war is being used to bribe foreign leaders to send troops. That drew the wrath of Texas Republican DeLay, who said in a statement that Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts and other presidential hopefuls should repudiate the remarks. Kerry responded: “Tom DeLay is a bully.”