Burnt Orange Report

Below is what Paul Burka and Patricia Kilday Hart of Texas Monthly had to say about Domingo Garcia in their "Worst Legislators of 2001". While I don't claim to know everything about either of the candidates in this race, I do know that Texas Monthly is not exactly the most conservative publication out there. It seems to me that there might be something to be said for electing a candidate who has at least a CHANCE of getting things done or moderating the expected onslaught of right-wing legislation. Texas Monthly seems to think that Garcia will not be able to do either of these things. If Anchia can, more power to him.

Also, does anyone know whether Wolens is going to make an endorsement?

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"Domingo Garcia is a one-man leper colony. Nobody wants to be around him. What's worse, the disease is self-inflicted. He set out to make himself the most despised member of the House, and it is about the only thing of note he has accomplished in his three terms.

To achieve absolute-zero status, you have to do something really special. Garcia was up to the challenge. In the spring of 2000 he set out to end the careers of four of his Democratic colleagues from Dallas and one from Fort Worth. He sought Hispanic opponents in the Democratic primary for Steve Wolens, Dale Tillery, Harryette Ehrhardt, and Lon Burnam, all of whom are white, and Terri Hodge, who is African American. None of Garcia's agents were successful, but it didn't matter: He had violated an ancient legislative taboo against actively seeking the defeat of one's colleagues. The taboo exists for a good reason, which is that the legislative process cannot function without underlying goodwill and civility, and nothing destroys goodwill and civility faster than trying to end someone's career.

The contempt for Garcia erupted for all to see during the debate over the ill-fated campaign-finance bill. He offered an amendment to impose a $500 fine on candidates who published or broadcast false information about an opponent. Uh-oh. Up came Wolens to the microphone with a question: "Can I make your amendment retroactive fifteen years, to the last time you ran against me?" Uh-oh again. Up came Hodge: "Are you saying that if I put on my campaign literature that you are a great guy and an outstanding representative that I could be charged a five-hundred-dollar fine?"

The irony is that Garcia, who apparently believes that Hispanics ought to represent Hispanics, cannot effectively represent his constituents. He wants a law school and a pharmacy school for South Dallas; he wants state universities to de-emphasize standardized test scores in admitting students; he wants the state's electoral votes in presidential elections to be awarded by congressional district instead of winner-take-all. But he is such a marked man that he has no hope of getting anything done; indeed, he acknowledged to the Dallas Morning News that he had to farm out several of his bills to other legislators. And he has no one to blame but himself."

I'm aware of that article. But if Domingo Garcia was one of Texas Monthly's "worst" legislators, he's in good company... Take a look at the best and worst legislators of 2003. Best include David Dewhurst, John Whitmire and Arlene Wohlgemuth, hardly people that most Democrats have an ounce of respect for. On the other hand the "worst of 2003", included Lon Burnam (the only legislator to vote against Craddick, and also a prominant anti-war activist), along with Killer D, Yvonne Davis and House Democratic leader Jim Dunnam. I don't think that Texas monthly has too much creditability in determining the best and worst legislators. We don't need someone who's going to work with Republicans (John Whitmire) to get placed on the best legislator list. We need someone that's willing to speak out, even if it makes the establishment nervous. Garcia will join people like Burnam and Dunnam in speaking out. His opponent in 103 has a record of towing the line to the Republican establishment including voting in the 2000 GOP primary.

Byron-

It might be true that Texas Monthly is bad at picking the best and worst legislators. I tend to agree with them though I was dissapointed with the selections of Dunham and Burnham to the worst list. At the time of publication, remember, the Senate had not taken up redistricting and Whitmire had not fled NM yet. Looking at it in that light Whitmire had been a good Senator and Dewhurst had benefited from the low expectations he had coming in and looked pretty good so their spots on the "Best" list is not so criminal a matter. But I digress...

The point of the matter isn't whether Texas Monthly is good or bad, it is the nature of the accusations that were made in the piece. Domingo Garcia is an ineffective legislator hell bent on stabbing great Democrats- like Steve Wolens and Lon Burnham- in the back and serving his race over his state. If he were white we'd call him a modern day George Wallace. Additionally, as my article from the other day noted, he is terribly corrupt and dishonest. He is the worst possible candidate for that race and he does a disservice to Texans with his continued runs for public office.

Byron-

It might be true that Texas Monthly is bad at picking the best and worst legislators. I tend to agree with them though I was dissapointed with the selections of Dunham and Burnham to the worst list. At the time of publication, remember, the Senate had not taken up redistricting and Whitmire had not fled NM yet. Looking at it in that light Whitmire had been a good Senator and Dewhurst had benefited from the low expectations he had coming in and looked pretty good so their spots on the "Best" list is not so criminal a matter. But I digress...

The point of the matter isn't whether Texas Monthly is good or bad, it is the nature of the accusations that were made in the piece. Domingo Garcia is an ineffective legislator hell bent on stabbing great Democrats- like Steve Wolens and Lon Burnham- in the back and serving his race over his state. If he were white we'd call him a modern day George Wallace. Additionally, as my article from the other day noted, he is terribly corrupt and dishonest. He is the worst possible candidate for that race and he does a disservice to Texans with his continued runs for public office.

I know that you work for him, which is your perogative. I don't think that this makes you a bad person- I have several friends who have worked for Republicans including one that was past chair of the Texas College Republicans and a colleague of Karl Rove's. I like them as people and I appreciate their judgement though I disagree with their politics. I despise Domingo Garcia- I hold him in much lower regard than even most Republicans because his crime isn't ideological, its an actual crime- vote fraud and corruption. I despise what he stands for and what he'll do if he is elected, but I respect and appreciate you Byron. I just wish things could be different in South Dallas.

Andrew... you're going off the deep end... "If he were white we'd call him a modern day George Wallace". Huh?

You lose creditability when you say things like that. Garcia has clashed with the establishment in Dallas and doing so has made him a lot of enemies. But George Wallace comparisons?

You go on and on about vote fraud and abuse of power but those are just claims thrown at Garcia by desperate political enemies. When was Garcia convicted of any of the things you claim. Never.

Domingo Garcia is committed to the Democratic Party. He's committed to serving a broad constituency. He's fought for his all of his constituents regardless of race. He has a long record of being outspoken for gay rights. He's consistently had one of the lowest rankings on the Young Conservatives of Texas legislative ratings and is an outspoken progressive on many issues. As for stabbing Steve Wolens in the back... that's silly. He ran against Wolens twice in the 1980s and lost. Sure, it may have been a nasty fight, but in the end Garcia has solid Democratic credentials and his opponent does not.