David Dewhurst: The George Pataki of Texas

"Announcer: This is an official warning to all Texas conservatives. Your TV is about to be jammed with political commercials, from politicians you’ve never heard of, making empty promises you’ve heard too many times before. So how do you sort through it all? Don’t just listen to what they say; look at what they’ve done. In the race for U.S. Senate, only one candidate has balanced five budgets without raising taxes, and cut taxes 51 times. It’s Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst. Only one candidate repeatedly cut spending and passed strong pro-life legislation – David Dewhurst."

- David Dewhurst Campaign Radio Ad

As the U.S. Senate race in Texas heats up, I keep hearing this radio ad from Lt. Governor/U.S. Senate candidate David Dewhurst.  The ad, has aired the past few days on Glenn and Rush's radio shows, is bullcrap; Lt. Governor Dewhurst is claiming credit he does not deserve for Governor Rick Perry's record.  As Lt. Governor, David Dewhurst has led on nothing and obstructed much.

I want to draw a simple analogy for east coast political reporters: David Dewhurst is the George Pataki of Texas politics.  Pataki, the former governor of New York State, is best known for claiming credit for Rudy Giuliani's record.  As someone with roots in both New York and Texas, I can attest to the parallels.

It's an open secret in Austin that Dewhurst and Pataki are good friends.  Indeed, I first met Dewhurst at a 2010 event he did WITH Pataki.  The level of contempt David Dewhurst and George Pataki hold for regular people is palpable.

The best way to understand David Dewhurst and George Pataki is to look at their respective records' when Rick Perry and Rudy Giulani are taken out of the picture.  Between 2003 and 2006, Dewhurst repeatedly advocated increasing taxes.  In 2011, Dewhurst was all over the place regarding Texas' rainy day fund.  George Pataki's record as Governor of New York was similarly atrocious.  These are only a few examples.

Some people get into politics for principle, most get in for power.  Rick Perry and Rudy Giulani are courageous reformers; David Dewhurst and George Pataki were crony capitalists in the right place at the right time.  Rick Perry and Rudy Giulani have taken on special interests and won; David Dewhurst and George Pataki have cut deals with those special interests.  If you can't resist special interests in Austin, what makes you think you can resist them in Washington D.C.?!?

Based on his pathetic record David Dewhust does not belong anywhere near the U.S. Senate, but the character issues revealed by his willingness to claim credit for Rick Perry's accomplishments takes the cake....