Tom DeLay: God 'wrote the Constitution'

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, is in the news again for saying God wrote the U.S. Constitution. See some other highlights during his time in and out of Congress. Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, is in the news again for saying God wrote the U.S. Constitution. See some other highlights during his time in and out of Congress. Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP Image 1 of / 18 Caption Close Tom DeLay: God 'wrote the Constitution' 1 / 18 Back to Gallery

SAN ANTONIO — God must have had one heck of a powdered wig, or former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay would have made a lousy history teacher.

The Sugar Land Republican made news this week when he voiced his concern that the government is becoming secular because “we stopped realizing that God created this nation, that he wrote the Constitution, that it's based on biblical principles” during a recent television appearance with San Antonio Pastor Matt Hagee.

James Madison, the lead author of the United States Constitution and the fourth president of the United States who died in 1836, could not be reached for comment.

After citing a Bible verse, DeLay boasted that he “sealed off the Capitol so that for three hours leaders from the House and Senate got on their knees seeking the face of God and praying.”

DeLay also predicted an awakening from God “is coming.”

“I really feel now that the Lord has heard us, I see the Holy Spirit moving and I pray every day for an awakening in this country and I think it's coming,” he said.

Matt Hagee is the executive pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, which has 19,000 members. He is the son of Pastor John Hagee, founder of the church, and the discussion was broadcast this week on John Hagee Ministries' Global Evangelism Television.

DeLay served as a state representative from 1979-1985 and a U.S. Congressman from 1985 until he resigned in 2006 after being indicted in Austin on conspiracy charges.

In 2011, DeLay was convicted of conspiracy to violate election law and sentenced to three years in prison. His conviction was overturned in September and the former congressman was acquitted without serving jail time.

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Twitter: @KoltenParker