Watts’ Bogus Answers On Why He Is Better Than Noriega
By Vince Leibowitz on Aug 20, 2007 in 2008 Texas Elections
I ran across an interesting post over at a newly-discovered blog, Lubbock Left, concerning some statements by Mikal Watts concerning why he thinks he is better suited than Rep. Rick Noriega (D-Houston) to be the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate:
1. He (Mikal) has already put forward incredible effort through a constant travel and fundraising schedule, and will continue to do so.
2. He can respond fast and well to the Karl Rove attack machine that will be coming with Cornyn’s campaign.
3. He will compete and win in ALL areas of Texas, not just the historically Democratic areas.
I find all of these answers bogus and disingenuous. So, let us take them one-by-one and dissect them:
1. He (Mikal) has already put forward incredible effort through a constant travel and fundraising schedule, and will continue to do so.
“Incredible effort” a “constant travel and fundraising schedule?” Number one, it’s no incredible effort to do much traveling when you’ve loaned yourself $10 million from your own personal fortune. Number two, I’m aware of no “fundraisers” that Watts has actually had.
As for that “constant travel” schedule, you’d think if he was traveling so much (at least, outside the Rio Grande Valley), he’d be getting some press. Barbara Radnofsky had more press at this point in her campaign than Mikal Watts is getting around the state and Radnofsky had about one percent of Watts’ money. The only places Watts seems to be traveling are, in fact, the Rio Grande Valley, the Gulf Coast (where he practices law) and very Republican areas like Lubbock.
Also, for Watts to say this seems to be a bit of a slam against Rick Noriega. I’m sure Lt. Col. Rick Noriega regrets that at the moment he can’t be traveling, but he happens to be doing training with the Texas National Guard. Seems a bit tacky for Watts to make what can so easily be perceived as a slam against someone doing his duty for his state and country.
Now, this little gem:
2. He can respond fast and well to the Karl Rove attack machine that will be coming with Cornyn’s campaign.
If Watts current campaign media operation (consisting of about three press releases a week which aren’t all that great) is what Watts considers as responding “fast and well” to Karl Rove’s attack machine, then God help us all.
Let’s face it: anyone who is reasonably intelligent can respond to Karl Rove’s attack machine because Rove’s attacks are so transparent and bogus. And, it doesn’t take $10 million to effectively respond to the attacks, either. To say that Watts, who has never held elected office and has never been in a position to respond to anyone’s attack machine (save that of opposing counsel), is just an incredible display of both ego and untruth.
And, this one:
3. He will compete and win in ALL areas of Texas, not just the historically Democratic areas.
If Watts believes that, then there is a lot of ocean front property in El Paso someone could sell him. He really thinks he has a better chance in East Texas and West Texas than Noriega? A soldier has a much better chance in East Texas than a trial lawyer. Remember that East Texas was an area where a ton of former trial lawyer legislators and Congressmen were defeated thanks to the Texas Association of Business’s campaign activities in 2002. It’s not trial-lawyer-friendly territory.
How about Dallas? He thinks he’d fair better in a minority-majority county than a Latino candidate? And the Valley! Let’s face it: he can rack up as many endorsements as he wants from mayors of towns with 300 person populations, but what matters are grassroots supporters, of which Watts has few visible ones.
Vincent, Vincent, Vincent
First you imply that all Hispanics (including a true American hero, General Ricardo Sanchez) are for sale, then that Hispanics in the Valley are too dumb to make decisions for themselves and are led by “Machine Politics”, and now that a candidate has actually gone out and done some work and lined up a significant number of Mayors in Hidalgo County to support him, you belittle them as though they are out of touch and not “grassroots” enough for you.
A little note to you, in rural South Texas, no one is more grassroots than the mayors. But then again, how the hell would you ever know something like that. I thought you would have evolved by now, but once aagin your racist skirt is showing.
I know you are a huge supporter of Rick Noriega’s and that’s good. However, supporting one Hispanic doesn’t give you the right to belittle all others. Supporting one Hispanic soldier, doesn’t give you the right to belittle General Sanchez. Supporting Noriega, doesn’t give you the right to belittle all other Hispanic elected officials.
Again, when you ponder why more Hispanics aren’t active on political blogs, just look in the mirror
Come on you racist little twerp, why don’t you do whatever “moderation” is necessary and post my prvious reply? What’s wrong, can’t take the heat of reality staring you in the face?
I see you’ve already deleted my second post. Not surprising.
Chicanomex:
The delete of your second post was not intentional. Several other comments got deleted as well. I was trying to work with a new Wordpress plug-in for comment management and moderation. The second was held in moderation because an investigation was undertaken concerning your comment practices at this and other blogs; you appear to use numerous accounts from the same or very similar IP addresses. I was trying to make sure you weren’t a paid troll for the Watts campaign. The jury is still out.
Also, if you resort to name calling again, i.e. “racist little twerp” for me or anyone else (except a Republican), you will be permanently banned from this blog.
“a paid troll for the Watts campaign”, what a croc. Obviously it is beyond your comprehension that a Chicano can have opinions of his own. If he’s saying anythng it must be at the behest of some smart white guy.
YOU DISGUST ME!
LubbockLeft here — found your blog through the trackback. Great stuff!
I’m not associated with the Watts campaign, but, since I was there to hear and relay his comments to which you responded, I want to throw in my two cents as well.
The breakfast meet and greet in Lubbock was not for the media, but for Watts to meet local Democratic Party activists and donors. It’s a big deal for a candidate to visit Lubbock at all, much less to visit this early in the process. To me, it indicates that he will take the fight to the Republican strongholds of Texas, which will be necessary to win a statewide election.
Also, Watts has been fundraising, but not through events. From what I understand, he’s been putting in call time to raise money. This is a good sign.
We in the Lubbock County Democratic Party would love to see Rick Noriega come to Lubbock. I personally am intrigued by Noriega since he’s a netroots star and endorsed by David Van Os, my favorite Texas political leader. I believe that our local Labor Council also plans to support Noriega. However, Watts made a very good first impression here in Lubbock. That’s the spirit of what I was trying to convey with my post.
Chicanomex noted:
Obviously, you don’t get my point, which is that we have to be very careful because there are a lot of Watts trolls out there who appear to be campaign operatives. Your comments aroused suspicion because of previous instances where strikingly similar email addresses have been used on this and other blogs, which is usually the sign of a troll.
This is not 1960. Give me a break with your self-righteous rhetoric claiming that I’m somehow racist because you aroused suspicion as a possible troll.. Since you are obviously an avid blog commenter, you know what a troll is and must understand that bloggers must be proactive in this regard. It’s nothing personal; though I disagree with you ( i.e. “In south Texas, no one is more grassroots than the mayors? come on, most Texas mayors aren’t grassrootsy, Valley or otherwise), I have nothing personal against you.