--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When it comes to federal elections law…" description: "\"When it comes to federal elections law, Tom DeLay and his special-interest friends live by one set of rules, and everyone else lives by a very differen..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/rahm-emanuel-4413_delay_when-it-comes-to-federal-elections-law-t_2356835.jpg" --- # When it comes to federal elections law, Tom DeLay and his… ![“When it comes to federal elections law, Tom DeLay and his special-interest friends live by one set of rules, and everyone else lives by a very different set.” quote by Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/rahm-emanuel-4413_delay_when-it-comes-to-federal-elections-law-t_2356835.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/rahm-emanuel-4413_delay_when-it-comes-to-federal-elections-law-t_2356835.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/rahm-emanuel-4413_delay_when-it-comes-to-federal-elections-law-t_2356835.jpg) > “When it comes to federal elections law, Tom DeLay and his special-interest friends live by one set of rules, and everyone else lives by a very different set.” [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Federal election laws are applied inconsistently, favoring powerful insiders while ordinary participants face stricter rules. **In simple terms:** Rules differ for elites vs. regular people. Key Takeaway Advocate for equal legal standards. Themes law inequality politics Mood concerned determined Type political advocacy When to use this quote - campaign management - legal reform - civic education Key Concepts regulation fairness Questions to Reflect On - Who benefits from the double standard? - What reforms could level the field? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched systems is difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delay/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Elections Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elections-law-5758376/) [Federal Elections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/federal-elections-940385/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Lives Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-different-339060/) [Rules Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rules-lives-534344/) [Tom Delay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tom-delay-1393305/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [I grew up in Tom DeLay's district.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/i-grew-up-in-tom-delay-s-district/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [Tom DeLay fears independent thinkers and fighters. I am both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-frost/tom-delay-fears-independent-thinkers-and-fighters-i-am-both/) [Martin Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-frost/) > [Tom DeLay may or may not have broken campaign finance laws, but he did his best to look like he was breaking them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/tom-delay-may-or-may-not-have-broken-campaign-finance-laws-but-he-did/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Tom DeLay ought to go back to Houston where he can serve his jail sentence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/tom-delay-ought-to-go-back-to-houston-where-he-can-serve-his-jail/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [Former U.S. House Majority Leader, Tom DeLay, has been sentenced to three years in prison. One year for money laundering and two more for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/former-u-s-house-majority-leader-tom-delay-has-been-sentenced-to/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“Fasting is a beautiful test of what or Who rules our lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-nation/fasting-is-a-beautiful-test-of-what-or-who-rules-our-lives/) [Philip Nation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-nation/) > [Fortune, not wisdom, rules lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/fortune-not-wisdom-rules-lives/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [In 2017, the Democrat congress attempted to take over federal elections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santos/in-2017-the-democrat-congress-attempted-to-take-over-federal-elections/) [George Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santos/) > [By allowing the federal government to encroach on our federal elections, state and local governments lose control of elections and it serves in Democrat's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santos/by-allowing-the-federal-government-to-encroach-on-our-federal/) [George Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santos/) > [Federal elections happen every two years in this country. Presidential elections every four years. And four years just isn't long enough to dismantle all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-diamond/federal-elections-happen-every-two-years-in-this-country-presidential/) [Jared Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-diamond/) > [We need to get rid of the Federal Elections Commission. It's a joke. It doesn't enforce the law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russ-feingold/we-need-to-get-rid-of-the-federal-elections-commission-it-s-a-joke-it/) [Russ Feingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russ-feingold/) > [Votes in federal elections are cast and counted in a highly decentralized and variable fashion, with no uniform ballots and few national standards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-mann/votes-in-federal-elections-are-cast-and-counted-in-a-highly/) [Thomas E. Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-mann/) > [Tom DeLay himself has never been the issue. DeLay is a symptom of a larger disease?a sick Republican culture of corruption that touches everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/tom-delay-himself-has-never-been-the-issue-delay-is-a-symptom-of-a/) [Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/) > [We all are different. Our lives are different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-jedrzejczyk/we-all-are-different-our-lives-are-different/) [Joanna Jedrzejczyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-jedrzejczyk/) > [People go through different stages of their lives at different times. If you're out of sync with your friend group, that gets exploded once…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/people-go-through-different-stages-of-their-lives-at-different-times/) [Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/) ## More by Rahm Emanuel > [The GOP is broken. They need a Bill Clinton moment with someone to figure things out. Let me just say - and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/the-gop-is-broken-they-need-a-bill-clinton-moment-with-someone-to/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [For all the things that make Chicago great, for all the things that make us proud to call ourselves Chicagoans, the violence that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/for-all-the-things-that-make-chicago-great-for-all-the-things-that/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [In the White House, you can be on the pitcher's mound or you can be in the catcher's position. Put points on the board.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/in-the-white-house-you-can-be-on-the-pitcher-s-mound-or-you-can-be-in/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [Because of the president's leadership, every American will have access to affordable, quality health care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/because-of-the-president-s-leadership-every-american-will-have-access/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [Republicans are 'bad people who deserve a two-by-four upside their heads.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/republicans-are-bad-people-who-deserve-a-two-by-four-upside-their/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [We have work to do, and Tuesday Americans sent Washington a clear message - get the job done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/we-have-work-to-do-and-tuesday-americans-sent-washington-a-clear/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [In millions of encounters each year between the police and the public, it may be too much to expect that every officer will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/in-millions-of-encounters-each-year-between-the-police-and-the-public/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [No officer should be allowed to behave as if they are above the law just because they are responsible for upholding the law. Permitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/no-officer-should-be-allowed-to-behave-as-if-they-are-above-the-law/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [We need to deal with the problem of al Qaeda, make sure that they can't have a sanctuary in Afghanistan and guarantee that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/we-need-to-deal-with-the-problem-of-al-qaeda-make-sure-that-they-can/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [Deliberation is a good thing when it comes to fighting wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/deliberation-is-a-good-thing-when-it-comes-to-fighting-wars/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [The moment somebody's a president and you call him "Mr. President," (the person represents) our culture, our history, our sense as our nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/the-moment-somebody-s-a-president-and-you-call-him-mr-president-the/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [You may say I may be unfit to be mayor. But you can never say I'm an unfit mayor,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/you-may-say-i-may-be-unfit-to-be-mayor-but-you-can-never-say-i-m-an/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [I do not believe the government has the right to investigate somebody's private life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/i-do-not-believe-the-government-has-the-right-to-investigate-somebody/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [Today, because of President Obama's courage to my kids can stay on their parents' plan until they are 26. Insurers cannot take you off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/today-because-of-president-obama-s-courage-to-my-kids-can-stay-on/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) > [The Afghan - obviously the parties will decide which course of action. The most important there, get a government that is seen as legitimate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/the-afghan-obviously-the-parties-will-decide-which-course-of-action/) [Rahm Emanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) [Explore all 111 Rahm Emanuel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/) ## More Delay quotes > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Delay always heeds danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/delay-always-heeds-danger/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The measured blood beats out the year's delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bogan/the-measured-blood-beats-out-the-year-s-delay/) [Louise Bogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bogan/) > [Right is the eternal sun; the world cannot delay its coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-phillips/right-is-the-eternal-sun-the-world-cannot-delay-its-coming/) [Wendell Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-phillips/) > [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/) [Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/) > [Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal. Prepare yourself in every way you can by increasing your knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-andretti/circumstances-may-cause-interruptions-and-delays-but-never-lose-sight/) [Mario Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-andretti/) > [Systems program building is an entropy-decreasing process, hence inherently metastable. Program maintenance is an entropy-increasing process, and even its most skillful execution only delays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/systems-program-building-is-an-entropy-decreasing-process-hence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I take no pleasure in seeing DeLay swing gently in the wind. But the thing I believe in the most is ethics. If someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/i-take-no-pleasure-in-seeing-delay-swing-gently-in-the-wind-but-the/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [Procrastination comes in two types. Some of us procrastinate in order to pursue restful activities - spending time in bed, watching TV - while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/procrastination-comes-in-two-types-some-of-us-procrastinate-in-order/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Everyone I have spoken with so far recognises the need for the IRA to respond positively and every has said sooner is better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-reiss/everyone-i-have-spoken-with-so-far-recognises-the-need-for-the-ira-to/) [Mitchell Reiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-reiss/) > [If the politics of inaction and delay that have triumphed in this country continues for another decade, then Planetary Purgatory in the likely future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-j-romm/if-the-politics-of-inaction-and-delay-that-have-triumphed-in-this/) [Joseph J. Romm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-j-romm/) > [“Delay is never denial.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/delay-is-never-denial/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [We are being conditioned, as a population, to never wait, to never delay our gratification, to accept thoughtless, constant consumption as the new norm.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-wortham/we-are-being-conditioned-as-a-population-to-never-wait-to-never-delay/) [Jenna Wortham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-wortham/) [Browse all 636 Delay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delay/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When it comes to federal elections law, Tom DeLay and his special-interest friends live by one set of rules, and everyone else lives by a very different set.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rahm Emanuel" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/when-it-comes-to-federal-elections-law-tom-delay-and-his-special/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delay" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/when-it-comes-to-federal-elections-law-tom-delay-and-his-special/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/rahm-emanuel-4413_delay_when-it-comes-to-federal-elections-law-t_2356835.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/rahm-emanuel-4413_delay_when-it-comes-to-federal-elections-law-t_2356835.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac4/rahm-emanuel-4413_delay_when-it-comes-to-federal-elections-law-t_2356835.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When it comes to federal elections law, Tom DeLay and his special-interest friends live by one set of rules…” — Rahm Emanuel", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rahm Emanuel", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rahm-emanuel/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When it comes to federal elections...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/when-it-comes-to-federal-elections-law-tom-delay-and-his-special/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rahm-emanuel/when-it-comes-to-federal-elections-law-tom-delay-and-his-special/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```