Dixon Defends Craddick. Ish.

The Libertarians seem to be unhappy that the Texas Democratic Party chair is making hay out of Speaker Tom Craddick and former state rep Suzanna Hupp making odd overtures to Libertarian Party of Texas candidates.

"Using taxpayer funded state employees to manipulate an election is unethical and a betrayal of the public trust," said TDP chair Boyd Richie over Craddick having his speaker staff meet Monday with LPT Chair Pat Dixon and Executive Director Wes Benedict.

Dixon then struck back at Richie for what he called "vapid rhetoric … utter hyperbole." The meeting was "respectful and professional," said Dixon. "We did discuss our honest differences of opinion and commitment to grow our party. We stated that while we have some common ground on economic issues, we feel that the Republican Party has departed from the principles of the free market." ("To suggest that these dealings are shady is easily refuted by their openness," he added, kind of ignoring the fact that the only reason anyone knew about the meeting is because his party told everyone.)

All interesting, since Benedict said that Hupp "alluded to potential board seats and other enticements" for Libertarians that dropped out, and he told the Chronicle that "My personal aim is that I want to wipe the Republicans off the Travis County map."