Gallego has started a petition calling on Canseco to apologize for the mailers. From the Gallego campaign:
Republicans Call out Canseco for Use of Religious Imagery in Attack Ad
San Antonio-Texas Republicans today called out Congressman Quico Canseco for sending mail to voters that incorporated the image of Jesus into a political attack against Rep. Pete Gallego. Shortly after the mail dropped, Rep. Pete Gallego circulated a petition asking Congressman Canseco to apologize to voters who received the piece and to stop using religious imagery in his attack ads. Almost 700 people have signed the petition.
State Rep. Burt Solomons (R-Carrollton) said, "Religion brings us together. Jesus should not be a prop for any campaign. I've known Pete a long time. We don't agree on every issue, but he's an honorable man. The constituents would better be served if Congressman Canseco stuck to the issues."
"Pete and I served in the Texas House together for nearly 20 years," added former State Rep. David Swinford (R-Dumas). "He is an honest, Christian man. Congressman Canseco's use of an image of Jesus in an attack ad against Pete is just plain wrong."
Former State Rep. Elvira Reyna (R-Mesquite) said, "No political party has a corner on God. God is neither Republican nor Democrat and it saddens me that Congressman Canseco has chosen to use a sacred image on a political mail piece."
Congressman Canseco on Tuesday told reporters that he was standing by the mail pieces, and would not apologize.
The text of the petition from Rep. Gallego, is below:
Religious Imagery Has No Place in Political Attacks Ads
Recently, Congressman Canseco sent a piece of mail to voters which incorporates the image of Jesus in a political attack on me.
In my decades of public service, this is the first time I have ever seen a campaign sink so low as to use the image of Jesus in a political attack ad.
Use of such a venerated image within a political attack ad is reprehensible, crass and entirely disrespectful.
Forget the fact that the mailer is factually inaccurate - which it is. The point is that Christ's image, or any religious imagery for that matter, has no place in a political attack ad.
I am happy to engage on debates on any issue, including the ones Mr. Canseco raises in this attack, but the exploitative use of sacred religious imagery is over the line.
If you agree, I ask that you add your name to this petition below.
The petition calls on Mr. Canseco to issue a public apology to the voters who received this attack piece and to immediately cease the use of religious imagery in his attack ads.
The petition is not partisan. Signing it will not be taken as an endorsement of me or any political party.
I simply want to show Mr. Canseco that people from all over the country, from all political and religious persuasions, are united in the belief that religion should never be used in political ads.
I hope you will join me in putting an end to this type of campaigning.
