Thursday, May 2, 2013

Austin Chronicle Mischaracterizes Travis County Taxpayers Union


Those also who seek my life lay snares for me;
Those who seek my hurt speak of destruction,
And plan deception all the day long.


Psalm 38:12 

Perusing this story in the Austin Chronicle, by Richard Whittaker, about the strange timing of certain AISD personnel moves, Cahnman's Musings noticed this paragraph:
But opposition to the school bond cannot be written off solely to posturing by Repub­lican front groups. [Emphasis Mine] Last November's board elections became a community referendum on Carstarphen, and the 2013 bond election is shaping up the same way. If voters have too little faith in her ability to manage their funds, that could endanger dollars for essential investments.
 The antecedent to which the phrase "Republican front groups" refers is the Travis County Taxpayers Union, a local watchdog group (Full disclosure: Cahnman's Musings is loosely working with TCTU on the bond issue).  While Whittaker doesn't explain this designation, our educated guess is that is that Whittaker based his claim on the fact that TCTU president Don Zimmerman is a former member of the Texas State Republican Executive Committee.  Unfortunately, for Richard Whittaker, recent history belies the "Republican Front Group" allegation.

Last fall, the Travis County Taxpayers Union opposed Prop. 1, a hospital bond that Rick Perry supported; does Richard Whittaker honestly believe a "Republican front group" would oppose an initiative supported by Rick Perry?!?

This low-turnout May election deserves honest coverage, without reckless charges being thrown in the press; this sort of media coverage is yet another reason voters should slow this process down and vote AGAINST AISD props 1-4.

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