Hotel Vegas
And What About a Doggett Loss Would Not Be a Joy to DeLay?
RECEIVED Mon., March 8, 2004
Dear Editor,
A vote for Doggett could possibly result in the election of a Republican in the newly created CD 25, a district "begging" to elect a Hispanic Democrat. Tom DeLay must be "laughing out one side of his mouth" knowing he pitted Doggett against the Hispanic community, forcing Sen. Barrientos to "go Hispanic" in favor of Judge Leticia Hinojosa while Doggett tries to court Hispanic votes in South Texas, fully aware how tough it is to "speak Hispanic" with a "Learning to Speak Tex-Mex" translator booklet as a guide. A prudent Barrientos decision in favor of Democrat Judge Hinojosa is smart and presents the best opportunity to elect both a Democrat and a Hispanic in the salamander-shaped CD 25 that stretches from a few precincts in East Austin to a majority Hispanic voter block in South Texas.
The following scenario will be true joy to Mr. DeLay. Imagine that Democrat Hinojosa somehow "politically stumbles" in South Texas, that Doggett splits enough votes in Leticia's backyard, keeps his tiny block of liberal Anglo Democrats in East Austin, and gets into the general election. Now, South Texas Hispanics must decide whether Doggett is preferable to Republican candidate (and Hispanic) Rebecca Armendariz Klein. To help them make their choice, South Texas voters will see Republican money spent for Armendariz Klein that will make Doggett's war chest seem puny by comparison. Can this scenario get worse? Yes! Remember the Hispanic voters that voted for Hinojosa because she is Hispanic will not switch to Anglo Doggett no matter what the party affiliation. These former Hinojosa voters will likely go for Armendariz Klein, joining the few Republican voters in CD 25, and producing the "nightmare" that most of us "yellow-dog" Democrats could not imagine would happen – the election of a Republican in a "slam-dunk" Democratic district.
A vote for Doggett could possibly result in the election of a Republican in the newly created CD 25, a district "begging" to elect a Hispanic Democrat. Tom DeLay must be "laughing out one side of his mouth" knowing he pitted Doggett against the Hispanic community, forcing Sen. Barrientos to "go Hispanic" in favor of Judge Leticia Hinojosa while Doggett tries to court Hispanic votes in South Texas, fully aware how tough it is to "speak Hispanic" with a "Learning to Speak Tex-Mex" translator booklet as a guide. A prudent Barrientos decision in favor of Democrat Judge Hinojosa is smart and presents the best opportunity to elect both a Democrat and a Hispanic in the salamander-shaped CD 25 that stretches from a few precincts in East Austin to a majority Hispanic voter block in South Texas.
The following scenario will be true joy to Mr. DeLay. Imagine that Democrat Hinojosa somehow "politically stumbles" in South Texas, that Doggett splits enough votes in Leticia's backyard, keeps his tiny block of liberal Anglo Democrats in East Austin, and gets into the general election. Now, South Texas Hispanics must decide whether Doggett is preferable to Republican candidate (and Hispanic) Rebecca Armendariz Klein. To help them make their choice, South Texas voters will see Republican money spent for Armendariz Klein that will make Doggett's war chest seem puny by comparison. Can this scenario get worse? Yes! Remember the Hispanic voters that voted for Hinojosa because she is Hispanic will not switch to Anglo Doggett no matter what the party affiliation. These former Hinojosa voters will likely go for Armendariz Klein, joining the few Republican voters in CD 25, and producing the "nightmare" that most of us "yellow-dog" Democrats could not imagine would happen – the election of a Republican in a "slam-dunk" Democratic district.
S.J. Buddy Ruiz
