Update:A portion of this interview was featured in the Star-Telegram's PoliTex Blog.
The Burnt Orange Report community may recall that we had the first exclusive interview with Tom Schieffer as his campaign for governor kicked off back in the spring.
Over the Thanksgiving holiday I had the opportunity to sit down with former Democratic candidate for governor, Tom Schieffer, once again. Given the political news that his exit from the gubernatorial race made this past week, we discussed his campaign, his exit from the race, his meeting with Bill White, and the future.
Well, Tom, you've had quite a week. Talk to me about how you feel today, about your decision, and where you go from here.
Well I feel good. I think it was the right decision. I think it gives the Democratic Party an opportunity to unite behind a candidate for governor that can win. That's what I was trying to do and that's the reason I ran in the beginning was to try to elevate the debate in Texas and start talking about the Democratic Party as a realistic alternative to what the Republicans have done over the last few years. Hopefully my actions Monday helped that process along.
Even with the withdrawl of Tom Schieffer and the pending official decision of Bill White on entering the Texas Gubernatorial primary, there remains other candidates in the race for Texas Governor. Of those, we've received the following statement from Hank Gilbert's campaign.
DALLAS--Vince Leibowitz, spokesperson for Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Hank Gilbert (D-Whitehouse) issued the following statement today in response to developments in the race for Governor:
"Hank thanks Ambassador Schieffer for his service to our country and for running. Hank appreciates the Ambassador's continued desire to serve our state and wishes him well in future endeavours.
However, a call to leave the Governor's race and endorse another unannounced candidate fails to resonate with Hank. He got in this race because he believed no one in the filed could both win and energize Democrats in order to help elect Democrats to downballot offices at all levels. That remains the case today. Hank is fully committed to this race and will see it through to an honorable conclusion."
Given the suddenness of today's developments, I don't expect Gilbert, Friedman, Alvarado, or Shami to come out today or anytime this holiday week with anything other than a "we are still in the race and evaluating all developments" until Bill White makes an official statement that he is in. So I'm not going to read too much into this statement from the Gilbert campaign as it would look weak to say anything different at this point.
Everyone is going to take the holiday week and weekend to have a lot of conversations- conversations with other campaigns, with donors, with staff, and with the party. Those will largely drive when and where existing candidates end up and if as of yet unannounced candidates will step forward to fill in the ticket .
I don't expect that Hank Gilbert will end up filing to run for Governor if Bill White files to run for Governor- it would be a waste of his talents and he wouldn't win the primary. Alternatively, if White successfully becomes the nominee, he could head a ticket that also elects Bill Moody to the Supreme Court, Jeff Weems to the Railroad Commission, and Hank Gilbert to either the Land or Ag Commission if he was the nominee for one of those offices.
If we think that a Democratic nominee can become Governor, then we should be acknowledging the fact that they are going to push along some of those downticket and historically better performing candidates. Gilbert should remember that, as he and Moody know this first hand when they led the ticket as the lead vote-getters in 2006 for statewide executive and judicial offices.
I doubt that the field will clear entirely for Bill White- that's asking a bit too much consensus and organization from Texas Democrats. But I do expect that with time and thoughtful evaluation, we will have a ticket we can be proud of in 2010.
With the announcement that Tom Schieffer is officially out of the Democratic gubernatorial primary, several of his highest-profile Democratic supporters released a statement today. From Representatives Garnet Coleman of Houston, Jim Dunnam of Waco, Jessica Farrar of Houston and Pete Gallego of Alpine (emphasis mine):
"We thank Tom for his steadfast support of Democratic principles, and the sacrifices that he and his wife have made over the last eight months as they traveled across Texas, addressing our states' crisis of leadership.
"We were proud to endorse Tom to serve as the next governor of Texas because he was willing to address issues and concerns that are important to Texas families - public education, jobs, children's health insurance, rising college tuition, energy, protecting the environment and transportation.
"The Democratic Party is still the only one that offers a chance for real change in Texas. Texans still deserve better than one Republican who wants to be governor for life and another who thinks the governor's mansion is a retirement home.
"We look forward to moving our state forward and redoubling our efforts to bring real leadership back to the state of Texas."
These four elected officials are tremendous progressive leaders in the statehouse. Their support of Schieffer carried significant weight, and perhaps prevented many Democrats from initially dismissing the Bush-voting former representative. As the race progresses, it will be interesting to see where their support moves. Previously, Reps. Coleman, Farrar, and Gallego had endorsed Mayor Bill White in his Senatorial bid.
Currently, with White not yet officially in the race and Shami and Gilbert averring that they will stay in the race, these become strong endorsements of the person who may be perceived as the next "establishment candidate," given the clout and respect these four carry amongst the progressive community.
Keep your eyes peeled, folks! This one is far from over just yet.
It's a first not only for the campaign of Hank Gilbert, but for any of the Democratic hopefuls for Texas Governor- the addition of a senior staff level position as an Asian & Pacific Islander American Outreach Director. Justin Gillenwater writes more at the Asian American Action Fund blog.
Hank Gilbert has enlisted political dynamo Geeyung Li to serve as APIA Outreach Director. Gilbert is the first candidate to create and fill an APIA outreach position for the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial primary. With the selection of Li, Gilbert has doubly demonstrated his valuing of the Asian American community.
Li is not only the first Outreach Director (of any identity group) for the Gilbert Campaign, but Li is also the first Asian American enlisted to a senior position in any of the 2010 Democratic gubernatorial campaigns. The Schieffer campaign has an Asian American on the campaign committee, but otherwise only has Asian Americans in low-level volunteer positions. The Shami campaign has yet to formally launch and therefore has no Asian American in any position. The Friedman campaign had the, for lack of a better word, "best" response to my query:
While we have a Jew, a Palestinian, and a redneck, we do not yet have any Asian-American staffers.
We have not considered race, ethnicity, gender or sex in our hiring at this time, but would expect our campaign and a Kinky administration to look like Texas.
When reached for comment about his joining the Gilbert campaign, Li said:
I am excited and humbled by the opportunity to serve the Asian American community. I believe the focus and outreach that Hank Gilbert has is the right step towards not only identifying and communicating the tangible needs that exist within such a diverse ethnic group, but also in building a group of civically engaged Asians that can have a permanent voice on the state level. I hope we can move forward on that, even if it is a small step, during this election cycle.
In front of a packed house at a meeting of the Houston GLBT Political Caucus, I outlined my plan to repeal the Texas Defense of Marriage Act and all statutory and constitutional barriers to equality for LGBT citizens, as well as ending discrimination in hiring and employment, public accommodations and real estate transactions, insurance, and more.
After The Advocate took note of this policy release, a Texas reader in their comment section said he though, with a policy like that, I don't stand "a snowball's chance in hell," of winning this election because of the reputation Texas has under Rick Perry.
"There’s just too many people running," Thompson said. "Any time someone jumps in, they cut your percentages down."
Thompson said last week he was considering ending his bid. He had said he had launched his campaign earlier in the year assuming he would be in a three-way race with former ambassador Tom Schieffer and humorist Kinky Friedman.
There are now at least four Democrat candidates for governor -- Schieffer, Friedman, East Texas rancher Hank Gilbert and Fort Worth teacher Felix Alvarado. Houston Hair-care magnate Farouk Shami and former Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle have said they may join the race as well. Candidates can not officially file for a place on the March primary ballot until December.
Thompson said he is endorsing Gilbert, who most closely matches him on several key issues including an opposition to toll roads.
As the Texas Transportation Commission met last Thursday in Fort Worth, Democratic candidate for governor, Hank Gilbert, was launching a solutions campaign to address our growing transportation problems in the Lone Star State. The praise continues to roll in for Gilbert on his plan as WFAA's Inside Politics weighed in on the launch this morning:
Colleen McCain Nelson:
Well it's a bold move for sure. It's tough to campaign on a tax increase, but he actually acknowledged the reality that Texas has billions and billions of dollars in transportation needs and no good way to pay for them. Credit for acknowledging the reality and it was also an attempt to get some attention in a race where he has been overshadowed by some of the other candidates. He said 'look at me I have an idea' and he gets points for that.
Gromer Jeffers:
The 'no toll roads' will help, but you're right it will be tough to campaign on a tax increase. Give him credit; he is trying to develop a solution to a problem that has been around for awhile. He is talking about solutions. Ideas. He is being bold.
Since 2006, Gilbert has been hands on with the transportation issue and has worked hard to bring down Rick Perry's Trans Texas Corridor boondoggle. It should come as no surprise that the East Texas rancher has come up with a thoughtful, comprehensive plan to address our transportation problems.
Gilbert's plan mirrors the Local Option Tax plan that many North Texas legislators, Republican and Democrat, championed as a step forward on the transportation debate in solving transportation problems. I agreed that the plan was at least offering a solution and deserved an opportunity to be considered; however, the legislation was killed during the 81st legislative session and our transportation problems continue to escalate.
Consultants, pundits, and political talking heads will say that it is political suicide to talk of increasing taxes in an election year. The fact is that Republican and Democratic candidates have chosen to think about their political careers versus embracing profiles in courage moments and addressing the realities of our problems we face today. It is easy to campaign and say "cut taxes," but it is a heck of a lot harder to balance budgets, address problems, and plan for the future without money in the kitty. Giving money away to the fat cats of our society while alley cats are left to scrap is no way to run government, but that is how Republicans like to govern.
Hank Gilbert stepped out with a profiles in courage moment this past week and declared that this campaign wasn't about him, but about doing what is right for Texas--consequences be damned. How refreshing!
Rancher Hank Gilbert, recipient of roughly 1.7 million votes as the Democratic candidate for Agriculture Commissioner in 2006, continued his campaigns media blitz by landing on WFAA's Inside Politics in the DFW market.
Gilbert, in his always so folksy manner, artfully articulated to Watson and Dallas Morning News political writer Gromer Jeffers, why he feels he has crossover appeal:
Hank Gilbert is a guy just like everybody else who is watching this broadcast. I grew up in rural East Texas--the son of two Union parents who owned a farm where every dollar counted. My wife and I sit around the kitchen table a couple of times a month just like most everybody else in this state does--trying to figure out what we can pay that time of the month on bills. I'm no different than anyone else. What I am not is an entrenched politician like most of the people in this race.
That's a powerful, connecting statement from Gilbert. You best believe that hundreds of thousands of Texans sit at the kitchen table on a weekly basis trying to figure out what bill is to be paid and what bill has to wait to be paid. Hank has crossover appeal because he really is like every other mainstream Texan out there who wants answers to the problems we face in our state.
Watson and Jeffers, apparently not satisfied with Gilbert's answers, continued to press him as to how a Democrat can win in 2010:
I don't know that the "D" or the "R" at the end of a name is as important as the candidate and the message that they are putting out there. The thing about Texans--we're just like the weather. We change and we change constantly. People ask me about that "D" and "R" stigma and I was in Amarillo and Lubbock, Texas---twice in the past there weeks. And on talk radio shows, Fox shows, and conservative callers are calling in and saying 'hey, I'm a Republican. I put Rick Perry where he is. I voted for him every time he was on the ballot. But next November I'm voting for the guy you have in your studio because he sounds like me and talks like me.' People ask me about that "D" and that "R?" R stands for rancher and D stands for dirt. We're just like everybody else out there. We want to make a difference for everybody in this state regardless of political affiliation or socio-economic status.
It was a good interview for Hank and I encourage you to check out the full deal. I was hoping that Watson or Jeffers would ask Hank about the recent dustup between his and Schieffer's campaign regarding their respective platforms on education. Last weeks catfight, where Gilbert essentially accused Schieffer of plagiarism, was the first such tussle we've had between declared candidates in the Democratic primary. I was curious to see if the feud would continue or if Gilbert would focus instead on the Republicans. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to hearing from my friend Hank Gilbert when he comes to the Mid-Cities Democrats meeting on October 22nd.
A quick post for readers across the state who are looking for more information about Hank Gilbert and his gubernatorial race. He's going to be on TV and radio across the state this Sunday per the following information.
First, Hank will be headlining Inside Texas Politics on WFAA-TV Channel 8 in Dallas-Fort Worth. The show will air this Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. CST on WFAA Channel 8 in Dallas/Fort Worth. Hank will also appear as a guest on the Texas State Network's This Week In Austin. The show airs on dozens of TSN radio stations across the state. Check TSN's website (link: http://www.tsnradio.com/stations.php) for the name of your local station, and contact your local station for the airtime in your area. Finally, Hank will appear on the public affairs show ACCESS on five radio stations along the Texas Gulf Coast. The call letters for stations and their local broadcast times for ACCESS are as follows: KLVI ( klvi.com ) 10am KYKR ( kykr.com) 10pm KKMY (mix1045.com) 6pm KCOL ( cool925.com) 9pm KIOC (bigdog106.com) 7am
Talk about continuing the media blitz and spreading a Democratic message across the state (and to some nontraditional mediums and areas). It's good to see the fight being brought full force beyond the official kickoff.
(This is Hank Gilbert. You might have heard he is running for Governor. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
On Tuesday, Dave Montgomery over at the FWST put up a story about just how irritated Governor Perry was that people were making hay out of his really stupid comment about the recession...
But Perry invited reporters to "look at the whole picture" and said that he has continually stressed the "seriousness of this recession and how it’s impacted people." He said he has been "very, very clear" in his concern for jobless Texans.
It is unbelievable to me that a Governor who played politics with the lives of ordinary Texans over stimulus money the State needed would act as if he were the injured party. His joke, no matter the context, was offensive and ridiculous. The reality is that at every turn during this economic crisis, Governor Perry has put politics first and real leadership last. Starting with the incendiary talk about the 10th Amendment (which betrayed nothing more than his inability to understand the Constitution of the United States), moving on to his decision to take on debt rather than stimulus funds to handle rising unemployment claims all the way to his decision to use stimulus dollars to build privatized rolls, in effect taxing Texans three times for the same road.
At no time in living memory has the State of Texas been so badly served. For so long.
What makes the entire situation even more offensive is the other leading Republican candidate, who voted against the stimulus as part of her continuing dereliction of duty as a Senator representing the people of Texas, take him to task for not caring about ordinary Texans. It's clear neither Governor Perry nor Senator Hutchison, both of whom enjoy large government salaries and taxpayer funded premium healthcare, really understand the economic pain and hardship this very real recession has had on the families of Texas.
I reiterate my call for Governor Perry to apologize for his offensive remarks. And I call on Senator Hutchison to either resign or do her job. Enough with the political posturing.
