Tension in CD22
Since Tom DeLay has announced bailing out of his congressional seat, Republicans in the district feeling the pressure. They are reelling from the embarrassment of losing a leader, and getting someone to replace Tom. And they are angry, angry at the Democrats who kept pushing at about his possible ethical transgressions. The stage is set so Nick Lampson decides to have a speach and show of force at the Sugar Land City Hall steps. An almost riot breaks out.We do not want a Democrat in this area," said DeLay supporter Vera Kuhn. All the while the Democrat struggled to talk above the roar. "I think it shows the kind of thing DeLay said he doesn't want, and this is coming from his camp," Lampson said. "I have no comment on who organized this," said DeLay supporter Leonard Cash. Turns out, DeLay's campaign manager is largely responsible. He admits sending an e-mail urging DeLay supporters to give Lampson a parting shot that wrecks his press conference. When asked if he had written an e-mail that read 'Let's give Lampson a parting shot that wrecks his press conference', "We absolutely were interested in bringing out Republican activists to that press conference and letting Mr. Lampson know they don't appreciate him being a liberal from Beaumont. That is my e-mail where I was contacting Republican activists," said Chris Homa, DeLay Campaign Mgr. While it was mostly a war of words, several women at the event in support of Lampson said that they were pushed and shoved by male DeLay supporters. One woman says she was assaulted by two different men, and that she's considering filing charges
Although things apparently settled down before things got out of hand, and no one was seriously hurt. It could have been much worse. Tom DeLay's critics have accused him of bullying and arrogence. This public display did nothing to refute the tactics. Most of the area Republicans will admit it was a bad call, but the incident does unscore the anger that Republicans are feeling over Tom's resignation.
Chris Elam offers some excellent advice.
I'm sorry. I apologize if I have offended anyone by speaking out so strongly. But today's actions were a bad idea. Bad for Tom DeLay's reputation. Bad for the reputation of Fort Bend Republicans. And bad for the notion of letting Lampson just wither away into oblivion as we draw into November.
Sure, I wasn't there. I don't know who pushed who. I don't know who hit what. I don't know what was said about your wife, or your momma, or your faith, or your heritage.
But I do know that it wasn't at all necessary for there to be a counter-protest organized by the remains of the DeLay campaign. Tom DeLay has quit. Tom DeLay has moved out of our community. Tom DeLay has stepped aside to let someone else fill his place. That person isn't going to be Nick Lampson, not by a longshot.
Look folks... I know the emotions are high! I know it SUCKS to see a GOP giant like DeLay resign his office. I know you are feeling charged up, ready to stick it to the libs, ready to fight for your principles...
But there are other ways. More important ways. Less distracting ways.
I know most of the people who were rallying against Lampson. They're good people. They have the best interests of our party and our nation at heart.
But I think this was a waste of time, and it has backfired horribly. Cindy Sheehan-like protests and attention tactics aren't what our party should be about, and we should learn from her QUICK fall from grace, just how much the public really cares about such demonstrations.
While Juanita posts an email from Lampson's campaign that displays civility and respect from both sides at once.
We are extremely grateful for the many Republicans who emailed and called our campaign to apologize (even though it wasn't their obligation to do so) and say they really did not like what they saw from the DeLay staff yesterday. Sometimes, it's easy for those of us on the Lampson staff to get caught up in the back and forth with the dirty politics with the DeLay campaign. But this is the kind of positive outpouring that reminds those of us on staff that Nick is right, and we can reach out to folks on both sides of the aisle with civility and common sense. That's what separates our campaign from the bullying tactics and backroom dealing of Tom DeLay and his cronies.
At least some folks in both partys are showing some clas.
Greg in TX CD22 brings up some of differences within CD22 district Republicans.
Harris County (primarily Clear Lake) is the center of Republican politics in TX22. And as a Brazoria County resident, I feel much more connected to Clear Lake than Fort Bend County. Besides, the Harris County section of TX22 has a greater population than the Fort Bend County section.Some don't get it.
Fort Bend Republicans are desperately trying to hold onto this seat. Their ugliness is based on two factors: (1) The fear it may go to Harris County; and (2) The fear it may go to Campbell even if it stays in Fort Bend.
I don't know why the establishment Republican Party in Fort Bend supported DeLay despite his obvious ethical and character shortcomings. The establishment party feels wounded by DeLay's announcement that he will resign. That is why they went on a rampage at the Lampson event. The Fort Bend establishment still attacks anyone who doesn't accept their "wisdom".
Basically, Lampson set up in front of the microphones and started talking about why he thinks Tom DeLay should have resigned earlier this week to allow Gov. Rick Perry to call an immediate special election.
He got about three sentences out when a bunch of folks with red, orange and green signs and a bullhorn swooped in, pushed up on either side and directly behind Lampson and started exercising their First Amendment right to deny Lampson his First Amendment right to say what he had to say.
One conservative Sugar Land Republican who opted not to attend the festivities told me the reasoning behind this display of, um, politics in action.
It’s a political gang thing, he essentially said. Lampson thought he could campaign smack in the middle of DeLay turf. And it was up to the Sugar Land Conservative Cripps to welcome Mr. Rogers to the Hood.
The implication is that Democrats don't have a right to come into Republican territory is outragous.
Republicans should look at this whole situation with lots more optimism. DeLay was in trouble, his leadership in congress was gone, and he was never going to be as effective as once was. Whether or not Tom is guilty of the the charges in Austin, no one should be able to honestly believe this is a man of high moral charactor or that he truly represented his constituancy. While some feel that Tom was a true voice of conservative politics. He was a leader in creating huge budgets without the money to pay for it. I believe that Tom's conservative support was going to be eaten away by a Libertarian Bob Smithers. Republicans now have an oportunity to select a candidate that they can feel proud of. Hopefully, one that doesn't have a bunch of lobbyist on a leash, one that believes in serving the people and not proclaiming to be the govenment, one that isn't constantly pushing the edge of ethics laws.
posted by Liberty @ 9:58 AM
1 Comments:
Looks like the court ruling came down yesterday, and DeLay's name must stay on the ballot. Great news for Libertarian Bob Smithers. He's now picking up Republican consulting advice; expect some major Republicans to come out for him soon.
The District is heavily Republican and borders Ron Paul's District.
Smithers can beat Lampson. Republicans in the District lean libertarian, and generally admire Libertarians.
Republicans for Smithers to be formed very soon!
Follow the story at www.mainstreamlibertarian.com
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