Posted on 01/07/2010 5:21:32 PM PST by harpu
Former SMU football star and ESPN Analyst Craig James has made news recently regarding his role with his son and former Texas Tech Football Coach Mike Leach. But James could be making news this year in politics, too.
His name is being tossed around as a possible candidate to run for Kay Bailey Hutchison's seat when she resigns.
News 8 talked to James who confirmed he is interested in getting involved in Republican Party politics, and he's not ruling out a run for office.
James said in addition to his role as a college football analyst, he's also been in business as a real estate broker and investor.
He calls himself a conservative and very concerned about government intervention in business and health care.
James has been making the rounds meeting prominent Texas Republicans and donors raising his political profile, and he said he would not rule out running for the Hutchison seat.
“I'm a Texan. I’m concerned for our country,” he said. “I disagree with the approach that we're having, things that are taking place, and so whatever door opens up, I’ll look at it, if and when it opens up.”
James realizes his role in the controversy involving his son that led to the firing of Texas Tech Football Coach Mike Leach could affect him politically. “Any mom or dad who knew what we knew at the time that we knew it would’ve taken the same action that we did,” he said. “Whatever the consequences are, we didn’t care about that. We cared about doing what was right and protecting and taking care of our son.”
His central message as a candidate for any office would be, “Why does the government have to be involved in everything we do?"
“I think Americans today, if you placed us back in 1765, it would be the same scenario,” James said. “We’ve got the American revolution taking place again.”
James says he’ll be the keynote speaker at a Texas Public Policy Foundation Luncheon in Austin next week, also being attended by Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. John Cornyn, as part of his entry into politics.
As a candidate he would have very high name identification with strong personal and family stories.
He'd need to persuade voters he understands the complexities of policy issues, but other former athletes have been successful in making that switch.
A self-centered, egotistical punk running for federal office that’s played a major role in destroying two organizations? He’ll fit right in with the DC crowd.
He’s “against government intervention” but doesn’t mind being a helicopter parent to his college son, getting his football coach fired for perceived slights.
Now THIS is funny.
What party ticket is he running on?...The “WHINING WHIG” Party?
He already took bribes that were appoved by a Texas Governor, I don’t think that helps James’ campaign.
>This ‘clown’ will have a tough time rounding up votes in here in Texas after his ‘taking down’ of Texas Tech’s Mike Leach.
I’m in L.A. and have spoken to brash Texas alums going to the BCS and they “state” they were happy to what happened to Mike Leach. Of course, we are talking about Longhorn fans..
I’m no political advisor — but I don’t think he should run in Lubbock.
SnakeDoc
lol.
no no no not this lifetime
I'm not in TX, yet, but that whole thing rubbed me the wrong way.
Yep! C’MON HORNS!!! Hook’em Horns...fight, fight, fight!!! Yehawwwwww kickoff!!
Yes! That would be a good idea.
James didn’t “take down” Mike Leach. Mike Leach took himself down.
If that had been my injured kid in the shed, Leach would have sported a few bruises before he was fired.
So was the whole thing just a ploy to gain free publicity?
If he’s really a conservative, he ought to be on here. What about it James? Man enough to answer that question, or are you like your boy?
Considering Chairman Zero can't make that switch, I'd say the bar is set pretty low.
If you are defending James you have been lazy and stupid. If you would bother to look at all information for and against both sides you would see that James hired a PR firm and used his employer ESPN to take Leach down for sending an arrogant and lazy kid with a bad attitude who just happened to have had a concussion away from the practice field so as to not negatively impact the rest of the team. Craig James’ employer, ESPN, shamelessly pimped the James version of events for days, including during the Texas Tech bowl game. James could not now be elected in Texas to a position as a three legged dog dog catcher.
We’ll see just how much Jerkoff James had to do with ‘the whole mess’ when the discovery comes in - that is IF Tech let’s it got to a ‘wrongful termination’ trial before settling with Leach.
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