Dewhurst: Relevance of Patrick's medical past 'up to voters'

KVUE Austin ^ | 5/19/14 | MARK WIGGINS

[jimbo123]

Texas voters slowly trickled into early voting locations Monday morning to cast their ballots in the run-off elections.

The most heated election by far continues to be the fierce feud between incumbent Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and his challenger, state Sen. Dan Patrick. The contest exploded into fresh controversy at the end of last week with the release by a former rival of documents detailing Patrick's medical history during the 1980s.

Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has taken aim at Patrick since being defeated in the GOP primary. Over Thursday and Friday, Patterson released a series of documents from a lawsuit filed by Patrick during the late 1980s. Around the same time Patrick's ventures in the bar and restaurant business were failing, the documents show Patrick apparently attempted suicide and received treatment and medication for severe depression.

-snip-

Patrick issued a sharply-worded press release Friday evening, stating, "David Dewhurst and his attack dog Jerry Patterson have sunk deeper into the mire, lowering them further into the gutter. While it is hard to imagine, they have achieved a new low."

"As I have said, I voluntarily entered the hospital twice in the 1980’s for exhaustion and to seek treatment for depression. Some of prescribed medications exacerbated my condition and created more serious problems. Through prayer and with the help of my family and physician, like millions of other American, I was able to defeat depression. I have not seen a doctor or taken any medication to treat depression in nearly 30 years. Two weeks ago I released a medical report indicating I am in excellent physical and mental health; I am ready to serve."

"Dewhurst believes my medical issues with depression, nearly 30 years ago, are a problem. He’s mistaken. The problem is when a politician who is sliding in the polls

[jimbo123]

Dewhurst and Rove and Patterson are a bunch of scumbags. Good riddance to them.

[TexasCajun]

Just call him “Dirty” Dewhurst!

[JRandomFreeper]

I don't mind a slightly crazy politician as Lt. Governor.

Hell, we had Ma Ferguson (D) as Governor.... She was certifiable. "If the English language was good enough for our Lord, Jesus Christ, it's good enough for the schoolchildren of Texas".

Dewhurst on the other hand... I can't bear to have a treasonous rat bastard around.

/johnny

[Fai Mao]

“I don’t mind a slightly crazy politician as Lt. Governor. “

So would you vote for Kinky Friedman as Lt. Governor?

[JRandomFreeper]

I've voted for Kinky in several primaries. Man that likes dogs can't be all bad. He's got a dog rescue that does good work.

/johnny

[Bigun]

I know this! I know that I will never again vote for Jerry Patterson or David Dewhurst for anything!

[Paladin2]

Somebody needs to produce an ad showing Dewhurst as a DrumHead with Cruz beating out a tatoo on his crown.

[Fai Mao]

http://texasforkinky.com/

His platform looks kind of interesting

[JRandomFreeper]

Besides, Kinky is running for Agricultural Commissioner this time.

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

He'll play hell legalizing recreational dope in Texas. We've still got dry counties where you can't buy booze.

Getting hemp as an agricultural crop, he might swing.

/johnny

[CARTOUCHE]

I went and voted this morning here in Corpus Christi, the first day of early voting for the May 27th Primary Cook-Off.
Dan Patrick got the nod from me. Dewhurst does emanate sliminess doesn’t he.

[RebelTXRose]

I’ll be voting next Tuesday ON Primary Day FOR Dan Patrick.

When I heard about Dan Patrick’s medical records being released, I wondered “Isn’t that against HIPPA?” or does that matter anymore. Besides, a suicide attempt 30 years ago doesn’t matter today!

Dewhurt got Patterson to do his dirty work - what a moron!

[Undecided 2012]

Just curious, are you Texas folks getting polling calls from Austin (512) lately. I swear, I’ve been getting 3 or 4 a day.

[VerySadAmerican]

I can’t stand Dan Patrick. But his Dewhurst crap may make me go vote for Patrick. Dewhurst denies he had anything to do with it then issues some crap statement about feeling sorry for Dan and his family for having to deal with the depression.

For those who don’t know, Texas GOP tries to protect it’s elites, too.

[TexasRepublic]

Dewhurst’s whole platform is dirt. I have not heard any issues in his ads, just personal attacks. What a POS!

[Steven Scharf]

Although I have not seen the docs, it sounds like it was legal documents that discussed his health, etc. Even if it was actual health reports, if they were attached to legal docs then presumably they were already public. Also this predates HIPPA by 30 years.