Facing the prospect that Tom DeLay might be forced out of office, a group of powerful conservatives has banded together to protect their ethically-challenged House Majority Leader. Mike Allen has the story for The Washington Post:

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) challenged his liberal critics yesterday to "bring it on," as major conservative groups organized a formal defense against questions about DeLay's ethical conduct.

The groups -- led by David A. Keene of the American Conservative Union and including the Heritage Foundation, Leadership Institute and Family Research Council -- met privately with DeLay last week and pledged to use their grass-roots databases and networks to try to mitigate the damage from news accounts of DeLay's travel and relationships with lobbyists.

The groups have talked about holding a salute or tribute dinner for DeLay, with the proceeds benefiting a children's charity not associated with the majority leader. [emphasis added]

Allen scores a bit of humor in that last sentence as Tom DeLay has gotten in trouble in the past for raising funds for children's that don't always benefit needy children. Nice work, Mike.