Posted on 03/02/2004 8:20:12 AM PST by ancient_geezer
Left out in newly drawn district
In U.S. District 10 race, only conservatives,it seems, need apply
Austin American-Statesman (Texas)
February 22, 2004, Sunday
Ken Herman, AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Here, as perceived by the candidates seeking their votes, is a composite of what the residents of the new 10th Congressional District want in a U.S. House member:
A family-oriented Christian who hates the income tax, sees illegal immigrants as a serious threat, is comfortable with guns and the people's right to bear them, loves America and the Ten Commandments, and has been photographed with many famous Republicans.
On screen at your local super megamultiplex, this race would be called "Conservative and Conservativer."
Alternatively, thanks to the personal cash some candidates are pouring into the race, it also could be called "Rich and Richer."
Houston mortgage company owner Ben Streusand, media-blitzing his way through his first political race, has loaned his campaign $2.34 million, including $1 million reported Friday.
Michael McCaul of Austin, a former federal prosecutor, has loaned his campaign $647,000. McCaul is the son-in-law of Lowry Mays of San Antonio, chairman and chief executive officer of Clear Channel Communications Inc., a dominant media conglomerate.
Dave Phillips of Houston, a lawyer who loaned his campaign $152,000 through the end of last year, willsoon report an additional infusion of personal cash, according to campaign manager Cheryl Rowell.
And former state District Judge John Devine of Houston reported loaning his campaign $63,000 through December.
It all adds up to a March 9 Republican primary scramble featuring eight candidates clinging to the political right in a new, Austin-to-suburban Houston district populated by folks who may not yet realize they live in it.
"People ask me all the time: 'Am I in your district?' " Phillips said.
One thing's for sure. Short of a monumental upset by a write-in or minor-party nominee, the district will be represented by a Republican. There are no Democrats in the race.
The GOP primary -- probably leading to an April 13 runoff -- also includes banker Teresa Doggett Taylor of Austin; retired airline pilot Pat Elliott of Brenham; and sports promoter John Kelley and public relations executive Brad Tashenberg of the Houston area.
All eight, on the Web and on the stump, make it clear they have no doubt as to the politics of the voters they are courting.
The right stuff
As sure as NASCAR drivers turn only left, the candidates in this race veer hard right in a contest fought over shades of conservatism.
"A lot of us agree on a lot of the issues," Devine said Thursday at a University of Texas campus forum. "There may be some subtle differences."
The differences, largely, are in the rhetoric.
In statements and in campaign literature, all have shown support for the Second Amendment and all are opposed to abortion rights.
"The worst tragedy that we know of, that we think we know of, in the world was the Holocaust where we lost 6 million lives," said Phillips, who believes abortion should be legal only in cases in which a woman's life is endangered by pregnancy. "Since 1973, we have lost 42 million children to abortion."
All favor tighter control of the border.
"We should send all the illegal aliens back from where they came," Kelley said. "I say send them all back and then we will decide what to do after we've got them all back."
All are convinced the nation is in a moral malaise.
"If you're like me," Elliott says on his Web site, "you're probably sick and tired of some of the things that are going on in our country."
Devine portrays himself as a decorated veteran of the war against liberals.
"Whenever liberal activists sought to force me to remove a painting of the Ten Commandments from my courtroom wall I stood firm and said 'No' and I defeated the lawsuit they filed against me," he says on his Web site.
At the Thursday forum, Devine said he can't find much justification for the federal government to do much more than "provide for a common defense and simply tote the mail."
Tashenberg, the self-tagged "most conservative candidate," notes he was an aide to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and employee of The Heritage Foundation ("the most conservative think tank in America"). He promises to "fight to cut your income taxes by 25 percent" and work to ban abortions.
"I am a conservative with the Christian values needed to make the right decisions," he said.
Phillips also is vowing to be "a pro-life, pro-faith congressman who strongly believes in protecting the rights of unborn children."
At a candidate forum, Phillips, whose legal practice concentrates on energy transactions, touted his experience as a police officer and general counsel for Equitable Resources, an energy firm based in Pittsburgh.
"I understand business. I understand how economics works and how to create jobs. And I understand, most importantly, how Congress works," he said.
Doggett Taylor's Web site identifies her as "a product of a loving two-parent Christian home," as well as the "oldest and most tenacious of four children." Her photo gallery includes snapshots with President Bush, former presidential candidate Steve Forbes and former U.S. Rep. Dick Armey.
McCaul scored political points last week by picking up the endorsement of Sen. John Cornyn, his former boss at the Texas Attorney General's Office.
McCaul's campaign is based on his recent experience as an anti-terror official based in Austin, which enables him to run as a former front-line member of the war on terror.
"I'd be the congressman who knows the Patriot Act because I practiced law under it," he said, referring to his stint as a federal prosecutor.
While several of the candidates note their Christianity on their Web sites, Streusand, who is Jewish, makes no mention of his faith but notes he contributes to the Jewish Federation for the Righteous, which financially assists Christians who helped Jews during the Holocaust.
Streusand buttresses his conservative credentials with an endorsement from Cathie Adams, head of the Texas Eagle Forum, who said Streusand "understands that there is a cultural war raging in America against the values that made this country great."
Streusand's campaign has keynoted on his call for an end to the federal income tax, a stance adopted by all of the candidates, though Kelley isn't on board with the other contenders' call for a national sales tax.
A Streusand ad hung on doors this week featured what he hopes will become an icon of his campaign -- a flaming 1040.
"No more audits or sleepless nights leading up to April 15," the ad said.
Streusand's campaign has keynoted on his call for an end to the federal income tax, a stance adopted by all of the candidates, though Kelley isn't on board with the other contenders' call for a national sales tax.
It all adds up to a March 9 Republican primary scramble featuring eight candidates clinging to the political right in a new, Austin-to-suburban Houston district populated by folks who may not yet realize they live in it.
8 campaigners and 7 of them supporting the NRST, all conservative. Whatever is in Austin's water aught to be exported to the rest of the country :O)
If you would like to be added to this ping list let me know.
John Linder in the House & Saxby Chambliss Senate, offer a comprehensive bill to kill all income and payroll taxes outright, and provide a IRS free replacement in the form of a pure consumption tax:
H.R.25, S.1493
A bill to promote freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national retail sales tax to be administered primarily by the States.
question...does Texas have a run-off law in primary races?..and do any Freepers live in this Nirvana district?if so, who do you like?
Sounds like home to me.
There are not many Democrats in this district either. That was the primary reason for drawing the district as it now stands.
If nobody gets 50.1% of the vote, then yes there will be a runoff.
I'm assuming you had your sarcasm tags on. I was about ready to slap the author and tell him/her to call a Waaahhhmbulance.
Could it possibly have something to do with the current language of the Republican Party of Texas ya think?
Federal Tax Reform - The Internal Revenue Service is unacceptable to U. S. taxpayers! The Party urges that the IRS be abolished and the Sixteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution be repealed. We further urge that the personal income tax, inheritance (death) tax, gift tax, capital gains, corporate income tax, and payroll tax be eliminated. We recommend the implementation of a national retail sales tax, with the provision that a two-thirds majority of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate is required to raise the rate. Such reforms will encourage investment and economic growth. Lastly, such a sales tax plan must ensure that no one in America pays taxes of any kind on the necessities of life, ensuring opportunity and quality of life for low- and fixed-income Americans.
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