Texas Republicans paste 'liberal' tag on Democrats
Posted on 05/16/2002 1:09:51 PM PDT by MeekOneGOP
Texas Republicans paste 'liberal' tag on Democrats
Democrats reject label, prefer middle of road
05/16/2002
AUSTIN - Jim Hightower, the populist commentator and former agriculture commissioner, says there's nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and dead armadillos. He might now add that it's crowded with alive and kicking Democrats.
But Texas Republicans have another word for their Democratic opponents who are spending a lot of time touting their centrist, pro-business, tax avoidance approaches. They call them liberal.
In news releases and statements, GOP candidates are sticking the liberal label on former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, who is running for the Senate; Laredo businessman Tony Sanchez for governor; former Comptroller John Sharp for lieutenant governor; and former Austin Mayor Kirk Watson for attorney general.
"It's one of the worst things you can call someone in Texas, short of insulting his mother," said University of Texas political science professor Bruce Buchanan. "It means you're for big government, pro-tax, loose morals and you beat your dog."
He said it is too early to tell whether such labeling will stick to these candidates, mostly because he does not see their public records as playing into common definitions of liberal.
'Centrists to a fault'
"Almost all of the mainstream candidates are centrists to a fault," he said.
In someplace like Massachusetts, these Democrats might even fit into the Republican Party, he said.
The Texas Democrats have moved aggressively to define themselves instead of reacting to the liberal moniker.
Mr. Sanchez has said of the Democratic contenders, "as I see them today, we're all moderates."
GOP state party chief Susan Weddington said the Democratic nominees are liberal because liberal is a mind-set.
"In general, a liberal believes that the government is the solution to almost every problem," she said.
Mrs. Weddington said the Democrats might speak in conservative tones and even adopt GOP themes, but given the chance, they will expand government and distance programs from local control.
"Democrats in Texas have learned to campaign on the mantra of the successful positions of Republican. But they haven't governed that way," she said.
In the Senate race, GOP Attorney General John Cornyn's campaign has sought to align Mr. Kirk with out-of-staters who oppose President Bush.
"We will do what is necessary to offset whatever national liberal money comes in on Kirk's behalf," said Dave Beckwith, a Cornyn spokesman.
Mr. Kirk rejects that, saying that on several issues, "I'm much closer to the center of the political spectrum than Mr. Cornyn."
In the governor's matchup, Republican incumbent Rick Perry said of Mr. Sanchez, a self-made millionaire: "My opponent's liberal record speaks for itself. ... I need your help to defend our accomplishments against his liberal attacks."
The example of Mr. Sanchez's record was that he went to the White House in 1993 in support of President Bill Clinton's tax-raising budget.
Sanchez backers note that Mr. Bush, as governor, named Mr. Sanchez to a coveted post on the University of Texas Board of Regents.
In a fund-raising letter in the attorney general's race, former Supreme Court Justice Greg Abbott said of Mr. Watson, "My opponent, a former liberal Austin mayor and personal injury trial lawyer, will be well funded by left-wing special interests."
The Watson camp has dismissed the accusation and noted that his largest contributors have come from the state's high-tech industry.
All the same
Republican David Dewhurst, who faces Mr. Sharp for lieutenant governor, has hired consultant Arthur Finkelstein, who has run hard-hitting campaigns that almost invariably include calling all Democrats liberal.
Wednesday, Dewhurst spokesman Nick Voinis said, "There is no question that John Sharp is a big-government liberal. He has supported higher taxes and more government regulation."
Mr. Voinis pointed to Mr. Sharp's role as a state leader for the presidential bids of Michael Dukakis and Bill Bradley.
In response, Nicole Sherbert, speaking for Mr. Sharp, said Mr. Sharp has received most of the big business group endorsements and that the GOP in 1991 citing Mr. Sharp's fiscal conservatism asked him to join the Republican Party.
"This is coming from David Dewhurst, and as extreme right-wing as he is, everyone looks liberal," she said.
Mr. Sharp traveled the state and encouraged many now on the Democratic ticket to run.
He wanted centrist candidates who also could appeal to the state's minority voters.
"They all have proven records of working well with people of both parties," Ms. Sherbert said.
E-mail choppe@dallasnews.com
"It's one of the worst things you can call someone in Texas, short of insulting his mother," said University
of Texas political science professor Bruce Buchanan. "It means you're for big government, pro-tax, loose
morals and you beat your dog."
And ROAD APPLES!
Pretty bold thing to say in the middle of the liberal camp of Texas.
It is impossible to find a conservative from New York or New Jersey. You could fit all of us into a phonebooth (remember those?).
Wait a minute. Peter Kessler, former Florida Freeper, moved from Jupiter (Palm Beach County!) back to Sussex County in Noo Joisey.
Sounds to me like a good definition of most Democrats.
Agreed.
Why Democrats(i.e. Liberals/i.e. Socialists) Should Draft George W. Bush in 2004
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