| The Republican Party of Texas is making it their mission for Republicans to hide from voters and refuse to debate. We know all about Rick Chicken Perry -- take a look at all the ads around BOR if you don't. But Republicans have decided to refuse to debate up and down the ticket now, only ensuring that their candidates will be seen as cowards who are unwilling to face the voters and talk about the issues. Judy Jennings and Rebecca Bell-Metereau are fighting back. From their press release earlier today: "Republican nominees for SBOE Marsha Farney and Ken Mercer have a lot of questions to answer, and they should come out of hiding and answer them. Are they going to participate in a fair debate, moderated by a respected non-partisan journalist, or are they going to follow the orders of their partisan boss? Texans are tired of the State Board of Education being Republicans' political football, in which the school children of Texas get kicked around - this is supposed to be about quality public education, not political gamesmanship," Cook said. Both the Democrats have notified the League of Women Voters that they will participate in the League's debate, and cautioned their opponents not to duck voters by failing to participate. "I am honored to participate in the debate and to share my views with voters on how the State Board of Education can do much better for Texas school children. If my opponent respects the voters whose support she seeks, she will accept the offer to participate in this debate as well," said Judy Jennings. [snip] "I'm pleased to accept the opportunity to let voters know my priorities if they elect me to the SBOE, and I'm equally pleased about the chance to inform voters of what my opponent has already done as an SBOE member," said Rebecca Bell-Metereau. "I urge him to participate in the debate, because he has some explaining to do regarding his priorities while in office," she said.
The policy of the Republican Party of Texas to simply ignore voters and skip public forums speaks volumes of who they believe matters in this race -- and it's not you. It's not the parents, teachers, or children of Texas who care about public schools. It is themselves. Up and down the ballot, whatever the race, Republicans are in it for themselves while Democrats are in it for Texas. |
