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Why I’m upset Republicans are undoing my faith in them & us (a brief thread).
For the record this true story involves both an election & a stolen baby.
Texas isn’t known as a “voter friendly” state. But in 2004, I was shown democracy mattered more than partisan interests.
For the record this true story involves both an election & a stolen baby.
Texas isn’t known as a “voter friendly” state. But in 2004, I was shown democracy mattered more than partisan interests.
Back in 2004, I served as Hubert Vo’s Field Director. He ran for State Representative against one of the most powerful members of the Texas Legislature:
Chairman of the Appropriations Committee Talmadge Heflin.
Here’s a great article on the race: https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/get-out-the-vo/
Chairman of the Appropriations Committee Talmadge Heflin.
Here’s a great article on the race: https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/get-out-the-vo/
To live up to the baby stealing part of this, here’s the relevant news story.
Quick summary: a powerful politician tried to get custody of his immigrant housekeeper’s child.
Turns out stealing a baby is bad politics. Especially in a really close race https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Lawmaker-wife-fight-ex-maid-for-her-baby-1982993.php
Quick summary: a powerful politician tried to get custody of his immigrant housekeeper’s child.
Turns out stealing a baby is bad politics. Especially in a really close race https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Lawmaker-wife-fight-ex-maid-for-her-baby-1982993.php
So baby stealing aside, the point of this story is the close election.
On election night, with our hard scrabble campaign team, Hubert Vo won his race by 33 votes.
Like clockwork, the words “voter fraud” came flowing out of Heflin’s losing campaign. https://www.chron.com/opinion/editorials/article/The-poorest-loser-Heflin-continues-to-fight-1946474.php
On election night, with our hard scrabble campaign team, Hubert Vo won his race by 33 votes.
Like clockwork, the words “voter fraud” came flowing out of Heflin’s losing campaign. https://www.chron.com/opinion/editorials/article/The-poorest-loser-Heflin-continues-to-fight-1946474.php
Andy Taylor, Heflin’s lawyer, said our team coordinated a massive fraud scheme that stole the election.
After an exhaustive investigation, a small number of errors were made by election officials had more to do with Dist 149 being on the border of Harris & Fort Bend Counties.
After an exhaustive investigation, a small number of errors were made by election officials had more to do with Dist 149 being on the border of Harris & Fort Bend Counties.
Eventually, with all corrections made, the margin was altered from 33 to 16 votes.
Would 16 votes matter?
It is worth noting there were 23 precincts in District 149.
A margin of less than 1 vote per precinct was the difference between winning & losing.
Your. Vote. Matters.
Would 16 votes matter?
It is worth noting there were 23 precincts in District 149.
A margin of less than 1 vote per precinct was the difference between winning & losing.
Your. Vote. Matters.
So Heflin, a powerful Republican in then President George W. Bush’s Texas, attempts to challenge the election in the Texas House of Representatives.
His fate would lie with Tom Craddick, the first Texas Republican Speaker since Reconstruction. Not someone to truffle with.
His fate would lie with Tom Craddick, the first Texas Republican Speaker since Reconstruction. Not someone to truffle with.
Craddick appointed Rep Will Hartnett to oversee the election challenge.
I was certain that those in power would take this race - just because they could.
Despite my partisan reservations, Hartnett was fair, ruling the challenge be dismissed. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/08/us/national-briefing-southwest-texas-defeated-lawmaker-drops-challenge.html
I was certain that those in power would take this race - just because they could.
Despite my partisan reservations, Hartnett was fair, ruling the challenge be dismissed. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/08/us/national-briefing-southwest-texas-defeated-lawmaker-drops-challenge.html
This election, the second campaign I had ever worked, had a tremendous impact on me.
It showed democracy mattered. Voters should be respected.
When it comes down to it, people, especially people in power, felt the responsibility to do what was right. They played it straight.
It showed democracy mattered. Voters should be respected.
When it comes down to it, people, especially people in power, felt the responsibility to do what was right. They played it straight.
That brings us to today.
With no evidence, just disappointing results, “voter fraud” is once again being thrown around.
No one has ever accused Texas Republicans of not being sufficiently loyal to their party. Those folks bleed red.
But they respected voters back in 2004.
With no evidence, just disappointing results, “voter fraud” is once again being thrown around.
No one has ever accused Texas Republicans of not being sufficiently loyal to their party. Those folks bleed red.
But they respected voters back in 2004.
I’m not sure what changed them between that State House race & this Presidential election.
The evidence is clear & margin is quite wide.
I just was hoping they would have the same integrity they showed in 2004.
It really made an impact on me & how I view elected officials.
The evidence is clear & margin is quite wide.
I just was hoping they would have the same integrity they showed in 2004.
It really made an impact on me & how I view elected officials.
I’m afraid the way they are acting now, it will have the exact opposite impact for those young people watching.
The concerns about President Trump have been around since he started to run.
The concerns about elected officials are going to live on after he eventually leaves.
The concerns about President Trump have been around since he started to run.
The concerns about elected officials are going to live on after he eventually leaves.
