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Each side has its spin on redistricting standoff
San Antonio Express-News ^ | August 3, 2003 | Guillermo X. Garcia and Peggy Fikac

Posted on 08/03/2003 9:59:37 AM PDT by Dog Gone

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — To hear the political play-by-play, Democrats' effort to defeat a Republican redistricting plan is a high-stakes game between the Partisan Power-Grabbers and the Runaway Crybabies.

photo Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, greets his son, Leland Ellis, 4, at the airport in Albuquerque, N.M. Leland was there Saturday for a visit.
Jerry Lara/Express-News

The 11 Democratic senators who fled here from Texas to stop GOP-backed congressional redistricting say they're fighting a power play coached by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, one that threatens representation for minorities.

Back home in Austin, Gov. Rick Perry leads the Republican chorus in accusing Democrats of skipping out on the special legislative session, the second one this year, which includes not just redistricting, but such items as health-care funding.

"There were hundreds of thousands — millions — of Texans who went to work this morning, and they expect their legislators to be at work also," Perry said last week. "We have work to do in this state, and there are 11 senators who are bringing all of that work to a halt."

To underscore its point, the Republican Party of Texas sent what it calls a tongue-in-cheek "care package" to the Democrats. It includes baby rattles, pacifiers and diapers — or what the party described as "behavior-appropriate undergarments."

That bit of partisan wit aside, both sides have shown remarkable team discipline in making their arguments.

The "Texas 11" as the senators call themselves, have stuck to a single basic message: the removal of a longstanding Senate rule to get redistricting enacted is a direct slap at minority voters whom they represent, and they're not coming back until Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst agrees to restore the procedure — which would allow them to continue to block redistricting.

In daily media briefings, Democrats claim to hold the high moral ground. They won't let a bill come up for debate that they say would marginalize 1.4 million African American and Hispanic, mostly Democratic, voters if new lines are drawn.

"We are speaking from the heart, and we are of one view, so we speak with one voice," said Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo.

Tuesday morning, the day after Democrats left the state to keep the 31-member Senate from having a quorum to conduct business, Dewhurst gathered Republican senators in the reception room behind the Senate chamber. They were handed a list of what were later described as "talking points."

Among them: "We're here to do the work that the governor has called us in to do, which is to fulfill our constitutional obligation to redraw congressional districts. ... Republicans were in the same position when we were in the minority party in 1991, and we didn't even think about breaking a quorum."

To counter the Democrats' point that most who testified at public hearings on redistricting opposed the idea, it suggested this reply: "I believe there is a great silent majority out there that simply expects us to do the job that they elected us to do as Republicans."

The GOP, which controls all statewide elected offices and has a legislative majority, says it should have a bigger voice in the Texas congressional delegation, which now has 15 Republicans and 17 Democrats.

Republicans note current lines were put in place by a federal court because the 2001 Legislature didn't do the job, and they say Texans want lawmakers to draw the districts. They insist new districts won't hurt minority voting strength.

Each side has played to the crowd with daily news conferences, e-mails, faxed news releases and competing polls.

The GOP has offered a satellite feed of the empty Senate chamber and Republican officeholders' comments to television stations around Texas.

"There are a whole bunch of TV stations that don't get a chance to cover the Capitol, and we're going to help 'em," said Dave Beckwith, spokesman for Dewhurst, whose comments were included in the video feed.

"I'm told by my Senate colleagues that the Republicans are going to spend between $10 (million) and $15 million on (an ongoing) media blitz," said Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston. "Seems to me that Perry and Dewhurst have gone into campaign mode pretty early.

"Ain't no way we can come close to that, but I am hopeful that the people will realize that this canned, controlled, bought message is what it is."

Beckwith, the Dewhurst spokesman, laughed when he heard the money figure and said" "Paranoia is running rampant in Albuquerque ... I'm not going to confirm or deny that. I want to keep them guessing."

But getting information out to the public is a natural response by the GOP, he said.

"The more the public knows about this situation, the better it is for us," Beckwith said.

The message from Republican leaders in Austin "is to try and justify a pure power grab, and the people will not go for it," predicted Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio.

Another front in the public relations war is over the Democrats' accommodations.

Like the 51 House members who fled the state to block redistricting during the regular session, the breakaway senators say they are using their own money. More than a few of them are wealthy and they continue to accept their salaries, but they have vowed not to draw per diem while out of state.

But the House Democrats rode all night in buses, stayed at a Holiday Inn in Ardmore, Okla., and ate at a Denny's. The senators fled in two private jets donated by two businessmen from the Rio Grande Valley who are frequent contributors to Democratic candidates. Their hideout is a $160-per-night Marriott in this high desert city.

The Democrats say they don't want to be there.

Dewhurst has taken an on-the-job approach to putting pressure on the AWOL Democrats. He appointed some of them to education committees last week, and he announced the first meeting of the Texas Strategic Military Preparedness Commission, which will look at the state's response to proposed base closings — important to San Antonio senators, including a couple of the absent ones.

State spokesmen for both parties said they expect the dispute to be a future campaign issue.

For now, Texans who aren't already staunchly partisan may not be moved by either side's spin, political scientist Cal Jillson of Southern Methodist University said.

"I think that most voters are sufficiently familiar with political spin to tune it out," he said. "I think at this point ... the Republicans will believe Perry and the Democrats will believe the people in Albuquerque.

"I think the independents and thoughtful observers are bemused at this point, with a tendency to become disgusted."



TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: redistricting
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1 posted on 08/03/2003 9:59:38 AM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: deport; MeeknMing
It's a hard PR war to win, with the liberal newspapers solidly behind the Rats.

But I'm glad we're trying, especially since we have a winning argument.

2 posted on 08/03/2003 10:13:10 AM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Dog Gone
Are there any Albuquerque freepers out there that can pay these bozos a visit?

So what is the "end game" in all of this? If they don't redraw the lines, do the lines stay the same or does a panel of judges do it again?

3 posted on 08/03/2003 10:16:21 AM PDT by SC Swamp Fox (Aim small, miss small.)
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To: SC Swamp Fox
The lines would stay the same if the GOP drops this effort, but don't look for that to happen. The Rats are looking for an exit strategy, because they can't win this war.
4 posted on 08/03/2003 10:25:43 AM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Dog Gone
I'm sure many of the 'rats think the Pubbies are power mad but the center and the right look at the 'rats as chickens and obstructionists.

What little I know about Texas pride tells me even the 'rats don't like to be considered cowards. I gotta think this issue is hurting the 'rats with at least some of their own voters, and I'm positive it is not making converts out of any voters in the middle or the right.
5 posted on 08/03/2003 10:34:40 AM PDT by Once-Ler (I vote Dubya)
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To: Dog Gone
Well, I have to say this is about the most balanced article I've seen on the issue. Maybe AP and the NYT should send their reporters to the San Antonio Express-News to learn a little about unpartisan reporting.

6 posted on 08/03/2003 10:42:06 AM PDT by swilhelm73
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To: Dog Gone
After about the 4th SS maybe a crack will begin to show in the democrats resolve. SS #6 will get it into Dec. if it goes that far and are called back to back.....
7 posted on 08/03/2003 10:49:42 AM PDT by deport
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To: Dog Gone
The 11 Democratic senators who fled here from Texas to stop GOP-backed congressional redistricting say they're fighting a power play coached by U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, one that threatens representation for minorities.

A power play? The people of Texas put them in the majority. They have every right to do the redistricting as they see fit. Apparently, the Democrats were ok with all the power plays in the world when they controlled the majority for well over a century.

The "Texas 11" as the senators call themselves, have stuck to a single basic message: the removal of a longstanding Senate rule to get redistricting enacted is a direct slap at minority voters whom they represent,

Tooo....damn...bad. Redistricting is about census numbers, which district has how much of a population. Not about segregating districts by race.

and they're not coming back until Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst agrees to restore the procedure — which would allow them to continue to block redistricting.

Goodbye. Stay there then. Without the procedure in place, you can't block redistricting, in which case, who needs you back?

In daily media briefings, Democrats claim to hold the high moral ground. They won't let a bill come up for debate that they say would marginalize 1.4 million African American and Hispanic, mostly Democratic, voters if new lines are drawn.

"We are speaking from the heart, and we are of one view, so we speak with one voice," said Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo.

"Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever" -George Wallace


8 posted on 08/03/2003 10:59:42 AM PDT by lowbridge (You are the audience. I am the author. I outrank you! -Franz Liebkind, The Producers)
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To: swilhelm73
Well, I have to say this is about the most balanced article I've seen on the issue.

I agree. It was a rare find.

9 posted on 08/03/2003 11:00:19 AM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: lowbridge
If the GOP plan threatens representation for minorities, it won't be approved by the Justice Dept or the courts. The 11 chickens don't have to fight that battle.

It's a lie, anyway. The GOP plan creates a new hispanic district and a new black district. How is that a setback for minorities?

10 posted on 08/03/2003 11:03:09 AM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: swilhelm73
Well, I have to say this is about the most balanced article I've seen on the issue.

I hate it. It treats the Democrats arguments and lies for running away as something to be taken seriously and factually. As if their lies were good reasons for running away. And as if the Republican argument was, for better or worse, an equal argument.

11 posted on 08/03/2003 11:03:17 AM PDT by lowbridge (You are the audience. I am the author. I outrank you! -Franz Liebkind, The Producers)
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To: Dog Gone
The GOP plan creates a new hispanic district and a new black district. How is that a setback for minorities?

Segregated districts are ALWAYS setbacks for minorites, even if the segregation is in their favor (assuming that these hispanic and black districts are created on purpose rather than what the census numbers show). But the Dems dont care about that. All they care about is winning the propaganda war, making themselves look good and the opposition like a bunch of racists, no matter who gets hurt, and the Republicans might be making the mistake of creating the minority districts (assuming its on purpose) just to placate liberal propaganda.

12 posted on 08/03/2003 11:10:38 AM PDT by lowbridge (You are the audience. I am the author. I outrank you! -Franz Liebkind, The Producers)
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To: lowbridge
I guess the point is that just about every other article written on the subject is unbalanced in favor of the Rats.
13 posted on 08/03/2003 11:11:34 AM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: lowbridge
I think the Republicans are very clever in purposefully creating two new minority districts.

First, it helps the map comply with the Voting Rights Act, and survive court challenges.

Secondly, it is doing so at the expense of liberal white Democrats, and a couple of Yellow Dogs. When this map finally passes, the only elected Democrats in Texas are going to be minorities.

And they'll tend to be very liberal minorities.

Whites and moderates of all races in Texas will be driven to vote Republican.

It isn't minorities who will be hurt by the new plan. It's white Democrats. They'll be extinct.

14 posted on 08/03/2003 11:19:07 AM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Dog Gone
Man, I'm getting sick of Van De Puke ! (pardon the pun).

The message from Republican leaders in Austin "is to try and justify a pure power grab, and the people will not go for it," predicted Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio.


15 posted on 08/03/2003 11:19:32 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP (Bu-bye Dixie Chimps! / Coming Soon !: Freeper site on Comcast. Found the URL. Gotta fix it now.)
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To: Dog Gone
It isn't minorities who will be hurt by the new plan. It's white Democrats. They'll be extinct.

Well, that's better. As long as white Democrats become extinct. I'm all for that. :-)

16 posted on 08/03/2003 11:27:33 AM PDT by lowbridge (You are the audience. I am the author. I outrank you! -Franz Liebkind, The Producers)
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To: yall
Here is a list of recent articles on Redistricting:

FR Search: Keyword "Redistricting"

08-03-2003
Each side has its spin on redistricting standoff


08-03-2003
Dewhurst's reputation depends on 11 who fled


07-31-2003
Dewhurst: I'm honoring tradition and precedent
(Article exposes ‘RAT Lies!!)

Congressional districts in Texas today are essentially those drawn by a partisan Legislature in 1991. At that time, a national publication called the Texas map the most outrageously gerrymandered redistricting effort in the nation, resulting in Democratic strength in our congressional delegation well beyond its representation among voters.

Our congressional lines are even more outdated today. When the Legislature failed to draw new lines to accommodate Texas' two new congressional seats in 2001, the job fell to a federal court. The judges made the fewest changes possible to the existing 1991 map, in essence protecting incumbents.

07-29-2003
Democrats bolt again – to New Mexico
(Senators trying to halt new special session on redistricting)


Link to pics of the 11 Democrat Senators that Obstructed Redistricting
(Post #4)


07-28-2003
Session ends as 11 Democrats slip out
(Dem's Flee state again!)


07-26-2003
GOP effort to redraw districts is crushed
[Texas redistricting]


07-24-2003
Democrats may be free to flee - constitutionally protected, says lawyer


07-24-2003
As new Texas redistricting map offered,
Dewhurst says compromise is in the air


07-23-2003
Committee passes redistricting bill (Texas)


07-23-2003
Texas Republican Senators Forge Ahead on Congressional Redistricting Plans


07-19-2003
[Texas] Senators talk of boycotting any redistricting session

Mr. Dewhurst said he would be on solid ground in working around the Senate tradition requiring a two-thirds vote to take up a bill. The late Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, a Democrat, did the same thing in a 1992 special session on legislative redistricting, Mr. Dewhurst said.

07-18-2003
New map, same pain for Dems
(Texas Redistricting fun)


07-17-2003
New map surfacing in Texas Senate


07-16-2003
Dewhurst at crossroads on redistricting in Texas Senate


07-15-2003
Ratliff joins Democrats to oppose redistricting

The state Republican Party was quick to point out that the [2/3rd’s] rule has been abandoned on occasion – such as when the Senate took up a state senatorial redistricting plan in 1992.

07-09-2003
DROP IT -- Redistricting would benefit few Texans, harm many
(Editorial)


07-08-2003
Senators have problems with House redistricting map - Texas redistricting


07-08-2003
House passes remap
Veteran Democrats may lose seats if bill goes through Senate


Above article is worthy of showing that a picture indeed is worth a thousand words:
First the Chicken D’s run away to Ardmore, Oklahoma. That didn’t work, so here they are,
still having a fit during the Redistricting debate:


As King began his argument for the new congressional boundaries Monday afternoon, about 30 Democrats in the gallery donned white socks as hand puppets to mock King. Every time he spoke, the little white mouths flapped.

07-07-2003
TEXAS REDISTRICTING--Vote TONIGHT!


07-07-2003
Race rhetoric stokes Texas redistricting fire


07-07-2003
Tension may soar as map debate hits House floor - Texas redistricting


07-06-2003
House panel quickly passes Republican redistricting plan -
map likely to unseat six Democrats


07-04-2003
New GOP map restores (Rep. Martin Frost's) district


07-03-2003
Republicans pull proposed map - redistricting


07-03-2003
Chamber of Commerce and GI Forum Hire Temps to Testify


07-02-2003
The Great Texas Power Grab - redistricting


07-01-2003
Tx Democrats Trying Fight, Not Flight, Over Districts
(The-Terrific-Texan-Special-Session)


17 posted on 08/03/2003 11:31:38 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP (Bu-bye Dixie Chimps! / Coming Soon !: Freeper site on Comcast. Found the URL. Gotta fix it now.)
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To: Dog Gone
I guess the point is that just about every other article written on the subject is unbalanced in favor of the Rats.

True. Articles such as this one is indeed rare. I wish to see the media stop taking the Democrats lies at face value. It's happening a LITTLE, but not enough for me. :-)

18 posted on 08/03/2003 11:34:18 AM PDT by lowbridge (You are the audience. I am the author. I outrank you! -Franz Liebkind, The Producers)
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To: MeeknMing
You do a great job with that index.
19 posted on 08/03/2003 11:34:31 AM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: swilhelm73; Dog Gone
On second thought, "hate" might be the wrong word. I don't hate the article. It IS amazing to see a balanced one, but it still kinda rankles me that the Dems lies are treated "fairly" alongside the Republicans truths.
20 posted on 08/03/2003 11:39:42 AM PDT by lowbridge (You are the audience. I am the author. I outrank you! -Franz Liebkind, The Producers)
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