I take grim personal satisfaction in this PolitiFact fact-check.
Casting your political foe as a lobbyist — and hence beholden to some special interest — can make for explosive campaign fodder.
So it is that the Republican Party of Texas targets first-term state Rep. Kristi Thibaut, D-Houston. Dem State Rep Kristi Thibaut was an #ACORN lobbyist,” the party tweeted Aug. 31, linking to a web video. Earlier the same day, the party had tweeted: “Democrat State Rep. Kristi Thibaut, HD133, was a lobbyist for corrupt ACORN” and before that, “find out which Dem state Rep was a lobbyist for ACORN.”
That was me in my previous job, doing all that tweeting. At the Republican Party of Texas, we had launched a web site detailing how state Rep. Kristi Thibaut, a freshman Democrat in the state House, had worked for the ultra-corrupt and corrupting ACORN. What typically happened when I’d tweet something hot, was that the Texas Democrats’ house blog, Burnt Orange Report, or its operatives would flag the PolitiFact Texas crew on what I’d tweeted or said, and here would come PolitiFact to bug me. I don’t know whether the BORbots were involved in this one or not; either way, the case against state Rep. Kristi Thibaut is open and shut. She was a lobbyist for ACORN, and in office has continued to act on the group’s behalf. Kind of like someone else in a slightly higher office.
Typically, PolitiFact finds some way to spin everything we say as “False” or even “Pants on Fire.” This time, we rated a “True” in spite of PolitiFact’s best spin cycle efforts.
Thibaut is like a lot of Democrats who took office in 2008. They have past associations with radical groups like ACORN and they probably wouldn’t have won in any other year. But 2008 wasn’t any other year. 2010 won’t be any other year, either, and it’s likely that Thibaut and hundreds more like her all over the country will be heading back to the lefty activist world on November 3. Not that, even in office, they ever really left the lefty activist world.
The worst thing in my mind is that these one term wonders are going to receive a pension for life. We, the taxpayers are going to be paying their way, as they probably continue their leftist works.
So Chris do you want these one term people kept in until they are eligible for their pensions? At the rate our government is spending money nobody will receive a pension, social security or medi-care. You know we can vote to stop this thieving bunch of worthless pieces of humanity, from any pension or any other benefits they do not deserve.
You have a great point in Politifact.com’s overwhelming spin cycle mode. While they aren’t AS bad as the Anenberg project’s similar site they will hammer a Republican 9 times out of 10 while giving a Dem a faint tap on the wrist for being a full blown liar.
Thibaut needs to go, and hopefully we can finally rid Congress of Sheila Jackson-Lee, that embarrassment for all Texans.
This is an interesting story in several ways. First, in typical political wrangling its all about throwing mud around. This is not surprising but it sure does miss the goal of a principled, policy-oriented party about to ring up big gains…we hope. However, we’re 60 days short of a tsunami election and the Republicans still haven’t released an idea about what policies they support. You’re trying to convince me that “Not Democrats” are going to rule better than “ACORN friends” but not supplying ANYthing to compare. Looks like the Republicans are prepared to drain away another gift from the public. The grassroots is going to have to take over the precincts next time because the good ‘ol boys are drunk.
Been out of Texas for a year now, but I have paid attention. You must not be digging any further than the pages of the Austin American Spaceman, Repeal Obamacare, make the tax cuts enacted during the Bush presidency permenent, get rid of the death tax, that is near and dear to every Texan that hold land and raise cattle or any crop. Shrink the government. These are all proposals on the table. Just because the Makebelievemedia won’t carry them dosen’t mean they ain’t there.
The fact that any person has been and possibly still is aiding ACORN (or whatever ACORN chooses to call itself after it “disbands”), an organization that is corrupt, top to bottom, says quite a bit about that person’s principles and policies.
I’d probably vote for “not an ACORN supporter” over any “dedicated to the furtherance of ACORN” candidate. That, in and of itself, says something about motivating principles of any politician. Past actions are generally a better guide to future actions than any list of easily-broken promises.
(Of course, Obama was an ACORN trainer in his Community Organizer days. I think he’s proving the validity of that particular signpost in predicting his future guiding principles.)
“However, we’re 60 days short of a tsunami election and the Republicans still haven’t released an idea about what policies they support.”
This is something of a false charge. There are no “new ideas” worth the bother. Originality should not be the central focus. The tried and the true will serve us well during these critical times. The Republicans must cut taxes—and boldly cut spending. Keep the message short and simple.
Keep the message short and simple, make the explanation logical and simple, don’t be derailed by opposition demagoguery, don’t be defensive.
Calling Chris Christie. Are you available to train a few Republican politicians?
There are no “new ideas” worth the bother.
Actually, there are, and they are not trivial. The Republicans have pissed away nearly two years since November 2008, campaigning incessantly on the single mindless mantra of “We’re not those horrible Obama Democrats – send money!”.
They’ve had more than enough time to have made clear and concise rebuttals to the dismal choices of the Administration, and of Congress, together with their own proposals for superior alternate policies. A monthly series of addresses poking holes in the fantasies and taboos of political correctness would have built up by now to a solid position of strength based on the real world.
But that would be acting too much like a party with its mind on actual governance, and not simply of acquiring office and advancing its snout for a turn in the trough.
It is certain that Election 2010 will be long remembered but the reason is in more doubt than most seem to be aware of.
When the New Black Panthers were given a pass on voter intimidation in the last election it was a green light (and intended that way) for massive voter intimidation and Ballot Box Fraud this time around.
Those folk in the white house are corrupt but not totally stupid. They obviously know that most people who plan to vote do not plan to vote for Democrats. Does anyone imagine they will just accept that willingly?
This will be the most contentious (and likely the most violent) election in our history.
Steps should be taken to protect the defenseless on their way to vote and also to monitor the entire procedure in the interest of keeping it honest.
you would think they would find some to do with there time then ferilize the world? is it horse split or what
Just look at the people that Obama has surrounded himself with for his most trusted advisers. Does anyone not have a Socialist or Communist connection in Obama`s white house advisers? You will have a hard time finding a true Democrat giving Obama advice.