(A continuation of one of the most important discussions we must have this year. - promoted by Burnt Orange Report)
cross-posted at What's The Matter with Texas Democrats
A few weeks ago one of my readers sent me this Houston Chronicle article from 2002 (pdf file) headlined "Investment may equal endorsement" by R.G. Ratcliffe, Houston Chronicle April 22, 2002
The article shows the reason Ben Barnes has been backing Carole Keeton Rylander Strayhorn at the expense of Texas Democrats since fall of 2000.
Former Lt. GOY, Ben Barnes is known at the Capitol as Mr. Democrat, but he may be, backing Republican Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander's re-election because she has made a $12 million state investment in one his affiliated companies.
Democratic comptroller nominee Marty Akins said Barnes told him last fall that a business relationship with the comptroller's office would prevent him from supporting Akins in his challenge to Rylander. Akins, who had announced as a candidate for governor, said he called Barnes after deciding to run instead for comptroller.
"He (Barnes) was most gracious. He would eagerly support me for any other race other than comptroller because he had a business relationship with Carole Keeton Rylander and the comptroller's office." Akins said in response to questions from the Houston Chronicle.
Barnes, who helped build this year's statewide Democratic ticket, said Akins is wrong.
Barnes said he supported Democrat Paul Hobby in the 1998 comptroller race because Hobby asked first. Barnes said he pledged support for Rylander's re-election three years ago because she is an old family friend.
"I've got no ongoing relationship with the comptroller's office," Barnes said in an interview.
But Barnes sits on the board of advisers of Techxas Ventures, a high-tech venture capital firm that invests in Texas companies. Barnes said his investment in the company amounts to less than 1 percent of its total worth.
Rylander's office in the fall of 2000 committed to invest $20 million of the state's tobacco settlement money with Techxas Ventures II L.P., one of the firm's investment funds.
"Oh, yeah, I remember that, now that you mention it," Barnes said.
The comptroller's office transferred the first $4 million of its promised investment to Techxas on Dec. 5, 2000.
Three days later, Barnes' adult son, Greg, gave Rylander $7,500, and Techxas board member Richard Salwen donated $25,000.
Barnes said his son is not involved in Techxas in any way.
Rylander and Bames said they never discussed the Techxas investment.
Rylander said the contributions from Greg Barnes and Salwen were coincidental because she was raising money to beat a Dec. 10 deadline. After that date, no statewide officeholder could raise political money until the 2001 legislative session was over.
Two days after the deadline passed, Techxas general partners Bruce Ezell and Michael LaVigna each donated $10,000 to the Associated Republicans of Texas. One of Rylander's personal aides is the son of the association's executive director.
Since then, Techxas has drawn another $8 million from the tobacco fund. Rylander's campaign has received another $15,000 from Greg Barnes and Salwen. [NOTE any typos occurred in transferring the text from the pdf which is apparently based on a printout from a Lexus Nexus search]
For the record I have immense respect for Governor Barnes (as a former Lt. Governor of Texas he is addressed as Governor) but agree with much of this note from reader:
There is one thing that strikes me in this ongoing debate about the Democratic Party.
The real targets are left untouched.
Who am I talking about? Ben Barnes is at the top of the list. A power broker par excellence and charter member of the Me First school of self-centered politics, Barnes long ago stopped letting the greater good stand in the way of his own personal ambition or financial gain. For him public service and partisan politics are all about which candidates can help him line his pockets - period.
As Lt. Governor in the early 1970s, he fell all over himself to help a young George W. Bush escape dangerous military service and instead get a coveted spot in the Texas National Guard. Then, Barnes spent the next quarter-century refusing to talk publicly (privately, he told anyone next to him on a bar stool who was willing to listen) about the favor his did for the Bush Family while first Pappy, then Jebby, then W. rose to power and did irreparable harm to the ideals Democrats like Barnes claim to hold dear.
Along the way, Barnes has repeatedly sold out his party and its principles when the price was right, which it often has been. He kept quiet about George W.'s military service when Bush made sure that the lucrative Texas Lottery contract would remain his. He has worked behind the scenes to keep good candidates out of statewide races by cutting off their funds. And this year, he supported Republican-turned-Independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn over potential Democratic gubernatorial candidates - including the eventual nominee, Chris Bell - to safeguard his personal business interests, which include a major contract with the State Comptroller and controlled by Strayhorn.
Don't get me wrong. Soulless lobbyists are commonplace in D.C. and in Austin. It's just that most them don't simultaneously dictate Democratic Party decisions at the highest level, from Harry Reid to Boyd Richie. Barnes does.
There are plenty of villains who make the goal of "crashing the gates" and turning the current Democratic Party structure on its head a worthy one. But none is more destructive to our long-term ideals than Ben Barnes.
And I want to make it clear that while I disagree with his actions and question his motives, I would never presume to question his service to Texas, his service to the Democratic Party or this country in the course of his lifetime.
What I am questioning is his support of Rylander Strayhorn since 2000 and his motivations for that.
[UPDATE] I just got off the phone with Governor Barnes and he has agreed to sit down with me for a video interview on February 9. Stay tuned. |
