White guy wins after leading voters to believe he’s black

khou.com ^ | Nov 8, 2013 | Doug Miller

[Kip Russell]

Dave Wilson chuckles as he talks about his unorthodox political campaign.

"I'd always said it was a long shot," Wilson says. "No, I didn't expect to win."

Still, he figured he'd have fun running, because he was fed up with what he called "all the shenanigans" at the Houston Community College System. As a conservative white Republican running in a district whose voters are overwhelmingly black Democrats, the odds seemed overwhelmingly against him.

Then he came up with an idea, an advertising strategy that his opponent found "disgusting." If a white guy didn't have a chance in a mostly African-American district, Wilson would lead voters to think he's black.

And it apparently worked. In one of the biggest political upsets in Houston politics this election season, Wilson -- an anti-gay activist and former fringe candidate for mayor -- emerged as the surprise winner over 24-year incumbent Bruce Austin. His razor thin margin of victory, only 26 votes, was almost certainly influenced by his racially tinged campaign.

"Every time a politician talks, he's out there deceiving voters," he says.

Wilson, a gleeful political troublemaker, printed direct mail pieces strongly implying that he's black. His fliers were decorated with photographs of smiling African-American faces -- which he readily admits he just lifted off websites -- and captioned with the words "Please vote for our friend and neighbor Dave Wilson."

One of his mailers said he was "Endorsed by Ron Wilson," which longtime Houston voters might easily interpret as a statement of support from a former state representative of the same name who's also African-American. Fine print beneath the headline says "Ron Wilson and Dave Wilson are cousins," a reference to one of Wilson's relatives living in Iowa.

"He's a nice cousin," Wilson says, suppressing a laugh. "We played baseball in high school...

[deport]

Dave Wilson for HCC District 2 Website

[TurboZamboni]

Picture Of The Day: Photoshopping Diversity At The U of Wisconsin

http://www.totalprosports.com/2010/08/05/picture-of-the-day-photoshopping-diversity-at-the-u-of-wisconsin/

well...if colleges can do it.

http://www.snopes.com/college/admin/uwmadison.asp

[MaxMax]

Should have said "Just do what's right, Bro"

[Vaduz]

Suppressing a laugh Wilson must be thinking you can always count on the low informed person.

[PoloSec]

“Now this is how to win with the Lo-Fo-Vos.”

That’s right...when you consider the audience, if you get away with it once, you can get away with it over and over again, build a coalition, witness J. Jackson, Al Sharpton, etc.

[sunrise_sunset]

You’re right, which is why the talk of an Asian century is way overblown.

[KGeorge]

“We”, meaning society, America, got into this mess little by little, bit by bit- accepting (or nor properly responding to) the erosion of our freedom, the behavior of our leaders & media, our neighbors, co-workers, & children, etc. Like the proverbial slowly boiling frog.

Maybe you’re young so you don’t have any idea what the world used to be like, but it was vastly different than it is now. (It’s not “better”, smarter, more “advanced”/ sophisticated/ civilized. It’s a cesspool.)

0bama got elected just the way this mayor did: he implied & was vague intentionally so that people would project what they wanted to believe into what he “meant”. Stuff that couldn’t be further from the truth.
0bama added outright, bald-faced lies to this tactic & I’m not saying this guy did that. But would you be surprised if he wasn’t completely honest about something that mattered *to you*?

I don’t know this guy from Adam. It’s the tactic I find repulsive.

This is why “people” are thought to be “stupid” & “sheep”. They lead themselves into being mislead & when they realize the person they elected wasn’t who they thought they were getting, the “winner” shrugs & says to himself “I’m a politician. It’s what politicians do.”

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Don’t worry they will try to impeach him and tarnish his reputation. But, he proved a point—we have become the worst racist nation in decades—where elections are won and lost over your race. Imagine if Obama was white—would he be in the White House now?

[Rusty0604]

I am not young and I do remember the good old days and long for them. I agree with you on what happened to our society, but I’m afraid that those of us that believe in principles and integrity are way outnumbered.
One of the factors contributing to our victory in the revolutionary war was that we didn’t follow the gentlemen’s rules of war that the British did.

[deport]

Don’t worry they will try to impeach him and tarnish his reputation.

***********

They still have time to do a recount or two. Heck 26 votes probably won't be
that hard to recover.

    Wilson       5,961      50.1%
    
    Austin       5,935      49.9%

    98.6% reported 

[KGeorge]

:-) The frog that’s strangling the heron? That’s me (I’m afraid).

“One of the factors contributing to our victory in the revolutionary war was that we didn’t follow the gentlemen’s rules of war that the British did.”

That’s definitely a dilemma. All I can say is I wish I had been kicking & screaming 20 years ago. Evil triumphs when good men (& women, though I wish it weren’t needed) do nothing- or however the saying goes.

Then again, I like to think it was the spirit & sheer will of those men that led them to win their/ our freedom. Well, & God’s Grace.

[stevie_d_64]

He’s a bruthuh from anuthah mutha!!!

(I almost sounded black muself!!!)

[KansasGirl]

I love this. Hubby and I had a good laugh!

[Kip Russell]

I love this. Hubby and I had a good laugh!

I live to serve :-)

[carlo3b]

Can I get an.. Amen Bro?

[gitmo]

LOL. He trapped the left using their inherent racism as the bait!

[lentulusgracchus]

Now this is how to win with the Lo-Fo-Vos.

Let 'em burn .... they deserve it. What was it John Wayne said about going through life stupid?

[lentulusgracchus]

I live to serve :-)

lol

[MrB]

I would have to disagree, because conservatives don’t vote based on skin color. White and black liberals both will vote based on the skin color of the candidates.