McClellan Letter Attempts to Defend Mom (TX Comptroller, Carol Keeton McClellan Rylander Strayhorn)

Attached you will find an email sent to all SRECs yesterday (8/15) from Carol Keeton McClellan Rylander Strayhorn's son, concerning comments made by the RPT Executive Director, and a response letter sent today (8/16) to Mr. McClellan from seven SRECs, including my counterpart from SD11, Dr. Robin Armstrong, and myself.

We are somewhat perplexed at your demand via email yesterday for an apology from the Republican Party of Texas over Executive Director Jeff Fisher’s comments expressing concerns about Comptroller Strayhorn’s plan to undermine the integrity of the Republican primary. Like millions of grassroots Texas Republicans, we also have serious reservations that Comptroller Strayhorn wants liberal Democrats to choose Republican nominees for public office.

The Republican Party of Texas is indeed a “big tent.” What makes someone a Republican is not who they are, nor where they are from, but what they believe. Our party is one that welcomes all who share our conservative philosophy, including thousands of former Texas Democrats who have realized that the Democrat Party abandoned them by becoming increasingly liberal and by bowing to the demands of the wealthy personal injury trial lawyers who fund virtually all Democrat activities – many of the same individuals that are now financing the Comptroller’s campaign.

There is, however, an undeniable difference between reaching out to like-minded conservatives looking for a new political party to call home, and wooing liberal Democrats who want to vote in our primary for the sole purpose of weakening our party.

The former strategy strengthens the party. The latter strategy – the one advocated by the Comptroller – tears it down.

Comptroller Strayhorn and her spokesmen have made it abundantly clear that she wants Democrats – regardless of how liberal they are – to flood the Republican primary:

“…Democrats don't have a good candidate to support, and ‘if people want to have their voice heard, they need to participate in the Republican primary – that’s where the game is.’” (Austin American Statesman, 7/18/05)

“‘I’m not trying to make Republicans out of everyone,’ said Strayhorn, though she invited everyone to vote in the Republican March 7 primary.” (McAllen Monitor, 7/27/05)

While this strategy may benefit candidates like Comptroller Strayhorn that are more Democrat than Republican, it will inflict broad damage to the rest of the Party because it will allow Democrats to choose our weakest nominees for the general election.

Rest assured that we will vigorously oppose any attempt by any Republican candidate to allow liberals to hijack our party’s nominating process.

If Comptroller Strayhorn wants to win the support of liberal Democrats, we respectfully suggest that she run in the Democrat primary.

If the Comptroller does choose to run in the Republican primary, we ask that she actually seek Republican votes and stop encouraging liberal Democrats to infiltrate our party to destroy it from within. We also ask that she break her ties with Democrat advisors such as Ben Barnes and John Sharp, and demand that she cease accepting campaign funds from the personal injury trial lawyers that are obsessed with destroying the Republican Party.

Grassroots Republicans have given their all to build this party into the healthy majority it is today. They deserve the right to elect their Republican nominees. Please stop trying to take that right away from them.

I want you to know that this morning I called the executive director of our Republican Party of Texas and demanded he publicly apologize for the inappropriate and degrading comment he made about Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, Republican candidate for Governor and my Mom.

Yesterday, the Austin American-Statesman quoted Jeff Fisher, executive director of our Republican Party of Texas saying: "It's one thing when a candidate tries to invite like-minded conservative Democrats and independents to make a lasting commitment to the Republican Party. It's quite another to encourage liberals to vote in the primary like a “one-night stand." I am sure that, as a member of our State Republican Executive Committee, you do not condone the use of such offensive language. Mr. Fisher would certainly be forced to apologize had he made a similar comment about Governor Rick Perry.

As a fellow Republican, I would hope that you would agree with Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn that the goal of the Republican Party of Texas is to encourage voter participation, not discourage voters who want to join our effort for limited government and unlimited opportunity for all Texans. Carole wants to return true concern for the family, true fiscal common-sense conservatism and government in the sunshine to the Office of the Governor. This strengthens our Party and protects our values.

My Mom, like former President Ronald Reagan, believes in the "Big Tent" theory. If we are going to be the majority Party for years to come, we must encourage voters to join our Party.

That the executive director would think it appropriate to attack the honor of a mother and a grandmother who is a Republican statewide elected official is astounding.

Carole Keeton Strayhorn was the top vote getter in the state in the last election. As a Republican, she was the first woman elected to the Texas Railroad Commission, the first woman reelected to the Commission, the first woman elected Comptroller of Public Accounts, and the first woman reelected Comptroller. She has inspired Republican women and men to seek public office and to become involved in the political process.

Mom and our family have been and are stalwarts for our Party. My younger brother, Scott McClellan, is Press Secretary for our President George W. Bush. My older brother, Dr. Mark McClellan, was appointed by President Bush to serve as the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, and more recently was appointed to serve President Bush as the head of Medicaid and Medicare. My twin brother Dudley is the Deputy General Counsel for the State Bar of Texas. After serving as Assistant Attorney General with Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott and the prior Attorney General, Senator John Cornyn, I am now serving as the manager of Mom's Republican campaign for governor. Mr. Fisher’s comment is an insult to Carole Keeton Strayhorn, our family, and to millions of Republican men and women across this great state.

I hope you will call Mr. Fisher today and urge him to publicly apologize for his wholly inappropriate public comments.

Political advertisement paid for by Friends of Carole Keeton Strayhorn, P.O. Box 684219, Austin, TX 78768, Ken Banks, Treasurer.

It looks like the shooting is already starting in the Texas Governor's Republican Pimary race.

It looks like the Texas Democrat Party's 2006 game plan is to infiltrate the GOP Primary, since they have such a weak line up on their Party's Primary ballot.

Gov. Perry is no prize, but Carole (insert a surname) Strayhorn would be worse.

Kinky Friedman must be laughing his butt off at the thought that he might actually have a chance this time. :)

Maybe some people should start camping out in front of her house for a few days and see how she likes it. And lets not forget about all these reporters. Since they are not at a home maybe we should camp out at their parents house and see how they like that.

"It looks like the shooting is already starting in the Texas Governor's Republican Pimary race."

Shouldn't need more than four rounds...and that's if both candidates shoot themselves in both feet.

I am sure that, as a member of our State Republican Executive Committee, you do not condone the use of such offensive language.

Offensive language? Was the the reference to a "one-night stand"? This guy's off his rocker.

Based upon her recent statements, it appears that the letter has a typo. Here's probably what he meant: " for limited government and unlimited opportunity for all ~~Texans~~ Mexicans.

I spoke to a guy today who was bragging about being the
"only" dem in Williamson county, he told me that the big
thing for them is "crossing over" to vote in the Rep. primary. "Anything to get Rick Perry out of office"

I don't know if I agree that Strayhorn would be worse. I'd rather have an independent governor. Strayhorn may be a bit opportunistic, but she does answer to the people rather than the party. I haven't seen her climb out of anyone's pocket during her tenure.

electorwit - Since Sep 9, 2005

Welcome to FR.

Apparently you haven't noticed Carol (insert name) Strayhorn's history of playing both sides of the political fence. She knows how to say the right words to fool Republicans and Democrats alike, but her actions have not been conservative at all.

I'm no fan of Gov. Perry, but Strayhorn is bad news for the Republican party and doesn't have a significant constituency outside of Austin. A lot of Republicans will hold their noses and vote for Perry, before voting for her.

She gave at least 460 million dollars in tax cuts to people who donated 1.5 million to her campaigns. The fact that she can be bought is not as shocking as the fact that she can be bought so cheap.

10 posted on 09/10/2005 7:59:10 PM PDT by fella (Discontent is the want of self-reliance; it is infirmity of will -<I>Emerson</I>)

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