Micro-profile: the Democrats' Tom DeLay.

• Author: Nichols, Hans
• Position: 10 MILES SQUARE

It was a typical Tuesday evening at the Capitol. Most lawmakers, many straight from the airplane, rushed past the ushers to cast the week's first vote before slumping in their seats, quietly chatting with pals while adjusting to the pace of Congress. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.), a 6'4" Queens Irishman and the son of a New York City cop, stood out, badgering colleagues, upping on the shoulders of the members of the Democratic leadership.

From such vigorous floor bonhomie, you'd think Crowley, 43, was fishing for support in his bid to become the vice-chair of the House Democratic Caucus, the party's fourth-highest slot. He wasn't. Crowley was whipping for votes in favor of the pending bankruptcy reform bill, a piece of business-friendly legislation destined for easy passage, despite the deep-seated opposition from a clear majority of the Democratic caucus. The bill, one of the most crucial to come to the floor so far this Congress, drew the ire of liberals by making it far harder for working families to claim bankruptcy protection from credit card companies. Why would Crowley, at the beginning of a potentially two-year-long leadership race. risk antagonizing so many of his colleagues by siding with business?

On the other side of the aisle, the answer is obvious: K Street. Working outside of his party leadership, Crowley had taken it upon himself to signal to the business community that Democrats could be serious about promoting a business agenda. Borrowing a page from the Republican playbook, he summoned a...