Burnt Orange Report

Gammage Completes First Leg Of 'Set The Record Straight Tour'

By Vince Leibowitz

Democratic candidate for governor Bob Gammage completed the first leg of his 'Set the Record Straight Tour' Monday following stops in Sugar Land, Beaumont, Lufkin and Longview before tackling Tyler, Texarkana, Dallas and Fort Worth on Tuesday.

In Sugar Land, the former Texas Supreme Court Justice lambasted Texas Governor Rick Perry and President Bush but reportedly said little about his Democratic Primary opponents Chris Bell and Felix Alvarado, at least according to the Austin American Statesman:

The former Texas Supreme Court justice stopped in an airport terminal with Ben Grant, a former lawmaker and judge who is running for lieutenant governor, in embattled Republican U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay's hometown. Gammage used to represent the area in Congress.

"There's a corrupt out-of-control political machine that stretches all the way from Washington, D.C., to Austin," Gammage said. "Tom DeLay is at one end, and Rick Perry is at the other."

With Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn leaving the Republican primary to run as an independent and Perry almost assured of the GOP nomination, the Democratic primary has become the first major battle in the 2006 governor's race.

Gammage and former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell both are trying to paint themselves as reformers at a time when Republicans face questions and investigations about their conduct in office.

The Statesman noted that Gammage, who along with Grant and comptroller candidate Fred Head were part of the 'Dirty 30' in 1971, "sought to link Perry to DeLay, who has been indicted in Texas on campaign-finance charges and is under pressure because of his ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

And, my personal favorite:

Gammage also criticized Perry for taking a 2004 trip to the Bahamas with, among others, anti-tax guru Grover Norquist and major Republican contributor James Leininger before a special legislative session on school finance.

I can't remember the last time a statewide Democratic candidate actually went after James Leininger on the stump [someone please correct me if I'm wrong...].

The Beaumont Enterprise offered a short story on Gammage's stop there, noting in its lead that Gammage promised to "end the influence of special interests in the state's government."

In Beaumont, Gammage offered a couple of soundbites which, in my opinion, are pretty strong and to the point, except I'm afraid half of the electorate isn't observant to catch what he means by 'policy created on yachts,' though I think it's brilliant:

"The truth is, Rick Perry is failing Texas. That's why I'm running for governor," said Gammage during a stop at Southeast Texas Regional Airport. "I'm running against policy created on yachts. I'm running for the people of Texas."

The Enterprise also quoted Lt. Governor candidate Ben Z. Grant:

"I've been involved in a lot of uphill battles, so miracles do happen," Grant said. "I'm not saying it will take a miracle, but it will take a lot of hard work. I'm running to win."

The Lufkin Daily News had more on Gammage's positions and goals in an article concerning his stop in that city.

The News notes Gammage wants to:

•Raise the minimum wage from $5.15 an to $6.50 an hour.

•Pass a constitutional amendment guaranteeing every Texan the right to clean air and clean water.

•Reform the state's tax code.

•Pass ethics reform and corporate responsibility acts; and

•Work with Congress on providing affordable health care.

And, Gammage took another well-deserved shot at Religious Right Kingpin James Leininger:

Gammage, 67, pointed to a color photo of a 54-foot yacht that he said was similar to the one that Perry and some of his biggest backers, Jim Leininger, a longtime proponent of school vouchers, and Grover Norquist, one of the biggest beer distributors in the state, took on a "secret" junket to the Bahamas. During that trip Perry and his friends came up with a public school finance plan that was "laughed off" the floor of the Texas Legislature, Gammage said.

Gammage said he would work on public policy in Austin, not on a yacht in the Bahamas.

"We're going to christen this yacht the S.S. Perry," Gammage said to applause from the small group of supporters that gathered at the airport to hear him speak. "And ... we're going to sink the Perry in November..."What bugs me is that yacht is flying the Stars and Stripes — that's my flag. It should be flying the Jolly Roger."

Lt. Governor candidate Ben Z. Grant spoke at the rally as well:

Grant, a former state representative, said even though his opponent, David Dewhurst, has enough money to "burn a wet mule," he is running to win. He said in talking to the people of Texas, he has found that they are growing more and more disenchanted with state government.

"We can have a bright tomorrow, but first, we need new leadership in Austin," he said.

At Gammage's stop in Longview (Gregg County), he continued along a similar theme:

"We have to eliminate incompetence and corruption that governs our state today," he told a small crowd at KRS Express. Aviation, just south of the East Texas Regional Airport, emphasizing that must be addressed first.

Grant also appeared with Gammage at his last stop of the day, and was surprisingly frank:

Grant, who plans to face Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, said he wasn't optimistic in the beginning but that's changing.

"People need a choice," he said, adding that as he campaigns and talks to supporters he's becoming more optimistic about the race.

Grant said he is opposed to people having to pay for toll roads and legislation that allows universities to decide how often to increase tuition.

"It's going to get to the point where the poor people are not going to be able to go to college," said Grant, also a former judge of the 71st judicial district court for Harrison County.

In regards to public school finance reform, Grant said level financing should be provided to each student on the basis of the wealth of the state.

He said environmental issues also are important to him, particularly a focus on clean air and water.

On Tuesday, Gammage will visit Tyler and make several other stops as well. In Tyler, he'll be joined by comptroller candidate Fred Head (D-Athens).

Interestingly, each of the daily newspapers covering the Gammage/Grant tour noted—fairly high up in their stories, in fact—that both Gammage and Grant were members of the 'Dirty Thirty,' which seems to have become the media's way of identifying the Gammage/Grant/Head trio. This is likely because of the importance of the Dirty Thirty in Texas political history but also because it's probably easier for the media to mention that as an ID factor first rather than to list the various offices Gammage and Grant have held.

You can check out other Texas Democrats running for governor via their websites: Chris Bell, Felix Alvarado, Rashad Jafer.

Lt. Governor: Adrian De Leon [no website I am aware of], Maria Luisa Alvarado.

Vince Leibowitz is a regular contributor to Burnt Orange Report. He also writes for Political State Report. He may be reached via email at Vince_Leibowitz-at-verizon.net