I think anyone in America with an ounce of political acumen knows that the indictment of Texas Governor Rick Perry was motivated by politics. This is especially true when you consider the source of the indictment: the office of the Travis County district attorney whose Public Integrity Unit was the target of Perry’s veto.
You would hope — but not really expect — that even Democrats would recognize the injustice being perpetrated. That’s why when President Obama’s former chief political advisor, David Axelrod, tweets that the indictment appears to him to be “sketchy,” it is a pleasant surprise.
Texas GOP Gov. Rick Perry after being indicted this weekend got support Saturday from one of the country’s most powerful Democrats– former President Obama political adviser David Axelrod– who tweeted that the charge seems “sketchy.”
Perry, a 2012 GOP presidential candidate with potential 2016 aspirations, was indicted Friday for allegedly abusing his veto power during a dispute with a public-corruption prosecutor over her drunken driving arrest.
The indictment claims Perry broke the law when he threatened to veto $7.5 million over two years for the public integrity unit run by the office of Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, after she pleaded guilty to drunken driving in April 2013 and refused to resign.
“Unless he was demonstrably trying to scrap the ethics unit for other than his stated reason, Perry indictment seems pretty sketchy,” Axelrod tweeted.
Alexrod joined Texas’ junior Sen. Ted Cruz on Saturday in giving his support to Perry, while other high-profile lawmakers have largely remained silent on the politically-charge issue.
The outspoken first-term senator defended his fellow Republican’s integrity. He also called the indictment “highly-questionable” and argued that the Travis County District Attorney’s Office that indicted Perry has a “sad history” of engaging in politically-motivated prosecutions.
“Rick Perry is a friend, he’s a man of integrity,” said Cruz, who also appears to have 2016 White House aspirations. “I am proud to stand with Rick Perry. The Texas Constitution gives the governor the power to veto legislation. And a criminal indictment predicated on the exercise of his constitutional authority is, on its face, highly suspect.”
Perry vetoed the money after Lehmberg, a Democrat, refused to resign.
With the video of Lehmberg’s drunken misbehavior and disrespecting of police during her drunk driving arrest in mind, here’s what some Texas Democrats are saying when they call on Perry to resign:
The Texas Democratic Party has already called on Perry to resign, calling the situation “unbecoming” of a Texas governor.
“Governor Rick Perry has brought dishonor to his office, his family and the state of Texas. Texans deserve to have leaders that stand up for what is right and work to help families across Texas,” party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said in a statement.
How “becoming” was Lehmberg’s behavior during her arrest? Did she bring “honor” to her office by trying to bully the police? Did she stand up for “what is right” when she had to be restrained during her rant-filled booking where she threatened police officers?
Congratulations, Texas Democrats. You are defending a falling-down drunk who disgraced herself, her office, and the state of Texas during an arrest that may have saved her own life as well as others. How, in good conscience, could any governor of either party not try and force her to do the right thing and resign? How could anyone take the office of Public Integrity Unit in the state seriously when it was headed up by such a creature as Rosemary Lehmberg?
The questions answer themselves.
Any other Democrats out there willing to show a little courage and stand up to the bullying of your fellow Democrats in Travis County?
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