Hutchison Supporters Respond to Perry Consultant's "Whorehouse" Comments

by: David Mauro

Thu May 21, 2009 at 01:41 AM CDT

When Democrats talk about broadening their appeal, we usually use the word "big tent."

Republicans, or at least Rick Perry consultant Dave Carney, prefer to use the word "whorehouse."

From a recent article written by Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News:

Perry political consultant Dave Carney said the Republican governor agrees the party should welcome new voters.

"But that doesn't mean you take your principles and throw them out the door and become a whorehouse and let anybody in who wants to come in, regardless," Carney said. 

Whether he meant to or not (and, as you might expect, Team Perry issued a statement saying Carney's statement had nothing to do with the Governor's race), his words upset quite a few supporters of Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Seven women who support Hutchison sent a letter to Perry, part of which is excerpted below and all of which can be found after the jump:

As businesswomen, community leaders and mothers, it is always concerning and disheartening when we see people resort to behavior aimed at belittling women. Therefore, you cannot imagine how appalling it was to see your campaign's chief strategist liken our Senior Senator's primary campaign to "opening the doors of a whorehouse" in the pages of this past Saturday's Dallas Morning News.

 

While we come from all corners of Texas and from all walks of life, we come together to express beliefs that are shared by countless others. There is no room in campaign politics for your strategist's recent comments, and even less room for it in a discussion about the future of our great state. Not only do his words do a disservice to our efforts to provide conservative leadership, they denigrate the accomplishments of women everywhere.

Whether Carney was specifically talking about the Governor's race or the party's future in general is almost irrelevant. At this point, they go hand in hand.

Next year's Republican Gubernatorial primary is shaping up to be a battle royale for the heart and soul of the GOP. Republicans across the nation are wondering what is next: will the party choose to completely turn its back on moderates and independents, content to champion a narrow agenda that appeals to a dwindling base? Or will they decide to go with so-called "moderation" and start to long road back by moving away from social arch-conservatism.

Next March, we will know the answer. One thing is clear from the campaign rhetoric 10 months before election day: neither side will go down without a fight.

The Honorable Rick Perry

Texans for Rick Perry

PMB 217, P.O. Box 2013

Austin, TX 78768

May 19, 2009

 

Dear Governor Perry,

As businesswomen, community leaders and mothers, it is always concerning and disheartening when we see people resort to behavior aimed at belittling women. Therefore, you cannot imagine how appalling it was to see your campaign's chief strategist liken our Senior Senator's primary campaign to "opening the doors of a whorehouse" in the pages of this past Saturday's Dallas Morning News.

 

While we come from all corners of Texas and from all walks of life, we come together to express beliefs that are shared by countless others. There is no room in campaign politics for your strategist's recent comments, and even less room for it in a discussion about the future of our great state. Not only do his words do a disservice to our efforts to provide conservative leadership, they denigrate the accomplishments of women everywhere.

What would be just as alarming, if it weren't something we as Texans had come to realize years ago, is that this slash and burn rhetoric is not new to your campaigns, or your governorship. The sentiments espoused by David Carney, that someone who isn't as ideologically pure as you claim to be has no place in our party nor anything to offer our state, is in keeping with how you've governed - through division and an appeal to fear.

Texas can do better; Texas certainly deserves better. In order to ensure that we are able to meet the challenges of the coming years, we must have leadership that addresses the needs of our entire state, not simply the wants of a select few.
We therefore call on you to apologize for and repudiate your adviser's words in the most serious manner, and believe these comments beg the questions: is this divisive rhetoric all you are left with, and should we expect more of it from your campaign? If so, we ask that you save the Republican Party and Texas the bother.

Signed,

Denise McNamara, Dallas

Kris Anne Vogelpohl, Galveston

Betsy Lake, Houston

Penny Butler, Houston

Lisa Nowlin, Lubbock

Rosalind Redfern Grover, Midland

Jacque Allen, Wichita Falls