The Shadow Party Strikes Again: ‘Texans For Public Justice’ is Really Part of the Texas Democrats’ Smear Machine
Texans for Public Justice’s true nature is relevant because they’ve launched an ethics broadside against Texas Gov. Rick Perry on the eve of the next presidential debate, and that attack is getting picked up as if it’s not coming from a partisan hothouse. Despite their attempts to masquerade as non-partisan watchdogs, Texans for Public Justice are Democrat partisans funded by a variety of far left outfits. PJ alum Jennifer Rubin cites TPJ uncritically in a post at her Washington Post blog today, but doesn’t go into who or what is behind the group. So, allow me.
I touched on Texans for Public Justice last year in my expose of how the Texas Democrats hope to use false front groups like TPJ to tear down the state’s Republican leadership, and regain the power that the voters have repeatedly chosen not to give them over the last two decades.
Because of his position as the Texas Democratic Party’s shadow chairman, [Lone Star Project head Matt] Angle exerts a great deal of influence over several left-wing groups across Texas, some of which pass themselves off as non-partisan. Among those is Texans for Public Justice, a group that claims to be interested in “tracking the influence of money and corporate power in Texas politics.” That interest is decidedly one-way: TPJ never takes on Democrat operatives like Angle, and in media hit after media hit, is always on his side. This makes sense when you take a look at who funds TPJ: Open Society Institute (George Soros, whose fortune also directly funds candidates even at the local level in Texas) and the Tides Foundation (Teresa Heinz-Kerry, among many others). Scratch the surface of most “nonpartisan watchdogs” in your state and you’ll probably find the same money sources, and perhaps a similar network of activists and groups. They are Soros’ “Shadow Party.” TPJ is a left-wing front masquerading as a nonpartisan watchdog.Somehow the mainstream media in Texas consistently misses the fact that TPJ never takes on Democrats, about anything, ever. Ditto for “non-partisan” groups like the Texas Freedom Network (founded and run by Cecilia Richards, daughter of the late acerbic Democratic Gov. Ann Richards) and the Texas Values in Action Coalition (TEXVAC), both of which have been very active in the 2009-2010 election cycle dredging up and amplifying attacks on Republicans, which then get major interest from the mainstream media.
The Angle operation hunts as a pack. It starts when Angle and his operatives manufacture an ethical charge against a vulnerable Republican. The allied groups, Texans for Public Justice, TEXVAC, and Back to Basics PAC, generate a flurry of press releases decrying the evil Republican. Mainstream media dutifully reports and amplifies the charge, quoting the spokesmen with the furrowed brows at the Angle-allied groups. A Democratic candidate, funded and controlled by an Angle ally, Houston multimillionaire trial lawyer Steve Mostyn, waits in the wings while the Republican crashes and burns.
Two seconds at their site gives away the fact that TPJ are sharply partisan, and mostly an anti-Perry hate group. Texas is thick with these groups, which we’ll hear more and more from as long as Perry is in the campaign. They’re funded by everyone from George Soros (TPJ gets money from his Open Society group) to trial lawyers who oppose tort reform, like Houston trial lawyer Steve Mostyn. They’ll use their Texas location to attack Perry and the Texas record, and most journalists and bloggers from outside the state will probably assume that, since they’re based in Texas, they must know what they’re talking about. The question that needs to be asked, though, is what are these groups really up to.
They’re not about good governance. They’re not non-partisan. They exist to bring about liberal electoral success. Nothing more, and nothing less. Everything they say and do should be seen as partisan, because that’s what it is.
As in all things political . . .follow the money. That’s the final answer with both parties over the past 30 years.
This is all well and good. But TPJ is hardly the only source for allegations of “crony capitalism.” Much of this information has been collaborated elsewhere.
Such as?
Why don’t you enlighten us non-members of the ObamaJugen.
And here I thought only liberal boards like Huffington Post resorted to name-calling. Sad puppy.
One of the obvious ploys of journalists masking as neutral in the GOP primary is to kill the messenger instead of doing the hard work of rebutting the specific allegations.
– Bryan, is that you?
Why don’t you tackle the specific allegations of “crony capitalism” by Gov. Perry, allegations which have been collaborated by second and third sources?
How’s about linking to the second and third and any additionally removed sources?
He can’t.
They don’t exist.
If they existed, he’d have posted them already.
Yeah I know….just calling him out.Probably shouldn’t have wasted my time.
Actually, it’s not a waste of time to point out how trolls like PotatoHead (probably a Soros-bot) have lots of bombast but no real evidence.
If it wasn’t pointed out, some readers who aren’t as politically wonky as thee and me might buy this troll’s spin. By challenging him, we reduce the chances of that, especially when he doesn’t answer the challenge.
For those of you who don’t get out of your pj’s much:
Under Scrutiny, Perry Walks Back HPV Decision
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-people/rick-perry/facing-new-scrutiny-perry-walks-back-hpv-decision/
Rick Perry and HPV vaccine-maker have deep financial ties
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/perry-has-deep-financial-ties-to-maker-of-hpv-vaccine/2011/09/13/gIQAVKKqPK_story.html
Perry’s Vaccine Two-Step
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/13/rick-perry-now-says-hpv-vaccine-campaign-was-mistake-not-political-payoff.html
Timeline: Thrombovision Investment
http://www.scribd.com/doc/39184408/ThromboVision-Timeline-With-Contributions
Longtime aide a key link between contributor and Perry
http://blog.chron.com/rickperry/2011/09/perry-merck-lobbyist-are-campaign-donors/?gta=commentform#commentform
Okay, this is a start. Don’t bother calling me names. Don’t waste your time complaining about the sources. If you want to debate the facts contained and these sources, I’m game.
Hm, I covered it when Perry said it was a mistake. Perhaps you need to get into your pj’s more often.
Enter Bryan, who claims he doesn’t want to make it about himself. Yea, right….
Jennifer made several allegations which are reinforced by one or more of the provided linked sources. But if you want to give it your written belch, that is your choice.
Did you inform Jen of your attempt to take her to task?
For what its worth, the word is “corroborated”, not “collaborated.” Don’t trolls own a dictionary?
My, such name calling….
I don’t know if the writer has discussed this matter with Jennifer Rubin. Hope she received my message so she has the opportunity to defend herself.
What message? Certainly you have provided nothing publically to date but information-free criticism.
What do you expect from a potato?
No grey matter, therefore no ability to think critically.
Why do idiot trolls even bother? PJM denizens are the truest of the true. You’re not going to win any converts here. I wonder how many trolls Soros actually funds, or are there just that many juvenile basement dwellers with nothing to do, and no brain to do it with? If so, how many have a shiny, almost new college degree burning a hole in their pocket? Quite a few, I’d imagine. How’s Taco Bell doing?
Why don’t you just attack all the stupid professors who robbed you, instead of bothering us with your cogent, “Oh, yeah? So are you” and “You’re a poopyhead” arguments? (see Python, Monty)
Well, while you’re at it, I’ll have a chimichanga, to go. And a Diet Pepsi. Large.
Actually, I’m not convinced there are that many trolls… could be two or three… or even one… using proxy servers.
I’d need detailed IP logs and time to do some intensive research to figure it out… and I doubt Roger will give me the first.
Why attempt to demean someone who doesn’t agree with your view? Are you engaged in a mutual back-slapping society here?
Certainly you can check the aforementioned linked sources and take issue, if you like, with the facts that are provided. But don’t revert to high school locker room name calling and call yourself better informed.