Characteristics of the Second born
Some of the traits of a second born are they desire to control their own space and they do not want to be told what to do, by anyone! Usually a better athlete than the firstborn and they are very competitive. They will try to dethrone the firstborn if they have a chance. In this light let’s take a look former Congressman Tom DeLay.

Early Years Born in Laredo, Texas April 8, 1947 his family moved to Venezuela when Tom was nine years old. His father was an oil -worker and wildcatter. A tough guy and alcoholic he was tough on the family. When his dad caught him smoking at age 6 he made him smoke most of a carton of cigarettes. When Tom didn’t get sick and kept smoking, he got a whipping. A second born will just not give in. His older brother Ray is 3rys older, and has served time for a conviction for grand theft and is still having problems with the law. (Looks like Tom dethroned him.) Randy his younger brother is three years younger is a lawyer and lobbyist. The youngest and number 4 his sister Tena.

High School and College In high school Tom played football on the offensive line and only weighted 140lbs. Bigger players underestimated him at their own peril as he was known for his fierce playing. He attended Baylor University for two years, majoring in pre-med but was asked not to return after his sophomore year due to several alcohol-related incidents. He finished his education at the University of Houston.

Work Before Entering Congress After college he began work for a pesticide manufacturer, then purchased a small exterminator business. This work was the source for his nickname, “The Exterminator.” This is where he first ran into Government regulations through the EPA. The pesticide Mirex was outlawed, a very effective agent for fire ant control. He called the EPA, the “Gestapo of government.” His fighting didn’t end here as he partnered with another exterminator company and a business dispute ended up in court. A number two just doesn’t give up easily.

Family Tragedy In 1988 his father Charles Ray Delay was critically injured in a tram accident that his father and uncle had built to descend the 200 ft bluff to Canyon Lake. The brakes failed and it jumped the track, Charles was thrown into a tree and died 27 days later after the family took him off life support. After the incident Tom cut off all communication with his brothers, sister and mother. What ever his reason, two’s find it very hard to change their minds once set.

Political Career He started his political career as a state representative in 1979 and while sharing an apartment in Austin Texas he was known as a party guy and a lot of fun. Still drinking he gave up alcohol in 1984 when running for congress. It was at this time he dedicated himself to evangelical Christianity. In 1984 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and became house Whip in 1995 and gained another nickname “The Hammer,” for his reputation for wreaking political vengeance on his opponents.

Money Laundering? He resigned in 2006 after being indicted on charges of violating campaign finance laws. He was found guilty of money laundering and conspiracy, November 24, 2010, charges that carry one to ninety-nine years in state prison. Sentencing was on January 10, 2011. He was given three years in prison and 10 years probation. Before the sentencing Delay repeated his claim that he did nothing wrong. Expect him to continue to fight. Number two’s don’t want to be told what to do and have even a harder time to admit they are wrong. Since leaving Congress he has co-authored a memoir, titled No Retreat, No Surrender: One American’s Fight. A title describing this second born’s view of the world.

Dancing with the Stars Some may find his participation in Dancing with the Stars out of character for even an ex-Congressman. He has a history of dancing from his High School days. When at Calallen High School in Corpus Christi, Texas he was the lead dancer in school productions. True to the athletic number two he continued to compete even with stress fractures in his feet, when his doctors asked him to drop out of the competition. He only stopped after the pain became too great.

Tom Delay could be a poster boy for the traits of the second born. Expect him to appeal the court decision. He won’t go down without a fight!

Dr. Robert V. V. Hurst is author of the book “Life’s Fingerprint: How Birth Order Affects Your Path Throughout Life.” For more information, contact him at www.lifesfingerprint.com or visit his blog at http:/doublebirthorder.blogspot.com.

Author Bio: Dr. Robert V.V. Hurst was born in Hammond Indiana and has been practicing orthodontics in Covington Louisiana for over 35 years. During this time he has used his office and patients as his living laboratory to study his patient’s personality traits and birth orders. Out of this has come a unique and workable theory that accurately finds a persons real birth order and explains their behaviors. Educated at Indiana University and Harvard http://doublebirthorder.blogspot.com

Category: Politics
Keywords: birth order, self help, second borns, middle child, politics, family