Florida Man Brings Racket to Texas Republicans

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves."
Matthew 7:15

We had planned to take Independence Day off, then this happened:



Apparently, a single term former congressman who lost to a Democrat wants to be the next RPT chairman.

Your guess is as good as ours as to why.

Florida man's "announcement video," is a hot mess of patriotic cliches.  Apparently, today is America's birthday and the preamble to the constitution uses the phrase "more perfect union."  Florida man spent time in the military.

Beyond buzzwords, however, Florida man offers little rationale for his candidacy.

Florida man seems to be running as Dan Patrick on steroids.  Florida man has twice Dan Patrick's ego with half of Dan Patrick's wits.  Basic algebra thus suggests Florida man is a quarter-wit.

Unfortunately for Florida man, Texas Republicans only consider quarter-wits qualified for agriculture commissioner.

That being said, the biggest shame in all this is the missed opportunity.  RPT desperately needs an intellectually serious discussion about the mess in which our state currently finds itself and the path forward.  Unfortunately, Florida man seems clueless about what genuinely ails Texas.

As one example: During his 'announcement video,' Florida man talks about "defending the spirit of the Alamo" while name dropping William Barrett Travis.  That's all good.  Florida man might get a 'C' in 8th grade Texas history.

Unfortunately, the biggest current threat to the Alamo comes from a Texas Republican.

For Florida man to spout platitudes about the Alamo while ignoring George P. Bush tells you everything you need to know.

Bottom Line: No.

Government Official Bullies Private Citizen Exercising Their Free Speech Right

"My son, if sinners entice you,
Do not consent."
Proverbs 1:10

Ahem?!?

A campaign sign in Central Texas this week drew the scorn of an elected state official — and then it was confiscated by police.

At issue in the small community of Hamilton was a homemade yard sign featuring an elephant decorated in red, white and blue with its trunk up the skirt of a female saying the word “Help.” The sign said “Your vote matters.”

Other signs promoting Democrats from U.S. Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke to Agriculture Commissioner candidate Kim Olson were in the background.

This “is supposed to be Judge Kavanaugh’s young daughter,” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller posted along with the photos on Facebook this week. “The Democrat sleaze knows NO bounds!”

....

Miller’s Facebook post drew attention to Stanford and her sign, prompting countless reactions, including those that called for her to be arrested.

Police did show up at her home.

Some say she was told to remove the sign or it would be confiscated. City officials said police visited Stanford’s home and she asked them to take the sign, the Dallas Morning News reported.

....

Miller posted again on Facebook that he’s happy with the result.

“I’m glad that I called out this offensive campaign sign and am pleased that hundreds of others did so as well,” he said. “It’s vulgar and just plain wrong and it had no place in someone’s yard visible from the street.

[Note: Emphasis added.]

 Miller's Original Facebook post:



Obviously, we don't agree with her characterization.  The Republican Party of Texas has the best record of any state-level party in the country at dealing with this garbage.  Ms. Stanford might want to research the fate of former Congressman Blake Farenthold and soon-to-be former Congressman Joe Barton.  She also might want to contrast RPT's record with how the Texas Democrats have handled Carlos Uresti and Borris Miles.

But, that being said, Ms. Stanford is a private citizen.  Sid Miller is a statewide elected official.  This is an obvious, clear-cut, case of constitutionally protected free speech.

To review, Sid Miller:

• Posted a picture of a private citizen's yard to a Facebook page with over 700k followers.

• Lied about the content in the picture.

• Ginned up an angry mob against a private citizen; said mob subsequently called cops on a afore mentioned private citizen.

• Tried to dictate what kind of political speech private citizens can display on private property.
• [Note: Do you even property rights, Sid Miller?!?]

This is outrageous.  It's no different than what Maxine Waters and Sheila Jackson Lee are doing nationally.  If anything, it's worse because Miller is calling for the mob to go after a private citizen.

We didn't vote for him in March and, after this, we doubt we're voting for him in November.

Bottom Line: Private citizens have free speech rights.  Private citizens also have private property rights.  Sid Miller doesn't get to direct how those rights are exercised.

#TXLEGE: Media Correction of the (Young) Year

"He who is slow to wrath has great understanding,
But he who is impulsive exalts folly."
Proverbs 14:29

Late yesterday afternoon, we posted to Facebook about wanting to write a longer...critique...of a sensationalistic article the Trib published about a Texas House race West of Waco.  Chris Evans, the TxRTL endorsed challenger to a liberal Republican incumbent, apparently got in some legal trouble a decade and a half ago.  The original article was a transparent opposition research dump fed to a credulous reporter who subsequently posted a click driven story.

The Trib has subsequently updated the story.   It's now straight news recounting.  Since they fixed their story before we got a chance to write this blog post, we'll cut them some slack.

But the correction they posted is mint:

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described Texas House candidate Chris Evans as having been convicted for possessing a pipe bomb. He received deferred adjudication for the offense.

Gee..what could you have possibly been trying to imply by saying he was "convicted" for possessing "a pipe bomb"?!?

That being said, the funniest part is how the Trib's unforced error allows Chris Evans to run a media-bashing campaign the rest of the way.  Expect messaging along the lines of "you know the liberal media is scared of Chris Evans because they're already attacking him."  As a point of comparison, if you're wondering how that messaging will resonate in that district, just remember the HD-59 is Sid Miller's old district (*).

Bottom Line: This was a funny unforced error.

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* - It's worth pointing out that the liberal Republican incumbent was originally elected with assistance from Planned Parenthoood.

#TXLEGE: House leadership attempting late session attack against Sid Miller

“Thus let all Your enemies perish, O Lord!
But let those who love Him be like the sun
When it comes out in full strength.”
So the land had rest for forty years.
Judges 5:31

Update: It gets better, check out Sections 5 and 6 of the bill:

SECTION 5. (a) The term of office of the commissioner of agriculture expires on the effective date of this Act.

(b) As soon as practicable on or after the effective date of this Act, the governor shall appoint a person to the office of commissioner of agriculture in the manner provided by Section 11.004, Agriculture Code, as amended by this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.

We've always enjoyed the ability of Ag. Commissioner Sid Miller to use social media to drive the left INSANE.  It's certainly fun, and Miller has adeptly used the platform to gain a national following.  But he's also been accused of abusing his office in the past.

We've never investigated the accusations against Miller (though we're skeptical).  We've had off the record conversations with members of leadership about Miller, and were struck by the degree of their unhinged hatred towards him.  Thus, we were confident they would run a candidate against Miller in the next election, and that there would be plenty of time to litigate the accusations then.

With that longwinded introduction out of the way, check out this bill that's up in House State Affairs this Wednesday:

HB 3646       Larson                  
Relating to the appointment of the commissioner of agriculture.

Here's the most important section of the bill:

Sec. 11.004.  APPOINTMENT [ELECTION] AND TERM OF COMMISSIONER.  (a)  The governor shall appoint the commissioner with the advice and consent of the senate [is elected for a term of four years].

In other words, in their hatred of Sid Miller, House leadership wants to convert the position of Ag. Commissioner to an appointed position.

[Note: That Miller was a vocal Straus supporter six years ago tells you everything you need to know about the degree to which loyalty with Team Straus is a one-way street; see here as well (or here).]

Eliminating the Agriculture department entirely might be a discussion worth having, but for as long as it continues to exist, there's no reason to remove the commissioner as an elected position.  If anything, transferring appointment authority to the Governor can only strengthen the influence of the Austin lobby over the department.  Elections are a highly imperfect mechanism, but they at least offer a vehicle for public accountability.

Bottom Line: This bill won't pass, but good grief is it revealing.

Trump Administration staffing means Texans should prepare for special elections

"Prepare your outside work,
Make it fit for yourself in the field;
And afterward build your house."
Proverbs 24:27

The Trib yesterday:

As soon as the race for the White House ended Tuesday — concluding with Donald Trump's stunning victory — another one kicked into high gear: the race for jobs in the next president's administration. Throughout his campaign, Trump relied on a relatively small but loyal group of allies in Texas, and now some appear poised to reap the benefits with a one-way ticket to Washington, D.C.

In the 48 hours since Trump's win, a rough list has formed of Texans being mentioned most often as potential recruits for a Trump administration. The list includes former Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul of Austin, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Dallas. Countless other names are coming up.

"I think there’s a lot of opportunities for our current elected officials," said Matt Langston, a Republican consultant based in Austin, as Trump's win became clear late Tuesday night.

Translation: 2017 is going to be the year of the special election in Texas.

Michael McCaul is a good choice for Homeland Security.  He appears to have a passion for the subject, and it would be a face-saving way to get rid of an otherwise lousy congressman.  Can he take Lamar Smith with him?!?

Bottom Line: Real power is built one special election at a time...look at what happened to the Texas Senate in 2014.

When Planned Parenthood Helped Elect J.D. Sheffield

"He who walks with wise men will be wise,
But the companion of fools will be destroyed."
Proverbs 13:20

[Author's Note: Current state reps Ken King and Chris Paddie also received assistance from Planned Parenthood during the 2012 cycle, but they have been far superior on pro-Life issues since taking office than Sheffield.]

J.D. Sheffield was first elected to the Texas House in 2012.  He defeated former state rep. (and current Agriculture Commissioner) Sid Miller.  Over the weekend, we learned something fascinating about that race we'd missed at the time:

Planned Parenthood May Have Played Supporting Part in Primary Races that End in Defeat for House GOP Trio
Family Planning Group that's Been Under Siege at Capitol Worked Behind Scenes to Inform GOP Women on Conservative Male Lawmakers Who'd Been Top Enemies
By Mike Hailey
Capitol Inside Editor

....

Landtroop, who was ousted from the House in this week's primary runoff election by GOP rival Ken King of Canadian, had joined Republican State Reps. Wayne Christian of Center and Sid Miller of Stephenville on the list of lawmakers who Planned Parenthood considered to be its three biggest enemies in the Texas Legislature.

But the family planning organization sensed that GOP legislators who'd been attacking it relentlessly in Austin were out of touch with a majority of Republican women voters back in their districts. So Planned Parenthood launched an informal but vigorous networking effort with telephone calls and emails in hopes that it could help give Landtroop, Miller and Christian the boot from the Legislature in the 2012 primary election.

....

Despite the fact that a variety of different factors appeared to contributed to the outcome of the races involving the GOP legislators that Planned Parenthood targeted, the group may deserve some of the credit even though it didn't pump money directly into the campaign coffers for the challengers who won.

In the eyes of Planned Parenthood, the incumbent House trio in question had been at the forefrtont of a war that the Republican supermajority in the lower chamber declared on the group under the banner of the pro-life crusade. With more Republicans than ever on both sides of the rotunda, the House took the lead last year on legislation that had the effect of excluding Planned Parenthood from the Women's Health Program, which provides health care services to low-income women. While state law already prohibited tax dollars from being used for abortions, the law that emerged from the Legislature last year took the additional step of banning facilities that are affiliated with abortion providers from the women's health initiative.

Texas legislators had already slashed funding on women's health clinics by more than 50 percent in a move that experts said would cut off family planning services for 300,000 poor women. The Landtroop amendment was designed to choke off the flow of state money to Planned Parenthood by severing it from the women's health program.

....

Miller, an 11-year House veteran who'd emerged as a member of Speaker Joe Straus' leadership team at the start of the session last year, sponsored landmark legislation last year that requires women to have sonograms before obtaining an abortion. Miller touted touted the role that he had in a move in the state budget battle that cut more than $20 million in funding that had been going to Planned Parenthood.

....

The state's largest physician group contributed $35,000 to Sheffield in the final week of the runoff fight with Miller. TMA's political arm TEXPAC donated a smaller amount to King, who already amassed as a larger war chest than any House candidate on the runoff ballot. But the TMA has steered clear of the abortion debate even though it turned out to be on the same page with Planned Parenthood in the races that pit challengers against Landtroop, Miller and Christian.

Read the whole thing here.

Bottom Line: J.D. Sheffield is the most duplicitous Republican in the entire #TXLEGE on life issues; this explains why.

The myth that "only a moderate" can win Sarah Davis' district

"But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness."
2 Timothy 2:16

One of the more obnoxious pieces of conventional wisdom around the Capitol is that Sarah Davis is the only Republican that can win her unfriendly district, but how did her district actually vote in 2014?!?

From her district profile on the Texas House's website.  With one exception (which we'll discuss below), the Republican candidate won every statewide race in her district.  A small sample:

Governor:

Abbott - R 27,200 50.4%
Davis - D 26,030 48.2%
Glass - L 613 1.1%
Parmer - G 150 0.3%
Pavitt - W 1 0.0%

Attorney General:

Paxton - R 27,059 50.7%
Houston - D 24,715 46.3%
Balagia - L 1,155 2.2%
Osborne - G 397 0.7%

Comptroller:

Hegar - R 27,025 51.5%
Collier - D 23,743 45.2%
Sanders - L 1,216 2.3%
Shafto - G 517 1.0 %

Ag. Commissioner:

Miller - R 29,268 56.4%
Hogan - D 20,319 39.1%
Palmquist - L 1,276 2.5%
Kendrick - G 1,055 2.0 %

Tx. Supreme Court, Chief Justice:

Hecht - R 30,677 58.3 %
Moody - D 20,604 39.2 %
Oxford - L 1,336 2.5 %

The only exception was the lite guv race, where van de Putz won a PLURALITY over Dan Patrick.  Even there, however, van de Putz failed to crack 50%.  Furthermore, the result in this race was partially due to the fact that the Libertarian candidate out-performed the rest of his ticket:

Patrick - R 24,880 46.5%
Van De Putte - D 26,615 49.8%
Butler - L 1,536 2.9%
Courtney - G 423 0.8%

[Author's note: Emphasis added.]

While Abortion Barbie and van de Putz had nearly identical vote totals, about 3000 Abbott voters didn't vote for Patrick (though they DID vote for Paxton, which means it's not a conservative thing).  This means a chunk of them voted for the Libertarian while another chunk under-voted.  The most likely explanation is that this is a Harris County based district, Dan Patrick is from Harris County, and there's a small segment of Harris County Republicans who can't stand Dan Patrick.

Bottom Line: If "only a moderate" could win HD-134, Republican candidates wouldn't have won nearly every top-ticket race in the district.

Sid Miller discusses his first few months

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, the people groan."
Proverbs 29:2

Waco -- Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller discussed his first six months in the new job at the Texas Republican Assembly convention last Saturday:



Highlights:

• 2500 dealers selling precious metals without a license.

• Rolled back "healthy foods" mandates.
• Cupcake amnesty
• "Instead of healthy children we have healthy trash cans."

• Texas Dept. of Agriculure has a bank
• Author's Note: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!?

• Texas didn't need shelters during recent flooding.

• No studies on "GMO's" show negative effects.
• Cuts pesticide use by 80%

J.D. Sheffield's tantrum on Texas House Floor

"Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of correction will drive it far from him."
Proverbs 22:15

Last Friday, J.D. Sheffield attempted to sneak through a bad bill on the local and consent calendar.  Jonathan Stickland wasn't having it.  Sheffield's reaction speaks for itself:



Highlights:

• "Mr. Stickland is sticking his nose where it doesn't belong."

• Takes cheap shot at Sid Miller.

• Stickland: "Does the gentleman intend to speak for ten minutes on this bill?!?"

Sid Miller rebukes Food Nazis

"For each one shall bear his own load."
Galatians 6:5

One small step to rollback central planning:

Within the next couple of months, the Texas Department of Agriculture could be poised to repeal a state policy that bans deep fat fryers and soda machines on school campuses and places limits on the time and place that junk food can be sold there. In addition, Miller is proposing an increase in the number of allowed fundraiser days – when cupcakes and other sugary, fatty foods can be sold during the school day – from one to six per school year.

His critics are calling foul, saying that Miller's actions are counterproductive in a state struggling to contain child obesity rates. But the commissioner believes that repealing these parts of the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy will simplify things, pulling the state into line with less-strict national standards. Currently, there are no federal restrictions on deep fat frying as a preparation method.

“It’s simple. If a school district doesn’t agree with any of these changes, then they don’t have to implement them," Miller wrote in a statement, referring to the policy changes. "That’s the beauty here.”

Miller hinted in January that deep fryers would be one of his priorities, and he officially proposed the change in March. A public comment period closed earlier this month, and Miller's nutrition team is now reviewing more than 200 comments. He is expected to announce this summer whether the commission will move forward with the changes.

....

“I don't think there is any way he could have studied the issue or he never would have done this,” said Combs, who said it was “unimaginable” that Miller would go ahead with these repeals. “I am actually baffled and sorry that Commissioner Miller did what was not good for kids. If you give children bad choices, they will make them.”

The Partnership for a Healthy Texas, a statewide coalition of more than 50 organizations working to prevent obesity, filed an open letter in opposition to the proposed changes. In the letter, the group challenged the merits of local control in questions of childhood nutrition.

"Schools are one of the key environments where our state can work to defeat child obesity," the organization wrote. "Fit, nourished children perform better, miss less school, have fewer behavioral challenges, and are more likely to grow up to be healthy, working adults."

[Author's Note: Emphasis added.]

Read the whole thing here.

This website's only additional recommendation to Commissioner Miller would be to go further.  The Texas Department of Agriculture should fully repeal the "fundraiser" regulation.  Why should central planners have any role in this process to begin with?!?

Finally, while she did a fantastic job as Comptroller, that line from Susan Combs is ASTONISHING!!!

Travis GOP welcomes 84th #TXLEGE to Austin

"Be hospitable to one another without grumbling."
1 Peter 4:9

Fresh off electing three members to the Austin City Council, Travis County Republicans welcomed members of the 84th legislature to town:



Highlights:

• TCRP is a resource for elected officials from out of town.

Perry, Cruz, and Abbott tackle Texas' Future

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;"
Proverbs 29:2 (a)

ACL-Moody Theater -- Following Governor-elect Abbott's landslide win, outgoing Governor Perry, Senator Cruz, and Governor elect Abbott addressed a standing room only crowd in Austin.

Perry:



Highlights:

•  "Makin' a little bit of history tonight, you are."

• "When this group of young men and women finish their terms they've just won, it'll be a quarter of a century since there was a statewide elected Democrat in Texas...well done!!!"

• "I would love to have gotten the opportunity to have served with them incoming GOP statewide office holders."

• There are young people today in Texas who have jobs because of the public policies we've put in place.

• Hispanic higher ed rates up 118% since he's been Gov.

• "It has been great fun to be Governor of the state of Texas over these last 14 years."

• "Greg Abbott understand that to give people freedom...is a platform, is a foundation by which this state will continue to lead America."

Cruz:



Highlights:

• Run, Ted, Run!!!

• "Two years ago, national Democrats declared that Texas was their target, right now the Texas Democratic Party has 312 paid staffers...they may not have the money for the paycheck next week.  Battleground Texas bragged that they have put in place 22,000 community organizers.  And we know the damage a community organizer can do."

• "Liberal Democrats from outside of Texas flooded into this state vowing they would turn Texas Blue, and tonight the citizens of Texas answered a resounding answer...'DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS!!!'

• "The Texas ethos, I will suggest to you, is give me a horse, a gun, and an open plain and we will conquer the world."
• Author's Note: As much as we love Senator Cruz, we are obliged to point out that you need a Bible BEFORE you use a horse, gun, or open plain.

• "There is a reason why a thousand people a day have been moving into the state of Texas...because FREEDOM WORKS!!!"

• Rick Perry = "A Strong principled governor under whom the state of Texas has gotten stronger and freer"
• Ted Cruz compliments Rick Perry!!!  Oh my Gosh!!!  How will the national media react?!?

•  "I heard a rumor there was a Capitol maintenace man headed to Harry Reid's office now with a screwdriver and a new sign for the door."

• "If and when we re-take the majority nationally, it will be incumbent on Republicans to lead."

• "Now is the time to do everything possible to repeal Obamacare."

• "Now is the time to honor the tenth amendment and repeal Common Core!!!"

Abbott:
(Note: Abbott's comment's begin at 7:30 of the video)



Highlights:

• "The people of Texas have spoken and I am deeply honored to be your next governor!!!"

• "Whether you voted for me, against me, or didn't vote at all, I'm going to work every single day to make Texas the best state in the United States of America."

• Cecilia Abbott = First Hispanic First Lady of Texas.

• "Tonight, Texans sent a message...."

• "The opportunity to succeed should not be confined to just one side of town, it should be the birthright of every Texas child."

• "As Governor, I will keep Texas number one in the nation for creating jobs."

• "Texas understands that government is supposed to be the servant of the people and not the other way around."

Ag. Commissioner Candidate Sid Miller discusses Water

Last night, we attended an event where our endorsed candidate for Ag. Commissioner spoke.  Miller spoke in-depth on a variety of issues, but the discussion of water stood out.  We apologize for the rancid quality of the video, but lighting was terrible:



Highlights:

• Miller would be the first Ag. Commissioner to make water his top priority.

• Real oversight of the $8 billion voters approved in 2011 and '13; allowing merit, instead of cronyism, to guide allocation decisions.

• The 83rd Lege reduced the Texas Water Development board membership to 3 from 6; all appointed by the Governor.

If you're interested in Miller's entire presentation, you can view it here, but the video quality isn't any better.

Republican Primary Statewide Endorsement List

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
Hosea 4:6

We hadn't intended to post a statewide candidate list.  Enough people have asked us to do so, however, that we humbly oblige.   We are flattered and honored that you value our opinion.

Governor:  Greg Abbott

This is the easiest call on the list.  Rick Perry has been, on net, an outstanding Governor.  Greg Abbott has been a critical ally.  Where they differ, the differences favor Abbott.  While we urge Abbott to be much more confrontational with the legislature, maintaining the status quo Rick Perry bequeaths is already a big win.

Lt. Governor:  NO ENDORSEMENT.

Attorney General:  Ken Paxton (previously endorsed).

Continuing to nurse hurt feelings over something that happened three years ago, during a different era in Tea Party history, is insane; Vote Ken Paxton.

Comptroller:  Debra Medina

This is the toughest call of the 2014 cycle.  In our view, Debra Medina is the candidate whose natural talents align closest with the duties of comptroller.  As Texas' chief financial officer, the Comptroller deals with money.  A long time Ron Paul confidant, Medina has a knack for fiscal policy we've always admired.  We expect Medina to be a gigantic pain in the ass to a lot of people who deserve one.

That being said, many people we know and respect support Glenn Hegar.  That's fine, Glenn Hegar is a good man who was very helpful behind the scenes.  If he wins, he will perform solidly.

Unlike Debra Medina, there is an actual Joe Straus lieutenant in this race.  Cahnman's Musings would prefer not to help build his name recognition or website traffic.  Empower Texans has everything you need to know here.

Land Commissioner:  David Watts Jr.

The current Land Commissioner has abused his office in a way that makes it impossible to support his campaign for Lt. Gov.  David Watts Jr. is the only candidate to address this abuse.  While we're discussing this race, Cahnman's Musings has also had enough of politicians named George Bush, thank you very much.

Agriculture Commissioner:  Sid Miller

Sid Miller isn't perfect.  Unfortunately, the alternatives are a buffoon, a Democrat, or Tommy Merritt.  We reserve the right to support Kinky Friedman in the general.

Railroad Commissioner: Wayne Christian

Despite the name, the Texas Rail Road Commission is the primary regulator of Texas booming energy sector.  To be honest, we wanted Wayne Christian to run for U.S. Senate, but he's running for Railroad Commission instead.  As commissioner, Wayne Christian will protect fracking and anger the business as usual crowd.

U.S. Senate: Steve Stockman (previously endorsed)

Last week, John Cornyn re-enforced everything we knew.  While good people disagree on the best alternative, the objective this round is only to hold Cornyn under 50%.  Personally, we believe Steve Stockman is a pest similar to (retired NHL star) Esa Tikkannen, which is exactly what the U.S. Senate needs.

Texas Supreme Court: Re-elect ALL incumbents

This is the Jeremiah 17:9 race of this cycle.

Over the past two months, there's been a Democrat-financed whisper campaign against incumbent Texas Supreme Court Justices Nathan Hecht, Phil Johnson, and Jeff Brown.  Cahnman's Musings was offered this story as an exclusive last December.  We were astonished when the person who fed us this story admitted the purpose was to embarrass Rick Perry.

Fortunately, the truth has emerged.  Anyone who supports the challengers is, at best, a useful idiot for Steve Mostyn. It's a shame certain people chose to permanently tarnish thier credibility.

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Cahnman's Musings also encourages readers to do their own homework regarding candidates closer to home; off the top of our head, we know readers in Bexar, Dallas, and Tarrant counties have local primaries with statewide implications.

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Those are our primary endorsements, take the or leave them.

Anatomy of a Bogus Attack

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."
Exodus 20:16

Cahnman's Musings understands that it's primary season.  We understand tempers will flare.  People will say things they later regret. But certain attacks need to be stopped dead in their tracks.  The latest slander against YCT is one of them.

Writing at Big Jolly Politics, David Jennings invents a "controversy":

Young Conservatives of Texas enter pay-to-play world

Sounds super-shady; Jennings then lists donations to YCT's PAC from YCT endorsed candidates.

Unfortunately, the dates don't match.

• On October 23 of last year YCT endorsed Glenn Hegar.for Comptroller (over, it should be noted, a YCT alum).  According to Jennings, Hegar's campaign gave YCT $7000 on January 22.  For those of you keeping score at home, that's three months later.

• On October 28, YCT endorsed Wayne Christian for Railroad Commissioner.  The corresponding "pay for play" transaction occurred on January 14.  Again, that's two and a half months later.

• On November 11, YCT endorsed Sid Miller for Ag. Commissioner.  Miller then gave YCT $7000 on January 14.  Once again, that's over two months later.

• On December 19, YCT endorsed Dan Patrick for Lt. Gov.  Patrick gave YCT $7000 on January 14.  Again, that's nearly a month later.

• It's also worth noting that YCT has endorsed Ken Paxton for Attorney General but, at least according to Jennings, they haven't received a dime in return.

In each case, YCT endorsed a candidate who has widespread (though not necessarily universal) support among grassroots conservatives.  That a few endorsed candidates, after the fact, donated a miniscule sum (by campaign standards) to the group isn't notable.  Such donations typically help cover incidental expenses like printing and transportation.

The key to 'pay for play' is that pay comes first; anyone who gives away the play before they get paid is, at a minimum, not very good at pay for play.

But why let facts get in the way of a lazy narrative....

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Update: Steve Toth adds his two cents....

Steve Toth Sorry Joe Sager, you're wrong on Young Conservatives of Texas. Show me where they've taken money from candidates and in turn endorsed them. They've endorsed my campaign twice and I've never given them a dime. They've endorsed the vast majority of the folks in the House who score in the mid to high 90's with TFR and haven't given them any money at all. Can't argue with the rest of what you've said though. All the best!

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