Comptroller Strayhorn, You’re No Ted Kennedy (Or Hillary Clinton!)

The following question comprises the entire test. It is multiple choice; select only one answer. It is worth 100 points:

When The Republican Party of Texas is faced with a candidate that both threatens to erode its base, it:

a.   Contacts David Barton and schedules an emergency prayer session.

b.   Instructs a staffer and orders them to call James Leinninger and inform him they’re going to need a couple million dollars extra this reporting period.

c.   Moves that candidate to Virginia.

d.   Compares that candidate to “liberals” like Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton.

If you guessed “d,” you’re right! And, in their latest email, that’s what they’re doing with The Comptroller Formerly Known As Rylander. At the top of their latest email to party faithful, the following graphic appears:

Followed by the following text:

Carole Strayhorn Accepts $500,000 from Hillary Clinton & Ted Kennedy Donors

Carole Strayhorn’s recently filed campaign reports show her receiving nearly $2 million from personal injury trial lawyers alone, some of whom have also given to Hillary Rodham Clinton and Ted Kennedy. In Strayhorn’s latest report, Tobacco Five personal injury trial lawyers John Eddie Williams and Walter Umphrey each gave her $250,000. Strayhorn received numerous donations from other personal injury trial lawyers as well, including Lance Lubel, Guy Matthews, Robert Taylor, Bernard Klimist, Robert Templeton, Fleming and Associates, and Minton Burton Foster and Collins, P.C.

It’s not news that money talks with Strayhorn. In 2005, the Texas State Auditor’s Office found that Strayhorn had taken nearly $2 million in campaign contributions from the same entities that received over 3,000 tax refunds totaling over $460 million from her agency.

Today’s Austin American Stateman reported that “In early June, a lawyer and an accountant who represent businesses challenging taxes collected by state Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn’s office met with a legal adviser to Strayhorn. By month’s end, the visitors and their colleagues had given more than $400,000 to Strayhorn’s gubernatorial campaign — 13 percent of the $3 million she raised from January through June.”

Additionally, the Houston Chronicle reported in May that Strayhorn attended a “wild soiree” celebrating the 70th birthday of Democrat Tobacco Five personal injury trial lawyer Walter Umphrey of Beaumont.

Seeking large contributions from liberal Democrat personal injury trial lawyers and taking huge sums from organizations with issues before the Comptroller’s Office, Strayhorn has truly returned to her roots in the smoke-filled backrooms of old-fashioned Democrat politics.

First of all, Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy should both draft strongly-worded letters to the RPT for this slander. Carole Keeton McClellan Rylander Strayhorn isn’t nearly as politically astute, nor has she made nearly as many contributions to America as have Senators Clinton and Kennedy.

Mrs. Strayhorn, youre’ no Ted Kennedy, and you’re damned sure no Hillary Clinton.

Second, Carole Strayhorn should hire an image consultant because that “scarf thing” she’s wearing is all over the place.

Third, this is likely to be one of the more amusing attacks of the political season. Why? It shows that the GOP is so threatened by Strayhorn eroding their base (in spite of those normally Democratic trial lawyer contributions) that they took the risk of sending this thing out to all of their party faithful.

Why is that a risk? Because for “mainstream” Republicans who like Rick Perry and claim they support him, Carole Keeton Strayhorn is still one of the most popular gals at the dance, so to speak. Don’t think for one moment that she wouldn’t have beat Susan Combs hands down in a primary for Comptroller if she’d had any desire to hold on to that seat and not make a political power play.

This is a move that’s likely to backfire for the Republicans. Though the Republicans say so many in their ranks are supporting Rick Perry, the fact is this is just another example of Republican Fuzzy Math. After all, if Rick Perry actually had command of the Republican base, instead of polling at 40 percent in a four-way race, he’d probably be polling somewhere near 47-48 percent.

Furthermore, as much as Republicans don’t like to admit this fact, Strayhorn’s one of their own. She’s a Republican. Though she’s running as an independent, she spent the last many years helping carry the water of the Republican Party on a variety of issues. There are some Republicans with whom pieces like this simply will not bode well.

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