Hey Torie, speaking of which, what about that Texas governor's race? Am I reading my articles correctly, that Perry could be in trouble? Or is that wishful thinking from the AP?
Be Seeing You,
Chris
Posted on 03/31/2002 1:17:18 PM PST by FITZ
The big guns have already shown up in force for a border congressional contest in which some Democratic colleagues wonder whether Republican incumbent Henry Bonilla is Hispanic enough to represent working-class families.
Some of those colleagues contend Bonilla is so desperate to hang on to his seat that he's threatened to harm projects in their districts if they muscle their way into the Republican's campaign against Democratic challenger Henry Cuellar.
And considering that the election is still more than seven months away, the rhetoric could turn really hot and nasty by fall.
Bonilla recently authorized a staff member to take note of who showed up at a congressional fund-raiser for Cuellar in Washington. Cuellar's supporters called it "spying" and accused Bonilla of childish behavior.
Bonilla shrugged it off.
"South Texas politics is nose-to-nose, and if somebody has a problem with that, they obviously don't understand this culture," Bonilla said.
House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, D-Mo., last week dropped in on the district, which includes a 30,000-person sliver of El Paso. Accompanying the second most powerful Democrat in Washington were U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes of El Paso, U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez of San Antonio and U.S. Rep. Ruben Hinojosa of McAllen. U.S. Rep. Charles Gonzalez of San Antonio joined the entourage at a later stop in his city.
Their message was clear: Bonilla cares more about tax cuts than investing in education, health care, housing, infrastructure and jobs that are critical for the 24-county border district.
"You have two Henrys in this race, and the only thing that they have in common is their first name," Gephardt told about 500 Laredoans packed into Cotulla's restaurant for a noon rally. "It's time to have a member who will really fight for the interests of the border, for health care and education, for prescription drugs, for Medicare, for infrastructure -- and this is Henry Cuellar."
But Bonilla said he doesn't care what outsiders parachuting into his district have to say about him.
"I generally disregard criticism that comes from somebody who lives hundreds of miles from my area," Bonilla said. "Races are not won by people visiting from Washington. Ultimately, the candidate has to pull his own wagon."
Cuellar is a former seven-term Democratic state representative from Laredo who was Republican Gov. Rick Perry's first secretary of state.
The newly configured 23rd Congressional District runs from northwest San Antonio to the eastern fringes of El Paso and along the border to Laredo.
The Republicans now have a slim six-seat majority in the 435-member U.S. House. A Cuellar victory could help Gephardt ascend to House speaker next year.
Bonilla plans to call in the biggest gun of all if he needs to -- President Bush. The president, Bonilla said, has assured him he will do whatever it takes to help his campaign.
Bonilla is the only Mexican-American Republican in the Congress. But during the rally, Hinojosa of McAllen questioned Bonilla's commitment to helping Hispanics.
"We as Hispanics believe in the American dream, and what we're seeing and witnessing here is that dream -- the hope that we can improve the living conditions of our families, especially on the Texas border region," Hinojosa said.
"Being part of the Hispanic community is extremely important to us. I read in the Dallas paper that the incumbent congressman says that he wakes up in the morning and doesn't see an Hispanic in the mirror. Well, that is his problem," Hinojosa said, drawing applause from hundreds of Hispanic supporters standing shoulder to shoulder.
Hinojosa's observations are irrelevant because he doesn't live in the district, Bonilla said: "I only answer to my voters and to my constituents, and we've gotten along fine over very many years."
Three of Bonilla's four grandparents immigrated from Mexico to Texas to pursue better lives for their families, he said. When he awakens in the morning, Bonilla said, he sees "first and foremost an American."
That's fine, but public officials have a responsibility to help those left behind, said Congressman Gonzalez, son of legendary civil rights trailblazer Henry B. Gonzalez, who held the same congressional seat until his death.
"We are 180 degrees apart on what we believe truly furthers the interests of the Latino community," Gonzalez said of the Democratic group's dispute with Bonilla.
Gonzalez cited a recent report by the National Hispanic Agenda that issued a failing grade to Bonilla for his votes on major national issues affecting Hispanics.
The consortium of Hispanic groups gave Bonilla a 30 percent rating, ranking just above U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay but below U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson and U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall -- all conservative Republicans.
"He's had nothing but bad votes," Bonilla's San Antonio colleague Rodriguez said. "This is not about Bonilla or Cuellar. It's about making sure that we have someone who's responsive, someone who's addressing the needs that confront all of us. We're looking at some real serious issues on Social Security, not to mention education. He will probably now give us lip service, but he hasn't been there for us in the past."
Threats alleged
There have also been allegations that Bonilla, a member of the powerful House Appropriation Committee, has threatened to strong-arm colleagues who show too much enthusiasm for Cuellar. Bonilla denies making such threats.
"Oh yes, he has," Congressman Rodriguez of San Antonio said. "There's no doubt he's already gone around threatening people. He's talked to us and gave all indications that he would cut appropriations in San Antonio and in various other areas. That's unfortunate."
Bonilla said he has not threatened to undermine Rodriguez or anyone else who is supporting Cuellar: "Too bad if he perceives that. ... I do not choose to respond or concern myself with somebody who does not live or vote in my area."
Gonzalez said Bonilla also surveyed the extent of his support for Cuellar in the coming race.
Bonilla did not try to intimidate him, Gonzalez said. But he trusts Rodriguez's interpretation.
"I don't think Ciro would exaggerate. I know Ciro would not lie," he said.
El Paso's congressman is aware of the alleged threat and the spying episode at the fund-raiser.
"There's no need to react that way," Reyes said. "He said that he's not worried, that he's not concerned at all that this is a serious threat to his re-election. If it's not, then there's no need to resort to those kinds of tactics."
Targeted district
Both the Democratic national party and the Democratic Hispanic Caucus, of which Reyes is chairman, are targeting Bonilla's district.
"Obviously, the Republicans have a lot more at stake, so we fully anticipate that they're going to raise whatever money they feel is necessary to protect the seat," Reyes said.
For Republicans, the election focus on the 23rd Congressional District is to hang on to their only Mexican-American member, Reyes said. For Democrats, it means adding to their 18-member Hispanic caucus and bringing in someone who will stand up for border issues.
Cuellar has visited El Paso twice since announcing his candidacy in January. His signature issues deal with education and health care, which he pushed as a state legislator.
"People are going to keep hearing me as a U.S. congressman talking about education and health care," he said. "I intend to spend a lot of time in El Paso. El Paso is a border community just like Laredo. I understand the border."
Bonilla is virtually guaranteed to win his home base in northwest San Antonio, but Cuellar's Webb County back yard offers the largest bloc of voters.
Laredoan Tony Sanchez is running for governor and is expected to inspire a huge voter turnout from Laredo -- which should help Cuellar.
On bad terms
But Bonilla supporters note that Cuellar remains on bad terms with other leading Laredo Democrats, such as state Sen. Judith Zaffirini and Rep. Richard Raymond. The bad blood, they hope, could minimize Sanchez's spillover support for Cuellar.
Both national parties certainly will keep their eye on the district.
Speaking to the raucous rally, El Paso's Reyes hinted that the campaign will get hotter in the months ahead.
"This is going to be one of the most important elections, one of the most important opportunities that you as Laredoans will ever have," he said. "There's a lot of stake here. There's lot of things that we could go into this afternoon that we won't, but that we will during the course of the next seven or eight months."
Gary Scharrer may be reached at gscharrer@elpasotimes.com
Hey Torie, speaking of which, what about that Texas governor's race? Am I reading my articles correctly, that Perry could be in trouble? Or is that wishful thinking from the AP?
Be Seeing You,
Chris
The is Perry Race to lose......plus there is no way TX will vote for a Pro-choice ( Yes , he's told NARAL he's pro-choice -------,plus he's for State TAX, and he' no conservtive )............... PLUS W shouldn't be President if GOP loses the GOV or the senate race in Texas..........
This is Perry Race to lose......plus there is no way TX will vote for a Pro-choice ( Yes , he's told NARAL he's pro-choice -------,plus he's for State TAX, and he' no conservtive )............... PLUS W shouldn't be President if GOP loses the GOV or the senate race in Texas..........
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