Democrat Van de Putte Blasts Redistricting in National Radio Address

Lubbock, TX, Avalanche-Journal ^ | 09-21-03 | AP

[Theodore R.]

Democrats blast redistricting in national radio address Associated Press

AUSTIN (AP) — Democrats used their national radio address Saturday to accuse congressional Republicans of trying to steal votes in Texas and called on President Bush to put a halt to congressional redistricting efforts in his home state.

State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio accused the GOP of using recount, recall and redistricting efforts in Texas and nationwide in a "new playbook for a narrow Republican majority attempting to use government to expand partisan power."

She called the effort to redraw congressional voting districts an attack on minority and rural voters.

"This is bigger than Texas," Van de Putte said in the broadcast. "It's part of a national pattern that threatens to make a mockery of our precious democracy — where the powerful change the rules when the people get in the way."

The Texas Legislature has been battling over redistricting efforts spearheaded by Republicans. The GOP controls both the state House and Senate and wants to end the Democrats' 17-15 majority hold on the state's congressional delegation.

Republicans believe that winning more House seats will bolster the president's support in Washington. The current congressional voting districts were written by a three-judge federal panel in 2001.

Texas Democrats have twice fled the state to block votes on the issue but the boycott failed earlier this month when one senator broke ranks to return to Texas.

The House has already passed a map with new voting districts and the Senate is expected to approve its version next week.

The two chambers would then negotiate the differences.

Van de Putte's address repeated Democratic complaints that U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, and Bush's chief strategist, Karl Rove, have influenced the redistricting fight.

Earlier in the week, Bush called Texas redistricting a state issue that should be handled by state leaders.

"I get blamed for a lot of things," he said.

Van de Putte, who said the country has other concerns such as education, health care and the economy, called on Bush to contact Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, to end the redistricting effort.

Perry so far has called three special sessions to draw up new maps.

"The president cannot claim he wants to win our hearts while the White House signals it's OK to steal our votes," Van de Putte contended.

[Paladin2]

" it's OK to steal our votes"

I'd guess that those in TX are just "stealing" their votes back after a 40 yr hiatus.

[whereasandsoforth]

Her addle brain continues to spew lie after lie after lie. There is no truth in anything she said here. Sadly, she knows this. She would rather risk an eternity burning in hell than have the republicans win this issue. I guess that means she doesn't believe in the Lord.

[mtbopfuyn]

No, Van de Putte's foul mouth and lack of ethics are bigger than Texas. Stupid thing doesn't realize that votes aren't stolen but won. She'd rather embarass Texas and bankrupt the taxpayers than get off her lazy duff and win those seats honorably. Poo Poo on Van de Putte.

[Consort]

Van de Putte is not important.

[dennisw]

Her addle brain continues to spew lie after lie after lie...........

What does she care, the RATS are doing their best to gin up a low intensity race war. Of course Van Putana (Mexican-Am) is married to a boring Anglo but who's keeping score.

[LibKill]

I love the sound of liberal whining. Suffer, democrats, suffer! Schadenfreude! :)

[cricket]

"Her addle brain continues to spew lie after lie after lie. There is no truth in anything she said here. Sadly, she knows this"

. . .the Democrats depend on the 'lie' for their advancement. They all know it; all do it; and do it well. They lie without impunity; they rewrite current event into a false history every time they open their mouths.

What is the most sad here; is not their lies; but how successful they are making a charade of Truth; and that there is such a huge population, so gullible as to believe them.

[mathluv]

I can only hope the voters in TX are aware of the truth. but if a lie is repeated often enough, for some it becomes the truth.

[Gringo1]

One should always remember that gerrymandering congressional districts is only okay when it is Democrats are the ones doing it.....no others are welcome.


For the Democrats, everything....for all others, nothing.

[mathluv]

Sounds familiar. Would that be MeCha?

[AndyMeyers]

The 1991 Texas Congressional redistricting map was an abomination. It was identified by the Almanac of American Politics and other nonpartisan redistricting watchdog groups as providing Texas the worst, most unfair gerrymandering in the United States.

The three federal-judge panel that drew the 2001 redistricting lines mainly kept the 1991 lines in place, adding two congressional districts. The "new" 2001 Texas Congressional redistricting map is STILL the worst, most unfair gerrymandering in the US.

The US Constitution provides for the state legislatures, not federal judges, to redistrict the state’s congressional districts

These are facts you will not read in the dominate press.

These are the reasons Perry keeps calling Special Sessions on redistricting and the reasons all knowledgeable Republicans are insisting that the Texas legislature fulfill its constitutional duty and redistrict congressional districts.

All of the Texas Democrat Senators have forfeited their right to represent the people of Texas by abdicating their duty to the people.

[Gringo1]

Yeah.........I think it fits the Democratic party plan perfectly.

[mathluv]

You will not hear in the mainstream media (or, it seems, Fox) how involved Martin Frost was with the 1991 map, or about his aide that possibly (probably) stole redistricting info from the TX senate meeting room.

[tjwmason]

>>>>>I'd guess that those in TX are just "stealing" their votes back after a 40 yr hiatus.<<<<<

Quite, I had a quick look at the 2000 election results.

Unsurprisingly then Governor Bush got a clear majority in the presidential race 3,799,639 vs. 2,433,746. The U.S. Senator did even better, the Republican beating the Democrat 4,078,954 to 2,025,024.

The Congressional race was somewhat closer, over the state as a whole the Republicans got 2,932,411, and the Democrats 2,799,051; removing minor parties from calculations this gives the G.O.P. 51.2% of votes cast for the big 2, and the Dems 48.8%. However, the Democrats gained 17 seats to the Republicans 13, or the Dems got 56.7% of the seats and the G.O.P. 43.3%.

A quick glance at these statistics might suggest that something was awry before this latest jollying.

[tom h]

She complains about a narrow Texas majority. I am glad she is lying through her teeth. After the Democrats' shenanigans, it is virtually guaranteed that the significant Republican majority will only grow in Texas.

[Theodore R.]

Democrats would say that the GOP has already peaked, and it is a matter of time before irate minorities register and vote in huge numbers and guarantee the future defeat of the Republicans. The TX "democracy" hopes to make modest gains in 2004 and 2006 but then score huge wins by 2008 and thereafter.

[Theodore R.]

A Democrat believes that racism is possible only by whites. A Democrat believes that "gerrymandering" is possible only by Republicans.

A Democrat believes in "democracy" so long as the people choose the Van de Putte brand of "democracy."

Thomas E. Dewey said that a "Democrat will do anything, say anything, promise anything to get a vote."

[Theodore R.]

Would you want Van de Putte filling a prescription for you? She is a San Antonio pharmacist.

[solo gringo]

Don't worry van de puta you will not have to worry about a narrow majority after the next election.We will get rid of a bunch of you sorry socialist and replace you with someone that will work for texas.