"The Exterminator"

Answer each question fully. Don’t just write down the first thing you see, and then skip ahead.

Keep reading to make sure you answer all parts of the questions.

DO NOT COPY ANSWERS WORD FOR WORD FROM THE ARTICLE.

WRITE ALL ANSWERS IN YOUR OWN WORDS.

1. Read the first paragraph, and then explain the phrase "full-service friend."

2. According to Newsweek, members of Congress like about Tom DeLay’s money. Explain that DeLay did with it.

3. DeLay is feared in Congress. Explain what happened to Joel Hefley when he criticized DeLay.

4. Who is Ronnie Earle? What did he persuade a grand jury to do?

5. What was DeLay's childhood like?

6. What is DeLay’s current relationship with his family?

7. When he was an exterminator, he called the EPA, “the Gestapo of the government.” What do you think he meant by that?

8. What was his personality like when he was elected to the state legislature?

9. What else happened in his life the year he was elected to Congress?

10. How does he describe Republican moderates? What do you think that means?

11. In what ways is he similar to George W. Bush?

12. Explain two ways that DeLay differs from the president.

13. How did DeLay exert authority over lobbyists?

14. What evidence do DeLay's supporters use about his personality to show that DeLay isn't so bad?

15. What happened when DeLay was told that smoking a cigar was not allowed in a restaurant?

16. According to Newsweek, what was the key to DeLay's power?

17. What is TRMPAC? Explain what it does.

18. Because of TRMPAC, in 2002, Republicans won the majority in the Texas legislature. What resulted?

19. Why would groups donate so much just to play golf or to have dinner with DeLay?

20. What is banned about contributions under Texas law?

21. How was the $190,000 check from TRMPAC used?

22. Why are the dates of certain conversations important in the DeLay case?

23. Do you think anyone who gains power will become corrupt? Answer in at least one full sentence, using current political events to support your point. (2 points)