The Increasingly Indefensible Campaign of David Simpson

Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
1 Corinthians 15:33

Earlier this cycle, we endorsed David Simpson.  We've donated money.  Unfortunately, since the race moved to the runoff, David's behavior has given us serious misgivings.

When the race began, it made sense.  Both David Simpson and Bryan Hughes are pro-Life.  Both are strong fiscal conservatives, but David historically has been a little better on corporate welfare.  It was a close call, but we were comfortable that we liked David just a little bit more.

But the past few weeks have severely tested that assessment, specifically on education.

About a month ago, Empower Texans noted:

And in an email to supporters on March 10, Simpson wrote that school choice plans that would “substantially alter public education is not in the best interest of our children, their parents, or the school districts in Senate District 1.”

Then, on Wednesday, David announced an endorsement:

Mount Pleasant – Today, former Lt. Governor Bill Ratliff endorsed Representative David Simpson in his May 25th runoff bid to replace retiring Senator Kevin Eltife.

"While we don't agree on every issue, we agree that Northeast Texas needs a Senator who represents us and is not beholden to anyone or any special interests,” said Ratliff.

“Senator Ratliff’s tenure in public office was a hallmark of political courage. He served with integrity and honor. He frequently took stands on difficult issues in face of withering criticism and did so for one reason only – it was the right thing to do for Senate District 1. I am honored to have his support,” said Simpson.

“In the words of Winston Churchill, “You have enemies? Good, that means you've stood up for something." I'm sure some will attempt to twist and diminish this endorsement against me, but that's okay. Senator Ratliff and I have stood on principle and what we believe is right, not what is popular. I will continue to stand on principle,” Simpson concluded.

Ratliff served in the Texas Senate from 1988 to 2004. When Governor George W. Bush was elected to the presidency in 2000, a vacancy occurred in the lieutenant governor’s office as Rick Perry ascended to the governor’s mansion. Upon Perry’s ascension, Ratliff was elected by his Senate colleagues to serve as lieutenant governor.

So David Simpson is crawling into bed with the Ratliff family....

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Now you might be asking yourself "who is the Ratliff family"?!?  If you've never heard of Bill Ratliff, there's a good chance you've heard of his sons.  One is named Bennett and the other is Thomas.

Bennett Ratliff is a  liberal former state representative who has run against Matt Rinaldi the last several election cycles.  Most recently, Bennett Ratliff was seen accusing Matt Rinaldi of being friends with Bill Cosby.  Real winner there....

Thomas Ratliff, Bill's son and Bennett's brother, is a pro-Common Core lobbyist for Microsoft.  For the past 6 years, he has also been serving illegally on the state board of education while a registered lobbyist.  You can read our archive on Thomas Ratliff here.

Bill Ratliff, the father, sponsored George W. Bush's signature education bill as a member of the Texas Senate in 1995.  During his time in the legislature (both as a Senator and Lite Guv), he was a well known ally of the education lobby.  Since leaving office, Ratliff has continued to align himself with the education lobby.

You get the picture.

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The worst part is that, while there's no moral or substantive reason to get anywhere near the Ratliff family, it does make a certain amount of perverse political sense.

Unfortunately, Senate district 1 is a rural district where, in many communities, the school district is the largest employer.  And those educrats vote!  So if you're looking to win a low turnout runoff, and most of the grassroots organizations in the district are supporting the other guy, pandering to the educrats is a logical strategy.

Bottom Line: We're not ready to withdraw our support...yet, but the type of support David Simpson has cultivated since this race moved to the runoff is raising major red flags and is rapidly approaching the point of becoming a deal-breaker.

Matt Rinaldi's Opponent Throws TANTRUM over Mailer....

"A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise man holds them back."
Proverbs 29:11

Too funny, from the Dallas-Morning News:

Former state Rep. Bennett Ratliff said mailers from his opponent that make his father out to be a “mobster” go too far.

Each mailer has a photo of a mafioso smoking a cigar or brushing his cheek with the tagline, “To Bennett Ratliff it’s not just politics, it’s the family business.”

The mailers, sent by incumbent Rep. Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, also allege that Ratliff refuses to support the repeal of “Robin Hood” — the school finance plan that transfers money from richer to poorer school districts — because his Ratliff’s father authored the law.

Rinaldi called lobbying and holding government office the Ratliff family business. Ratliff’s brother sits on the State Board of Education and is a registered lobbyist.

....

“I don’t think his father is a target, I think he is a target,” Rinaldi said.

Rinaldi said his opponent refused to support the repeal of Robin Hood and criticized Ratliff for failing to take action in the Legislature to fight against it.

Rinaldi said Ratliff opposes Robin Hood because he opposes school funding systems. If the school finance system were found unconstitutional it would be replaced with another money-draining system, Rinaldi said.

 Read the whole thing here.

Lame attack against Matt Rinaldi Falls Flat....

"This is the way of those who are foolish,
And of their posterity who approve their sayings."
Psalm 49:13

LOL:

[Matt Rinaldi's Opponent] Attacks Gun Owners

Why do [Matt Rinaldi's opponent] and his political operatives oppose law abiding gun owners?

This is the first question I asked myself when I read the atrocious mailer sent out by [Matt Rinaldi's opponent's] political supporters this week.

The ad labeled all gun owners as “potential criminals” and attacked me for an amendment that Sen. Don Huffines and I authored which set in statute the existing Constitutional requirement that gun owners who open carry may not be detained unless there is reasonable suspicion they have committed a crime. The amendment protected gun owners from harassment by anti-gun groups and police from potential lawsuits. The piece deceptively claims I “joined Democrats” in voting for the amendment. It passed the House 133-10, with EVERY Republican voting in favor.

Sen. Huffines said of the despicable attack, “You received a mailer yesterday with a number of misrepresentations. But the worst was the attack for a pro-gun amendment Matt and I worked on together to protect law abiding gun owners. [Matt Rinaldi's opponent] is so desperate to cover his own liberal record that he is spreading lies about Rep. Rinaldi. Please look past the false attacks and remember that Matt Rinaldi was ranked the most conservative legislator in Texas for a reason.”

Another bill characterized as “making it legal to resist arrest” did nothing of the sort. It merely clarified that a resisting arrest charge was required to be based on a legal arrest, as it was under long-standing Texas common law. The other listed bills I opposed posed a greater danger to innocent citizens than the criminals they were intended to target, and some were so poorly drafted they didn’t even get a committee hearing in the Senate.

I am proud to support law enforcement and to be endorsed by the two former police officers serving in the Texas House, Rep. Phil King and Chairman of the Committee on Emerging Issues in Law Enforcement, Rep. Allen Fletcher, each of whom served with myself and Bennett Ratliff. I was also proud to support those officers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our protection by co-authoring HB1278, signed into law by Gov. Abbott, which doubled the death benefit paid to the families of officers killed in the line of duty.

Bottom Line: Matt Rinaldi supports due process and the rule of law.  The amendment in question would have protected Fourth Amendment rights from overzealous government bureaucrats.  For Matt Rinaldi's opponent to make this attack in the first place illustrates the degree to which Matt Rinaldi's opponent subscribes to the belief 'government knows best.'

Straus Lieutenants Heart Dan Branch

No comment necessary:

Majority of Texas House Republican Caucus Endorses Dan Branch

AUSTIN – A majority of the Republican Caucus in the Texas House of Representatives has endorsed Dan Branch for Texas Attorney General.

The 53 current legislators who stand with Texans for Dan Branch represent not only the majority of the Republicans in the Texas House of Representatives but also the backbone of the Texas House GOP.

These members represent a wide geographic cross-section of Texas, from the Panhandle and West Texas to the Piney Woods of East Texas and the Gulf Coast, as well millions of Texans from rural, suburban, and urban communities throughout the state. Texans for Dan Branch has support from some of the most senior members of the Texas House as well as members in their first and second terms.

“For the past 10 years, the Republican members of the Texas House of Representatives have led the way in passing conservative legislation that has been a model for our nation,” Branch said. “I have been proud to work alongside so many strong conservatives to support an environment that has helped foster the Texas Miracle while protecting limited government and traditional values. I am grateful for and honored by the generous support of my peers, and I look forward to continuing to work with them as the next Attorney General of Texas.”

The current list of Texas House Republicans who have endorsed Dan Branch for Attorney General is included in this release.

1. Representative Jimmie Don Aycock (Killeen)
2. Representative Cecil Bell (Magnolia)
3. Representative Dwayne Bohac (Houston)
4. Representative Greg Bonnen (League City)
5. Representative Cindy Burkett (Garland)
6. Representative Angie Chen Button (Richardson)
7. Representative Bill Callegari (Houston)
8. Representative Travis Clardy (Nacogdoches)
9. Representative Byron Cook (Corsicana)
10. Representative Drew Darby (San Angelo)
11. Representative John Davis (Houston)
12. Representative Sarah Davis (Houston)
13. Representative Gary Elkins (Houston)
14. Representative Marsha Farney (Georgetown)
15. Representative Allen Fletcher (Cypress)
16. Representative John Frullo (Lubbock)
17. Representative Charlie Geren (River Oaks)
18. Representative Lance Gooden (Athens)
19. Representative Patricia Harless (Spring)
20. Representative Linda Harper-Brown (Irving)
21. Representative Dan Huberty (Kingwood)
22. Representative Todd Hunter (Corpus Christi)
23. Representative Jason Isaac (Dripping Springs)
24. Representative Kyle Kacal (Bryan)
25. Representative Jim Keffer (Granbury)
26. Representative Ken King (Canadian)
27. Representative Susan King (Abilene)
28. Representative Tim Kleinschmidt (Lexington)
29. Representative Lois Kolkhorst (Brenham)
30. Representative John Kuempel (Seguin)
31. Representative Lyle Larson (San Antonio)
32. Representative George Lavender (Texarkana)
33. Representative JM Lozano (Kingsville)
34. Representative Doug Miller (New Braunfels)
35. Representative Jim Murphy (Houston)
36. Representative John Otto (Dayton)
37. Representative Chris Paddie (Marshall)
38. Representative Diane Patrick (Arlington)
39. Representative Larry Phillips (Sherman)
40. Representative Jim Pitts (Waxahachie)
41. Representative Four Price (Amarillo)
42. Representative John Raney (College Station)
43. Representative Bennett Ratliff (Coppell)
44. Representative Debbie Riddle (Tomball)
45. Representative Allan Ritter (Nederland)
46. Representative Kenneth Sheets (Dallas)
47. Representative J.D. Sheffield (Gatesville)
48. Representative Ralph Sheffield (Temple)
49. Representative Wayne Smith (Baytown)
50. Representative Phil Stephenson (Wharton)
51. Representative Jason Villalba (Dallas)
52. Representative Paul Workman (Austin)
53. Representative John Zerwas (Simonton)

 If Dan Branch wants to base his AG campaign on the support of Charlie Geren, Bennett Ratliff, and (Mr. Medicaid Expansion himself!) Jason Villalba, he can be our guest; is Tommy Williams next?!?

Captain Renault said it best:



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Update: Agendawise has more:

This self-generated publicity is a good snapshot for primary voters who get to see the liberal Branch’s concept of “conservative” – a Republican endorsement list with a D+ average on the 2011 scorecards of Empower Texans and Young Conservatives of Texas.

Matt Rinaldi Makes It Official

Matt Rinaldi officially jumped into the race for HD 115 today; from his campaign website:

Irving, TX-- Matt Rinaldi today announced his intention to seek the Republican nomination for Texas House District 115.  Already armed with strong grassroots support, Rinaldi provides conservative opposition to incumbent Rep. Bennett Ratliff, who is widely regarded as one of the most liberal Republican representatives in Austin. 

“Conservatives in northwest Dallas County have gotten a raw deal this session,” said Rinaldi. “Rep. Ratliff has aligned with Democrats as often as his fellow Republicans on the most important legislative votes this session and has compiled the most liberal voting record of any Republican freshman in Austin.  He voted to increase the size of government by 26% from the previous session and then voted to dip into our state’s savings so he could spend even more.  Ratliff’s efforts put Texas’s financial future at risk.  As a conservative running to represent the voters and not Austin lobbyists, I will be a principled voice for smaller government, secure borders, protecting the sanctity of life and preserving our Second Amendment rights.” 

Rinaldi’s announcement comes less than a month after Ratliff spurned Governor Perry’s request to keep the State House redistricting maps the same as the previous maps and attempted to draw Rinaldi out of District 115 without a vote. The incident caused public outcry from Republican voters and Ratliff’s fellow legislators.  

(h/t Macias Strategies)

This is great.  Bennett Ratliff is a Straus crony who is part of a corrupt family that is in the pocket of big education.  While this is not (yet) an official endorsement, we wish Matt the best of luck in this primary.