(Tx.) State Dem chairman angry with his party (for writing off Texas)

[Dover]

State Dem chairman angry with his party
National view that Texas is a lost cause has him disgusted

By R.G. RATCLIFFE
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN - State Democratic Chairman Charles Soechting said Monday that he is disgusted that his national party has written Texas off as Republican and is urging financial donors from here to cut off the Democratic National Committee.

"Is a line drawn in the sand between myself and the DNC? Yes it is," Soechting said. "If you want good government in Texas, you start (by giving) at home."

Soechting said national party officials have taken the attitude that Texas is President Bush's home state and cannot be won.

"That is a loser, defeatist mentality," Soechting said. "I'm not willing to concede that Texas is not winnable. I'm just hearing too many good things around the state."

Soechting said he decided to start urging Texas donors to keep their money in the state after the DNC offered $5,000 to the Texas party to send staff to battleground states that could be won by the Kerry presidential campaign.

"I'm not sending a single person to another state when we have important races here. They want my best and brightest," Soechting said. "I've got people from the courthouse to the White House to elect."....cont'd

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2727557

[freetobegay]

1. Remember the Alamo!

[SemperEadem]

69. perhaps the media outlet owners in Texas are all in Bush's back pocket

has he considered that?

[DebinTx]

2. Unfortunately, he's correct.

I'm in Texas and have not seen one single political ad from either side and since Bush thinks Texas is a shoe-in for him, it's the perfect opportunity for Texas dems to make themselves heard and felt.

He also has his hands really full with DeLaid coming up for reelection.

[LightTheMatch]

6. Oh, come on.......

I think this is nothing more than an appeal to Texan pride in order to increase the coffers of the Texas Democratic Party. Anyone with half a brain can see that we need to compete in states -other- than Texas this fall if we want to win the presidency.

One of the biggest reasons that Mr. Schoecting is there is because the race for chair was between two really lackluster candidates.

In statewide races, we're at least 500,000 votes behind the Republicans. That isn't something that can be fixed this year.

[Barret]

89. Do you even live in Texas?

If so - did you go to the state convention?

The strategy for this election is entirely new. No more republican light shit.

I believe we will pick up seats this election - lots of them. The national party can do fine on their own. In Texas we have races here to win - and we WILL win.

[LightTheMatch]

99. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.........

Do I live here? Did I attend the State Convention? I EVEN HAD A BOOTH THERE.

Any money that needs to go to selected races in Texas we might win should go DIRECTLY to the candidates and not spend even one second flowing through the hands of our utterly inept State Party.

[fudge stripe cookays]

3. Way to go Chuckie!!!!

He makes Molly Beth look like a slug.

And he's completely right. Where's the love DNCers? We have big important work to do here, between Van Os and Morrison and dozens of others.

We're doing our damndest, but we can't do it alone.

If the Repugs could see ads challenging their crap in this state, that would be a start!

How are the stupid neocons here ever going to question what they believe if they are fed nothing but straight party line all the time?

FSC

[GOPisEvil]

4. As I stated elsewhere on this site, I'm not giving to the DNC.

Our county is having a coordinated campaign to raise funds and to push the Democrats running locally. We've got races we can win, and I prefer to direct my money in that direction.

[freetobegay]

5. Which is a great reason for the DNC not to give to Texas.

You can Keep Texas, we'll keep the rest of America.

[Dover]

7. What kind of prejudice you pushing, 'free to be gay'?

Texas IS winnable and the DNC turned it's back, not the other way around. Gotta get 'em where they live.

[Classical_Liberal]

18. Texas isn't winnable, which is the more likely reason they turned their

back. It hasn't voted for a democrat since LBJ. I don't hate Texas or Texans, but it isn't close to being winnable. We need to focus money on states that are the easiest to win, not the hardest. Winning is the most important objective. Having said that free to be gay likes to be a snob to different democratic groups.

[GOPisEvil]

21. Uh, Texas went for Hubert Humphrey and Jimmy Carter.

:-)

Edit - Carter in '76, not '80.

[Classical_Liberal]

23. 1976 was a long time ago

before the religious right thugs took over, and the rich conservatives from the North moved down there.

[GOPisEvil]

28. Very true!

Well before the rise of the suburban republican carpetbaggers.

[mom cat]

95. I grew up in Texas and always knew that air conditioning would be

the ruination of the state.

[Freddie Stubbs]

60. And it also featured a Southern Democrat against a Northern Republican

Not only is the Republican nominee a southerner, he is also a Texan.

[PatGund]

85. Actually....

He's neither a native Texan or a native southerner.

Quite a few of my friends in Texas consider the entire Bush family to be carpetbaggers and dammyankees. Shrub included

[Freddie Stubbs]

86. Most Texans consider him a Texan

Do you really think that Texans would elect him as Governor twice if they considered him a Connecticutian?

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[Barret]

90. You miss the point

We are not trying to win the state for kerry. We know that is a lost cause. What we ARE trying to do, however, is put an anti-corporate justice on the Texas Supreme Court. We are trying to put democrats in the state legislature. We are trying to GET RID OF DELAY. We are also trying to put democrats in the US house.

Believe it or not the white house isn't the only office worth getting. Kerry won't be able to do a damn thing if the republicans still control everything else after he is elected. In order to make change we need as many seats in the courts and legislature as possible.

We will get those seats in texas this year - bank on it.

[Green Lantern]

103. Too important to leave

Getting rid of that jackass DeLay is almost as important as dumping Bushwa.

I hope the DNC reconsiders and focuses energy and funds against that nitwit.

No more Bushwa

[RummyTheDummy]

52. Texas is winnable for Kerry?

Just exactly what are you smoking and more importantly, where can I get some?

[kysrsoze]

55. That was a shallow, thoughtless response

I've lived in Texas and spent time there. There are some idiotic Texans, but there are also a lot of smart, thoughtful people there too. People down there are decent, in general, and a LOT of them are ticked off about what's gone wrong with this country AND their state. Look at all the redistricting going on. Look at all the job losses throughout the state and the terrible state of their education system.

Texas may very well be winnable, and they have just as much a right to be pissed off at the DNC as New York has to be pissed at DHS for not giving them enough funds.

Think before you post.

[Lisa0825]

8. I completely agree with him!!!

This is about somuch more than the Presidency this term! If we will ever turn Texas BACK into a Democratic state, we have to start supporting our local candidates with our money and our time. I have nothing against sending money to the Kerry campaign, and hope those with cash to spare can also help other candidates, but I think Texans need to support our own first!

[sui generis]

13. damn straight

All you Texas haters - this is a battleground state with shoo-in electronic voting and no challenges, and worse, no information getting through the Republican blockade.

Remember this is the state that an enormously popular black senate candidate had the election stolen from him by a white haired uptight nobody (Cornyn) who makes GWB look like Einstein's progeny, in a landslide poll reversal. It was either proof that God exists and he hates Democrats or else proof that black box voting machines are routinely tampered with in Texas, and with impunity.

This is a battle in every state of this nation and don't you forget it. You Texas haters, don't take us for granted, WE aren't the same Texans that you hate.

[RhodaGrits]

17. I'm from upstate NY and I wrote a check to Richard Morrison's

campaign fund. The DNC won't help???? Texas *should* tell em to take a flying leap.

[Classical_Liberal]

9. If more money went to the candidates instead of the DNC/DLC

it would be no skin off my nose, but I wouldn't waste the effort in Texas at this point either. They will vote for their hometown guy.

[histohoney]

11. Laura is a hometown girl

hubby is a Northerner come lately.

[Classical_Liberal]

15. Unfortunately the same applies to over 50% of the state

so I doubt it makes a difference.

[agingdem]

19. Sad but true...

I live in Texas and other than a few border cities this state goes Republican. Remember...Texas elected Georgie governor twice...we'e home to Ken Lay, Big Oil, the Pioneers, Baker Botts, Vinson Elkins, Texas Rangers, etc. I would love to see a few Kerry ads slamming the Idiot-in-Chief but it ain't gonna happen...it's a waste of money.

[fudge stripe cookays]

91. Sorry, but that's not true.

There are actually more registered Democrats in Dallas County than there are Republicans. Do you mean the Oklahoma border?

Fort Worth has a strong Democratic base.

Austin is not that close to the border. San Antonio is a little closer, and leans more Democratic.

Galveston County, where Lisa0825 lives, is STRONGLY Democratic. Okay, it borders the water.

The mid-cities, between Dallas and Fort Worth have very strong union presences because of the factories and industry there. Again, no border.

[histohoney]

38. Please

just don't refer to him as a "Home town". And YES it makes a big difference to ME.

[RubyDuby in GA]

10. Get in line

They wrote off Georgia long ago. Maybe with good reason, but it still hurts a little bit that they want our votes, but could care less about anything else but our money.
And yes, I understand campaigning in swing states, but it wouldn't kill anyone to stop maybe in Atlanta for half a day, say on their way to Florida. So Texas, we feel your pain.

[histohoney]

12. Thanks

How sad for Georgia, who gave us President Carter, to be just forgotten.

[Classical_Liberal]

16. Georgia I can understand. It has always been close

and Clinton won it. Texas is way more conservative than Georgia.

[johnnie]

14. Are there any recent polls in Texas

I looked a bit but couldn't find any.

[DCCyclone]

57. johnnie, Texas poll numbers are BAD for Kerry......

I don't know exactly what you mean by "recent," but the most recent Texas poll I've seen was the Rasmussen poll done in June and released in early July that showed Bush up 55-37. Rasmussen showed Bush up 55-38 a month earlier, and a Dallas Morning News poll showed Bush up 58-29 in May.

I know it's got to be frustrating for a Democrat in a red state to see his/her state written off by a Democratic presidential campaign, but the party is right not to invest any presidential campaign resources in Texas this year. The talk by some Texas Democrats on this thread that Texas is, or could be, a battleground this year is purely wishful thinking.

That said, I don't blame Texas Democrats who want to devote their resources to state and local candidates, and to state and local party organizations. That, too, is the right thing to do. The presidential battleground states will be in good hands, without having to take talented activists out of Texas to help in those states.

By the way, this is my first post. I've been lurking for a few months after having been badgered for a few years by my best friend about this and a few other good liberal sites. Great site and good discussion.

[johnnie]

61. I feel privileged

:hi: Welcome to DU.
I was just curious on the polls and what the numbers looked like. I am in Ohio and it is close, I would rather see them spend money here than in Texas on this race. I have talked to a few people from Texas and they are big shrub supporters, but I have heard a bit of dismay in their voices. I honestly think that there are more on the fence down there than we are led to believe.

[Sagan]

20. As a native Texan, I actually agree with the strategy..

I think that a few races should be strongly contested, but overall DeLay and Perry have a stranglehold on this state. Just about every major state official is not only a Repuke, but a Chimpco Repuke at that. I'm not even sure we can get a fair election in Texas.

[Dover]

32. How do you think it BECAME a Rep. State? Surely not by the GOP

throwing in the towel. They went after it in a very aggressive (and corrupt) way. And they went around to all their wealthy friends with a ten gallon hat in hand and a promise.

[Classical_Liberal]

35. 1)the people who moved down there were much like Shrub

Conservative, and wanting to get away from Northern taxes and Northern Blacks.

2)The resurgence of fundamentalist religion played a big part.

3)backlash over the civil rights movement also did it's damage.

Finally, this just isn't the election to turn it around quite frankly. We have to spend our money wisely and Texas has one of the 10 lowest percentages of Kerry sympathetic voters. There are much easier states to win.

[GOPisEvil]

22. Edwards did make a campaign stop in San Antonio, post-convention.

I think they raised $750,000...too bad very little of that will be spent here.

[Freddie Stubbs]

24. A Democrat hasn't won a statewide election in TX in 10 years

Not for Governor. Or Lt. Governor. Or Attorney General, Land Commissioner, or Comptroller. Not even Railroad Commissioner. And not of the any dozens of judges who are elected statewide.

Is there any evidence that this trend is about to come to an end?

[Lithos]

27. The DNC will have to invest in the grass roots here

And that won't happen until they quite viewing Texas as lost and allow some of the money to stay here.

L-

[Classical_Liberal]

30. True but lets do it when there is less at stake then this very

critical election. There are offyear elections and that is when we should make climate change investments.

[Lithos]

59. I don't buy that

If you don't make it look like you care about the State, you are going to get fewer people to help.

Besides, there are several crucial elections here following DeLay's redistricting/gerrymandering that we must win. It would help if the DNC would commit more back to Texas.

L-

[Classical_Liberal]

64. We have an electoral college and limited funds

I have lived in red states, that were not worth spending on, so I am not hypocritical on this. We have to worry about real swing states like Ohio. The Senate and Congressional races are a different matter, but not on the Presidential race.

[Lithos]

75. Thing is

Staff often work on several elections at once, from county to state to national. To take away money and people from this role does as the State Chairman says and makes it harder to elect Dems in all elections.

At this point it is imperative to minimize the damage done by Delay in his gerrymandering. Frost and Doggett for instance are in tighter races than before. There is a chance Morrison could upset Delay considering that Delay spread himself thin in his arrogance.

[Classical_Liberal]

77. I agree that money should be spent on Morrison

however, I also think you may be better off without the dnc advisors. I am not all that thrilled with their wisdom, and I personally think most of them have an agenda other than winning. I think many of them would rather see delay win then have a progressive win for instance.

[Castilleja]

70. Exactly, Lithos

N/T

[GOPisEvil]

29. We won't really know until 2006.

I don't think there are any statewide offices up this time around.

Having said that, fully 3/4 of the state democratic convention were first-time delegates. I think there are some people waking up around the state.

[Classical_Liberal]

33. In which case it is actually better for you not to get money from

the dnc/dlc, because they hate populism and will try and kill this movement you speak of. Mark my words. They want submissive voters, not committed party activists that could challenge them.

[GOPisEvil]

36. Oh, there'sa huge populist streak running through the Texas party now.

Basically, our local party is just running it's own campaign led by Glen Maxey, formerly of the Texas House, and Dean's campaign chair down here. The DNC won't care about Texas until it's too late, and they've missed the boat.

[pop goes the weasel]

84. evidence GOP stranglehold about to end

I spent the morning outside the grocery store registering voters in a non-partisan way (Texas doesn't ask party affiliation at registration). From comments made, I'd guess that the community is about 50/50 on the presidential race at the moment.

[Freddie Stubbs]

88. I'm sure that there are some 50/50 communities in TX

In fact, there are some communities in TX where Kerry will win by a landslide (Austin is one of them). But that doesn't prove that Texas is going to suddenly swing from a Republican dominated state to a swing state. It took the GOP a generation to take over Texas.

[pop goes the weasel]

94. this is a conservative, rural town

only an idiot would throw in the towel at this point. Sure, the GOP took a generation to take over, but they didn't start from as good a position as we have already. We don't have to deliver the presidency to Kerry--other states can do that. But Kerry needs Democrats in Congress and many of the seats in Texas are in play. And Texans need Dems in the legislature. Now, maybe people who don't live here don't give a flying fuck what happens here, but I live here and I care. And if you live here, you should care.

[Barret]

92. Yes there is

People for one thing are as energized as ever. The state convention was about 80% NEW delegates who were NEVER involved at that level before. This is a GOOD sign people are pissed in general and want change. It means people will work at the grass roots level to win us seats in races OTHER than president.

No one is saying the state will go for kerry. But a lot of us feel we can pick up a hell of a lot of other races if we do this election right.

Until recently the party has also run republican light candidates. Let me tell you - the candidates I have met had me thinking I was in New York. VERY progressive and liberal candidates. Take a look at our platform. It reflects this. Hell, IMO our platform is more liberal in some ways than the national platform.

Our state party chair has also promised no republican will go unopposed. And speaking of that - the state party has new leadership.

This is all part of a fundamental change in the way the party works down here. I think it will work. But we'll have to wait til novemeber to see...

[sybylla]

31. All my money stays local for the same reason

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin has received generous contributions from the DNC, but none of that has made it to my county. In my case, it is the state party that has given up on my county, state assembly and senate districts. We get nothing, the candidates get nothing, so I can't afford to give them anything. It's becoming standard operating proceedure in the Democratic party - focus funds on races and regions that are deemed winable. The rest are on their own. It's a recipe for disaster in my book, but I'm just some bitter liberal activist schmore in the middle of nowhere.

Had the opportunity last week to tell a DNC telemarketer that the DNC can take a flying leap.

Felt good. :evilgrin: But it only lasted for a moment until I was again reminded of the pukes continuing effort to gobble up former Dem territory in the middle of my state without repost.

[The Stranger]

42. You know what Tip O'Neil said, "All politics is local."

[aquart]

66. He's absolutely right.

More power to him.

[thethinker]

78. I agree with Soechting

I received an email this morning regarding this.

My own giving is to progressive candidates or locals. I also believe in supporting DU, moveon.org. and other things that promote the Democratic spirit and help move this party forward.

I think the DNC is so desperate to please their corporate sponsors they have forgotten they are suppose to be Democrats. Some of their view points are right of most republicans I know.

Texas has one of the strongest grass roots movements I have seen in ages. I feel confident that DeLay is history. The energy of the volunteers working against him is really amazing.

I met Soechting at the state convention and was impressed. He is my kind of Democrat.

[beyurslf]

79. Oh sure let's spend millions in TX so we can lose there and in other

states where we have a chance. Get over it! I live in KS and have been ignored for years. It just the way it happens.

[Tight_rope]

96. I agree with you...I live in Texas...and the people are lost causes.

Yes some have seen the light. Of course those are probably individuals who relocated from other states for employment reasons. But I swear after living in Texas for 24 years, it's a lost cause. Don't waste good money here or time. Let sleeping dogs lay where they are. Maybe one day things will change, maybe after all these racists, bigot cowboyds and bowgirls are dead. Little by little they are dying one by one. Good riddins too all of them. May they toss restlessly in their graves.

[histohoney]

104. Feel free

to leave NOW, I'll buy you the map. Trust me, we'll make it just fine with out you.
Barbara Jordan was from Texas, LBJ and countless other noble Dem. are natives from Texas.
Maybe YOUR attitude keeps you from seeing more open minded people. If I meet you in my hometown and you were constantly hateful, rude and insulting of my home, I would not get ugly with you but I would have nothing to do with you if I could help it. Negativism breeds negativism. If you want more opened minded progressive people around you,be the same.

[kwolf68]

87. I admire the confidence

And Texas has some of the best Democrats out there. They are feisty…They are tough and proud.

I like Texas myself. My wife is a native Texan.

BUT BUT BUT…Forget about this state. Nothing indicates Kerry could track anything over 45%. At best he will get 43, 44%.

Meanwhile, if we win Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Florida (all states far LESS Conservative and states Kerry NEEDS) then we are in.

That is the thing…We DON’T NEED Texas. We NEED PA, FLA and Ohio. Which is good, because we stand a better chance of WINNING Ohio, PA and FLA. It is a complete waste of time to worry about Texas in my view.

That being said, I hope Kerry does campaign down there. Kerry has been going to Conservative strong holds and was willing to speak at Bob Jones University (they declined) which shows Kerry is bad-ass…he’s not scared of ANYTHING. If nothing else it would show the middle of the road Texans and the Democratic Texans that at least Kerry is thinking about them, which would energize those people.

If Kerry gets >45% of the vote in Texas, this election will be a landslide.

[DFWJock]

93. As much as I wish it were true

Kerry is not going to win Texas.
That being said - I live in Dallas and I see about 3 Kerry bumper stickers for every Bush, no kiddin'.

[Barret]

97. No one said he would win TX....

believe it or not there are actually OTHER RACES besides the one for president that we need to try and win.

[quaoar]

98. I feel his pain

"That is a loser, defeatist mentality," Soechting said.

I agree completely. I don't believe in writing off any states. I'd like to see Kerry make some stops in states that have traditionally gone GOP. Go to Texas, Mississippi, Nebraska, Montana.

Would the election be lost if Kerry spent one less day in Ohio or Michigan? No.

Would a trip to Texas show that we are not intimidated by Bush in the least? Yes. Does anyone remember where one of Dean's early ad buys was? Texas.

[sal]

100. State Democrats have behaved miserably

HB 1 has caused a disaster. Redistricting was utterly demoralizing. And now they are actually allowing for a debate for funding broken schools with dog track racing. Yet further agency closures and consolidation of services, health program cuts, Medicaid cuts - no fillings, or glasses, or hearing aids or crutches for poor children, and no mental health care for adults. More abstenence education shoved down our throats in the place of science. If they think they have been fighting hard, then good for them. Personally, I think they layed down and died and haven't gotten up yet. I will vote for Democrats like always, and pray things get better, but I would cheer like hell for anybody who would stand up to Tom Delay and those other crazy puke snake-handlers.

[Gingergal]

101. There is a lot of dissatisfaction in Texas.

A lot of folks have lost their jobs or had to replace a full-time with two part-time jobs in Texas. Rick Perry the Repug gov has higher unfavorable ratings than favorable. The state legislature (majority repuke) also has higher unfavorable than favorable rating. Lots of people here have loved ones in Iraq and want them to come home.
The bushies took over this state with the help of turncoat Democrats like Bub Bullock who helped put over the charade that little shrub was a bipartisan moderate. A lot of those bush "Democrats" who voted for bush have seen the light and won't vote for him this time. A lot of repukes aren't happy with him. He won't receive as many votes in Texas this time around. Bush is advertising heavily here in Texas. Why is that?
Texas Democrats are rebuilding from that horrible time when the cooperative timid Bullock Democrats collaborated to make bush governor and then president. John Sharp came to Corpus Christi and would not stand on the stage with the Democratic nominee for governor Garry Mauro. Sharp was playing up to bush. That is the kind of Democrats we have had in power. Those Democrats are now out of favor. It is rebuilding time. Time to get rid of the Craddick Democrats as well. The Democrats who broke quorum injected a new fighting spirit into Texas.

[Dover]

102. "....short sighted strategy by the DNC", says Soechting.

Rodriguez said Kerry is taking Texas seriously enough that there soon will be a campaign headquarters with a political director and a press secretary.

Soechting said the national party has given money to the state party in the past to support candidates for Senate, but he said national party money has been almost non-existent in support of building a Texas Democratic Party infrastructure.

Soechting said the national party has only given Texas $383,000 since 1980 for true party-building purposes to help elect Democrats at the county courthouse or legislative level.

"It's a very short-sighted strategy by the DNC," Soechting said