Posted on 11/16/2014 8:17:21 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Gov.-elect Greg Abbott achieved a big enough victory margin to treat outnumbered, defeated Democrats like the North treated the South during Reconstruction — and to gloat shamelessly. But he appears to be choosing a much more dignified, statesmanlike path.
That path took him to the Rio Grande Valley — a region that didn't vote for him — for his first post-election trip. Abbott met with Valley leaders Tuesday to talk about economic development and to announce his first gubernatorial appointment — Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos, who will be Texas secretary of state.
Political philosophy-wise, Cascos isn't a diversity hire. He's a Republican and a certified public accountant (who come to think of it, might have made an excellent Republican candidate for comptroller).
But Cascos also is Mexican-born and — like Abbott's wife — Hispanic. Hispanics as a demographic are not likely to have emerged from the election feeling like winners. It's up to Abbott to make them feel that way. And it's hard to argue with the gestures he has made and the actions he has taken in that direction thus far.
Abbott said he was keeping a promise to "unite our great state with key appointments that reflect both the geography and diversity of our great state. Texans from every corner of the state need to feel that they are a part of our state's leadership, that they are co-authors of our future."
Spoken like someone who actually gets it.
Let's direct some attention to the geography part of what Abbott said. The Valley isn't just overwhelmingly Hispanic. It also was ground zero for the border crisis, during which Abbott took a hard line supportive of Gov. Rick Perry's decision to deploy National Guard troops. Valley officials didn't like all the posturing — or its detrimental effects on the Valley's economy. Abbott, Perry and Sen. Ted Cruz sent the message that the Valley was lawless and overrun by foreign criminals — not the kind of thing that goes into a chamber of commerce brochure.
Post-election, Abbott has not softened his strident border security stance. Those who disagreed with his position, as we did, at least should respect and maybe even admire his consistency and conviction — as we do. And it shouldn't be lost on those who were concerned about the effect on the border economy that the topic for Abbott's visit Tuesday was economic development and job creation.
Abbott campaigned vigorously in the Valley, surely aware that it was not where his voters lived. But he knew he'd have to govern a Texas that included them. Those campaign trips were a goodwill investment in the future — the Valley's future, the state's future and, of course, Abbott's political future — no shame in that.
This is the kind of leadership Texas needs after a campaign in which both sides contributed more than their share of ugliness. Winning — even as big as Abbott won — doesn't mean emerging unscathed. There are plenty of wounds to go around. Going straight to the Valley was an auspicious start toward healing.
If Democrats don't see appointing Cameron County's Republican county judge as much of an olive branch — if they see it as an empty, symbolic gesture — we can understand their skepticism. We'll agree with symbolic but not with empty. We would urge Democrats not to overlook the power of symbolic gestures — and to give the governor-elect at least a little bit of a honeymoon.
A majority of Hispanic males voted for the Republicans in statewide races, as far as I have heard.
What ugliness on the GOP side? I think there would have been headlines about it.
too bad only subscribers can leave comments
“Hispanics as a demographic are not likely to have emerged from the election feeling like winners. It’s up to Abbott to make them feel that way”
Is there any particular reason, one wonders?
We have just idiots running this country, our culture aour elections, communication, schools, language, projects, budget, future, our kids’ finances
I am not interested in theater. I want action on the border!! Close it down and send the bill to obama!!
That quote is pure BS. I know for a fact family latinos vote Repub over Dem. They know what the dems represent, what do you think they are running from?
Abbott received 44% of the Hispanic vote...and 48% of the Hispanic male vote.
His Lt. Gov., Dan Patrick, who took an even stronger stance on border security, got 47% of the Hispanic vote...and 52% of the Hispanic male vote.
Telling.
And his opponent was a Hispanic female.
More telling.
very very telling
Don’t confuse us with the facts. ;-)
“Hispanics as a demographic are not likely to have emerged from the election feeling like winners.”
Actually somewhere around 45 to 50% of Hispanics VOTED REPUBLICAN in Texas, so I’m not sure that I agree with the above.
Perhaps the authors meant “Illegal Aliens” instead, since we did have Voter ID?
It does suggest, doesn't it, that if the GOP wants to boost their share of the legal Hispanic vote, they' be advised to take a strong stand on securing the border and against amnesty?
Ugly secret that dims do not want to share is that the indigenous Latin population. (example ...say family was in Texas 100+ years) does not have a positive opinion of the hoard from the south.
Good....good.
As for the democrats, Abbot should make them lick the soles of his shoes.
Of course, the soles of his shoes are rather clean ....
(Sorry, but I couldn’t help myself.)
Nice. Very nice.
Eh? Is the bottom of the shoe not called the sole?
Oh now I get, you are implying they were licked already. ;p
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