At least that is what I got out of the comments from the Jerry Patterson and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst campaigns referring to Sen. Dan Patrick’s charge that they support in-state tuition for children that were brought to the U.S. illegally. From Patterson:
Patterson: “No Polite Way To Put This – Dan Patrick Is Lying”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2013
Contact: Chris Elam, Campaign Manager – 512.476.2014
AUSTIN – Today, Dan Patrick – a Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor – released a TV ad blatantly lying about Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson’s stance on in-state tuition for the children of illegal immigrants.
Patrick seems to have deliberately supersized the lie by continuing to make false accusations at various events – most recently last Thursday night at a debate hosted by the Clear Lake Tea Party in Harris County – when Senator Patrick stated to Commissioner Patterson:
“You and I were at a forum in Pasadena not long ago, and I made the statement that I am the only person running for Lieutenant Governor who opposes in-state tuition and you disagreed. You told the El Paso newspaper back in February that you oppose in-state tuition for illegals.“
(Clear Lake audio recording available here)
Commissioner Patterson addressed the lie in the Patrick TV advertisement saying: “There’s no polite way to put this – Dan Patrick is lying. Unlike others in this race, I didn’t vote for and I would have never voted for or supported in-state tuition for illegal aliens. Senator Patrick knows that fact. He knows that I am on the record on that fact. He personally mentioned it in a joint appearance just four days ago. And he knows that his TV ad is a lie.”
“It’s deplorable that Patrick would invoke the images of Houston, Travis, Bowie and Austin in an ad where he intentionally tells a lie about his opponent,” said Chris Elam, Patterson Campaign Manager. “An ‘authentic’ Republican would work to make the ad reflect the facts and not lie about the facts to reflect the ad. Given that Patrick had several days to change the ad after Commissioner Patterson successfully rebutted Patrick’s point in Clear Lake, this deceptive tactic is a strong indictment against his self-touted ‘authentic conservative leadership’.”
# # #
And from Lt. Gov. Dewhurst:
PATRICK LIES ABOUT DEWHURST’S POSITION ON IN-STATE TUITION FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
Official Statement:
“Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst has always opposed in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.” – Travis Considine, Spokesman For Lt. Governor David Dewhurst
Although I didn’t get a press release from Ag. Commissioner Todd Staples’ campaign, he has said previously that although he voted for the Texas DREAM bill, he is now against it.
So yeah, Sen. Dan Patrick is lying. But hey, it’s politics, who cares, right?
Look, I knew that Sen. Dan Patrick was going to be spewing this stuff the minute I heard that he hired slimeball Allen Blakemore as his general consultant. And yes, I’m sugarcoating it when I say slimeball. I’ll never forget the time that I paid $20 just to hear Blakemore talk about consulting. I didn’t attend with the intention of asking a question but in the end, I couldn’t resist. I asked him, how do you justify negative advertising when you know the stuff you are putting out isn’t true? I’ll never forget his response:
If you believe it is true, you have an obligation to tell the voters.
Think about that for a minute.
Apparently, Blakemore has convinced Sen. Dan Patrick that the plain truth on this issue isn’t so plain. Somehow, Sen. Dan Patrick “believes” that his opponents support a law that is very unpopular with current Republican primary voters. So Sen. Dan Patrick sits in front of a camera and blatantly lies, knowing full well that by act and word they don’t. But hey, in his heart of hearts, he “believes” they do.
Disgusting.
But not nearly as disgusting as all four of them running away from this law. I’m a conservative Republican, at least in the way conservative and Republican used to be defined. The Texas DREAM act, not to be confused with various federal DREAM act attempts that have to do with conferring citizenship on kids brought here illegally, is a conservative, Republican law. It is conservative because it is good public policy – that used to define us. It is Republican because most Republicans in the Texas Legislature at the time voted for it and Republican governor Rick Perry signed it into law. And Perry even defended it in his failed run for President last year, albeit ineffectively.
This is one of those times when it is embarrassing to point out a lie by a Republican candidate and embarrassing to point out how misguided all of the Republican candidates are on an issue. And yet another reason why I don’t attend events sponsored by the Texas Nationalist Movement. I love the U.S. and don’t want Texas to secede. Hard to believe that all four Republican candidates for Lt. Gov. legitimized that group with their presence.
That is all.
Okay. I get you don't like Dan Patrick. I'm not a big fan either. I also get that you are for providing tuition subsidies to illegal aliens. That's an argument for another day. What I don't get is why why you went out of your way to trash and smear the Clear Lake Tea Party. You seem to imply that by allowing them to purchase a sponsors table, the CLTP condones all positions associated with this group. Have you ever asked us our position? No. You also wonder why these candidates for Lt. Gov would how up at an event put on by such a radical group. But why stop there? Why not ask why Jared Woodfill was there or Paul Simpson? Why Chris Daniels, Barry Smitherman, and Roy Morales were there? Why was one of your favorite Big Jolly contributors, Ed Hubbard, there happily campaigning for Bill Frazer. How come you go across town to cover a similar event with the United Republicans on Tuesday, yet wouldn't cover a Lt. Gov debate in your own backyard. Please, do not merely imply your dislike of the tea party. I encourage you to go ahead and write a full blown researched article as to how bad the CLTP is for our community and the Republican Party. Say it like you mean it! Don't use innuendo to disparage the tea party. The Clear Lake Tea Party are concerned citizens who are trying to make a difference by doing things – not merely selectively reporting on things.
Dale, I did not mention the Clear Lake Tea Party. Not. One. Time.
Thank you.
I covered the original story out of El Paso at the time and my take on it then, as now, is that Patterson indeed was taking a position that would be strongly criticized. There was much intra-party discussion about it then and Patterson never did anything to back off the comment so, I think Patrick is in the clear on this one.
Dan Patrick supports a CON-CON which is a No-no.
The Republican attacks on Tea Party conservatives are coming Fast and Furious these days! 🙁
Dale, I did not mention the Clear Lake Tea Party. Not. One. Time.
Thank you.
Can't wait to hear why the author thinks a political organization seeking Texas independence is not 'legitimate'. Perhaps he should read Article 1, sections 1 & 2 of the Texas Constitution. I wonder if Barry Smitherman isn't 'legitimate' since he has stated Texas needs to prepare for the federal government's demise? http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/09/07/texas-politician-says-state-is-preparing-to-become-independent-nation-in-case-union-falls-apart/
How's that old-style Republicanism working out for ya these days, David? Are you sleeping well, watching Texas turn blue because you guys have excluded and alienated two-thirds of the voting age population?
I hate to break it to ya (and to Battleground Texas), but the Texas Nationalist Movement is a wee bit more than a single-issue/single-demographic organization. I spent much of my weekend in Gonzales at the Come and Take It Celebration discussing public education, and how best to reverse the tide of social engineering that has given us two generations of semi-literate government dependents. Every parent I spoke to asked me to do one thing when I win election to the State Board of Education: "Teach my kids to read." The system in place now in Texas was installed by your heroes, George Bush and Karl Rove — and I told people it wouldn't work in 1997.
And unlike you, the TNM and other conservative organizations like the Clear Lake Tea Party are reaching out to voters who are not white, 45 and older and fundamentalist. At the Come and Take It Celebration in Gonzales this weekend, we had people from ALL walks of life signing our petition to put the matter of independence to a straw vote in the primaries. My favorite was the older African-American gentleman who avowed that while he didn't support the idea of independence, affixing his name to the petition would help send a powerful message to that "dictator in Washington."
Texas tried your way, Mr. Jennings — and now our honored veterans are being arrested while criminals throw a party on the National Mall. You can't light up a cigarette or recite the Lord's Prayer, but it's perfectly fine to practice deviant sex anywhere you want. We have money to fund Obama's golf course and bomb Syria, but the families of our fallen will have to pay the burial expenses of our valiant sons and daughters who have fallen.
The time for compromise is past: a line in the sand has been drawn, and we have crossed it. We can't save Washington; it's lost. We CAN save Texas — and we will.
Is there a good point to have to say someone lied? I can tell you this, if our polititians did in fact uphold their oath of office, there would certainly be a whole lot less discussion about who said what, and who was telling the truth. Point is, I do not support ANYTHING provided to anyone who is here and shouldn’t be…period. I had a conversation with an individual just last week who was curious whether they would be able to stay in Texas if it did separate from the United States. My answer was, why…you are not here legally now, why would that change? Dave Mundy is correct, how’s that old style Republican stand working out for you. How it is that his free speech is ‘legitimate’ and yours/ours is not. Better yet, have you read and do you support t Article 1, Section 2 of the Texas Constitution? Maybe all this Hope and Change is getting the better of common sense among journalist.
Sir, I am wondering how YOU interpret these sections of the Texas Constitution?
And I am wondering how it is that you think your voice and opinion are important and valid , and mine are not?
THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 1. BILL OF RIGHTS
That the general, great and essential principles of liberty and free government may be recognized and established, we declare:
Sec. 1. FREEDOM AND SOVEREIGNTY OF STATE. Texas is a free and independent State, subject only to the Constitution of the United States, and the maintenance of our free institutions and the perpetuity of the Union depend upon the preservation of the right of local self-government, unimpaired to all the States.
Sec. 2. INHERENT POLITICAL POWER; REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT. All political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their benefit. The faith of the people of Texas stands pledged to the preservation of a republican form of government, and, subject to this limitation only, they have at all times the inalienable right to alter, reform or abolish their government in such manner as they may think expedient.
Sec. 3. EQUAL RIGHTS. All free men, when they form a social compact, have equal rights, and no man, or set of men, is entitled to exclusive separate public emoluments, or privileges, but in consideration of public services.
Disgusting!
I've never met a finer group of people.
Looks like the author cannot defend his remarks! It's no surprise as it would be impossible to do so… Can anyone even define what an 'illegitimate' political movement is? Maybe 'Anonymous' would qualify, but how to define it? The Texas Ethics Commission says the Texas Nationalist Movement is legitimate!