Sheila Jackson Lee accuses GOP of "racism" for using her photo in an email message

US Congress website of her heinous ^ | 6/26/03 | Sheila Jackson Lee press release

[GOPcapitalist]

For Immediate Release - June 26, 2003
Contact: Nkenge Harmon
(202) 225-3816

WASHINGTON, DC – This week the Harris County Republican Party of Texas sent an e-mail to its members soliciting their attendance at a redistricting hearing that will occur in Houston on Saturday. The Republican’s e-mail depicted Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee without mention of her name. (A copy of the e-mail follows this page.) After reading the offensive e-mail Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee said: “In order to provoke their party members to attend redistricting hearings in the 18th Congressional District of Texas, Republican Party officials stooped to their lowest level of party politics. Just when we thought they couldn’t go any lower the Republicans have outdone themselves with this e-mail.”

“They used a photo of me to play the race card. They did not include photos of the other Representatives from the Houston area although there are three. You do not see Reps. Chris Bell, or Gene Green, or Nick Lampson. The three of them are white males; none of them were referred to by name and none of them had their picture utilized.” “Instead of requesting that their members attend the redistricting hearings to have their positions heard on this important issue, the Republican Party chose to plaster my picture on their e-mail. If that is not bad enough, the Republicans chose not to use my name. They chose only to use a picture of an African American women with the language below it stating, ‘She will be there to express her views.’ They chose to circulate this e-mail as if there is some ominous overtone to an African-American woman attending this weekend’s redistricting hearings to state her opinion.”

“I do not believe for a minute that everyone to whom this e-mail was directed knows that is a picture of the Congresswoman from the 18th District. Many of them will simply see an African-American behind the podium, along with the Republicans’ foreboding language. Unfortunately, the Republicans chose to play the race card. It is deceitful and it is shameful. The Harris Country Republican Party should not simply apologize to me. They should apologize to the African-Americans in the Houston area and across the nation. The race card has no place in politics or in a democratic society, that seeks participation from all of its citizens.”

“This shameful episode provides additional proof that the Republicans created this redistricting plan to disenfranchise African-Americans in the 18th District. In fact, this ugly incident lays bare the fact that Republicans are truly seeking to destroy the 18th District and other districts across Texas that are home to large numbers of people of color. It is also obvious that Republicans desire to flood this week’s hearings with a lopsided display that might falsely reflect that most Texans are satisfied with the redistricting plan.”

“I am disappointed that rather than waging a fair political battle, the Republicans are playing the race card to force Majority Leader Tom Delay’s redistricting plan on our state. The Republican governor and state legislators in Texas are not attempting to work in the best interests of Texans but rather in the best interests of Tom Delay and Washington politics.”

“Let us not turn the clock back on the representation many fought so hard to attain. I call for all Texans of goodwill to attend the upcoming redistricting hearings. Come to the hearings to express your views, not because of a racist solicitation e-mail. Come to the hearing because you want to be heard.”

[barkeep]

OK folks, here's the scoop. Pay no mind to the House or its hearings, including the mini-riot in Brownsville today. No, you cannot change House quorum rules in special session, but that is irrelevant. Ardmore had nothing to do with redistricting, it was smoke and mirrors to take everyone's eyes off the Senate, which is where it either will or won't be done. The House would surely have passed it in regular session, and barring a weekend surprise with another Camporee, it will in special session as well.

The rule that COULD be changed is the one in the Senate requiring a two thirds vote to bring anything to the floor. That is why Ardmore was bull, everybody knew the issue was DOA in the Senate. The Democrats have 12 Senators. They only need 11 to see to it redistricting never sees the light of day.

Two things can happen to change this: Lt. Gov Dewhurst can reneg on his pledge not to change Senate rules for the Special session (unlikely; he thinks he is saving the Republican Party from itself); or Perry can successfully bribe at least one Democrat if Sen. Lucio has his bypass surgery now, or TWO Democrats if Lucio takes a chance against his doctor's advice.

If the Dems had this totally saucered and blowed, they could present Gov with a formal letter signed by 11 Dem Senators and everybody stays home Monday as there would no longer be any point to this one issue special session. That has not been done because there is a furious amount of arm twisting and abject bribery going on. EBay ain't got nothing on this. Stay alert over the weekend, but ay least know the program. The players to watch (so far) are Lucio, Armbrister, and Madla. Republicans Wentworth and Ratliff may play minor roles in this but the real auction is going to be the three Dems I listed.

[Libertina]

She's almost in a pretzel shape trying to inject race into everything. Obsessed too. I suppose the Chinese expression of "having a black heart - ta yo xin hai si de" would be out of place here. ;)

[Squantos]

Race card is clearly being played and it was'nt the GOP that dealt it..........Jackson-Lee's SOP in my opinion.

Stay Safe !

[Post Toasties]

Sheila Jackson Lee's irrational & incontinent outburst fully justified her photo being put on the flyer (as a silent warning of how partisan divisiveness, dishonesty and viciousness call the 'Rat's tune).

[Tex_GOP_Cruz]

One minor clarification: since you're talking about Queen Sheila, the word should be spelled terrorisn and pronounced "terr-isn." :-) After all, that's how she says it.

[weegee]

"On a separate note, this has to be the first ever recorded incident in which Sheila Jackson Lee actually objected to seeing a photo of herself."

Big BUMP to that.

[Kenton]

Dear Sheila - You're taking this all wrong. It wasn't a put-down directed at Black people as a group, it was more personal than that. It was directed at YOU and your record of leftwing extremism.

I know it's hard for you not to play the race card, since it's the only thing you've got.

[TC Rider]

One minor clarification: since you're talking about Queen Sheila, the word should be spelled terrorisn and pronounced "terr-isn." :-) After all, that's how she says it.

I'm axing you if that's your bleef or word to your mother.

[stainlessbanner]

No one watches either of them.

Ha! I actually saw Rep Jackson Lee on CSPAN the other day discussing small business insurance. She absolutely made my head hurt by dancing around the topic and interjecting issues like poverty, racism, and affirmative action into every aspect of the discussion.

It was painful.

[AK2KX]

Racist? Oh no. We are just being "Diverse" in our photography, which is required by law (well, fiat anyway.)

Yep, just look at or listen to ads for McDonalds or Disney... two of the biggest offenders.

[Under the Radar]

Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!

[Xenalyte]

"You do not see Reps. Chris Bell, or Gene Green, or Nick Lampson."

That's because although they ARE dumbasses, they're not as egregiously dumbassed as Sheila Jackass Leech.

[Xenalyte]

"If that is not bad enough, the Republicans chose not to use my name. They chose only to use a picture of an African American women with the language below it stating, ‘She will be there to express her views.’"

Is there anyone out there who DOESN'T recognize her?

[sheik yerbouty]

I accuse that racist @$%$##! of extreme stupidity.

[jimt]

Being a racist communist herself, Queen Sheila sees racism in everybody else.

The most logical reason for having her picture there is that she's far and away the most obnoxious of the four. If you dyed her green she'd still be a racist communist, and still as objectionable.

[dennisw]

Funny... thanks for backgrounder. I remember the Leland crash and the big deal made about this dashiki dude.


From the internet--->


In 1978 Leland constructed the National Black-Hispanic Democratic Coalition that drew attention at the Democratic midterm convention in Memphis. Leland took the congressional seat vacated by Barbara Jordanqv of Houston later that same year. Leland served actively for over ten years in the United States House of Representatives. Many members considered his style flamboyant with his dashiki, Afro haircut, and eccentric hats. Eventually Leland abandoned these more unconventional characteristics and made attempts to establish bipartisan relationships.

[dennisw]

http://www.houstonhungernet.org/mickey/archive.htm

[blackdog]

Actually I find her quite attractive in person. Her photos don't do her justice. It's scary though to see a woman who has not smiled or injected a small attempt at humor into anything for a decade.

She is one scary, bitter, miserable, power drunk, limo driven, hair extensioned, pile of estrogen.

[m18436572]

Heck, for that matter, we're all racist for posting to this thread!