Folks,
I know some of you are supporting Ben Streusand, and some of you are supporting Mike McCaul. McCaul asked me to endorse him twice, and I turned him down twice. Only after I heard Streusand's ad implying McCaul was Johnny Chung's defense counsel, and also found out Streusand doesn't vote very often (didn't vote in 2000 and explained it by saying "Bush was going to carry Texas anyway" - what about all the other R candidates on the ballot?) did I decide to endorse McCaul. I believe Steusand is a decent guy, but he has allowed an overzealous consultant to craft his ads to intentionally deceive voters, and that's what got me involved. I know McCaul has gone negative also, and I don't want to debate who went negative first, but McCaul couldn't let his opponent go negative on him without responding in kind. I almost never get involved in primaries, and I did so reluctantly this time. I don't care that Streusand contributed to Ken Bentsen and Bob Kreuger, but Streusand's inartful response that he did it "for business reasons" bothers me. One of my good friends, Rep Ray Allen is supporting Streusand, and that doesn't bother me. When this is over, Ray Allen will still be my good friend.
This is the dilemma we face. We are the majority party, and now elections are decided in R primaries in many races. We will need to learn to disagree and then put it behind us to maintain our majority, or we will suffer the fratricide the Dems suffered through that ultimately brought the R party to power. I call them like I see them, and sometimes I'm right, and sometimes I'm wrong, but so far I'm comfortable with this choice. Frankly, both of these guys would likely vote exactly the same, but for me its a matter of style. I'm sick of intentionally deceitful ads, even though in the distant past I've done some of it myself. I won't be doing it anymore. If that's what it takes, I'll just go home. Playing to the lowest common denominator of voter ignorance is just not worth it to me. I'm pushing 60 and I would rather go fish or hunt.
If Streusand wins this, he's my man and I'll support him in his next campaign- after we visit about how not to allow zeal to trump judgment.
Jerry Patterson
I haven't heard that one. McCaul did work on the Chung case. Chung walked with probation. Clinton walked. Dozens left the country and got away. Chung claims that McCaul called him a 'great American', and asked Chung to speak at his funeral if the commies got to him. Chung claims that he had a long friendly dinner at McCaul's house with the family.
I don't care that Streusand contributed to Ken Bentsen and Bob Kreuger, but Streusand's inartful response that he did it "for business reasons" bothers me
Yeah. In '82, or '83. Small potatoes. McCaul never gave any to anyone until 2000. Streusand was contributing to republicans since '89. Another was a honorarium for a speech to a business group. Also small potatoes. McCaul makes this out to be like the Texas chainsaw massacre because Streusand gives a few bucks to dems 20 years ago. He has been a delegate and given lots of money and support for many years to republicans.
I have seen some flat out lies from McCaul. One about a wall street journal article saying Streusand was overcharging customers fees. There is no record to back that up. He distorted and obscure article. Another about the mortgage bankers association endorsing McCaul. He had to backtrack on that because it wasn't true. Another about Streusand giving money to the Texas democrats that left the state to stop redistricting. I have never seen or heard one source to back that up.
All McCaul does is whine, whine, whine, about the negative campaign. But according to GOPcapitalist, some of the worst are coming from his connection Lowry at the stinkletter.
I'm sick of intentionally deceitful ads
I think a lot of these guys are just shmoozing with the insiders, and don't want to rock the boat. They saw Judge Green get kicked by Perry, and don't want to go against the grain. Streusand is not one of these insiders.
I don't like the negative ads I've seen by Streusand, Devine, or McCaul during this race, either.
But I haven't seen Streusand lie. He can back it up. He has accomplishments to tout, built a business, created jobs, raised hundreds of thousands for republicans.
McCaul just had government jobs, and got Chung probation, and helped keep Reno out of trouble.
I still think Streusand is a good conservative, and that McCaul is a me-too moderate.
Houston, TX—U.S. Congressional Candidate Michael McCaul today earned the endorsement of the oldest, largest, and leading statewide pro-life organization in Texas.
Dr. Graham, President of Texas Right to Life, commented on McCaul’s candidacy: “Texas Right to Life is proud to endorse Michael McCaul for this runoff election. Michael has shown his devotion to protecting the unborn and his belief in faith and family. We have a duty to make sure these values and beliefs are protected when we send someone to Washington. Michael will represent us with compassion, determination and vision, and we are proud to endorse him.”
Texas Right to Life is one in a growing number of other organizations and key leaders supporting McCaul’s candidacy, including the Texas Farm Bureau, Justice for All, the Young Conservatives of Texas, CLEAT, former President George H.W. Bush, Governor Rick Perry, Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs, Congressman Joe Barton, Dr. Joe Pojman, Executive Director for Texas Alliance for Life State Representatives Todd Baxter, Jack Stick, Lois Kolkhorst, Corbin Van Arsdale, Dwayne Bohac, Bill Callegari, State Senators Jon Lindsay and Jeff Wentworth, Harris County Sheriff Tommy Thomas and many others.