Tom DeLay Dances with Elephant on His Back

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay ignored the advice of "Dancing with the Stars" producers and a doctor Monday, so that he could tiptoe his way through the samba to the War tune "Why Can't We Be Friends" while dressed in red and white stripes and a big ol' GOP elephant across his back.

His professional dance partner, Cheryl Burke was all got up in a flirty little blue dress decked out in white stars and the Democratic donkey on her thigh.

Those two party symbols pressed so close together, it's a wonder the Capitol dome didn't collapse.

DeLay danced while suffering stress fractures in both feet but, he told the "Dancing" camera, "My father drilled into me as a kid to never ever give up.

"DeLay danced gingerly, descending a short flight of stairs like he had gum stuck on the bottom of his shoes.

When the well-known War tune got to the bit about:

I'd kinda like to be the president,
so I can show you how your money is spent

DeLay started throwing money around like Jack Abramoff.

As stimulus spending, it was a flop - the judges gave him the second lowest score of the night -- 14 points. It was his worst score yet on the three-week-old fall edition of "Dancing."

But he blew kisses at the audience anyway when his samba was over.