TX HD 55: Ralph Sheffield Caught Lying About Answers On “Political Courage Test”
By Vince Leibowitz on Oct 30, 2008 in 2008 Texas Elections, Featured ![[Post to Twitter]](/wp-content/plugins/tweet-this/icons/tt-twitter.png){kind=icon}
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Republican candidate for State Rep. Ralph Sheffield (R-Temple) was caught red-handed lying about his answers on Project Vote Smart’s “Political Courage Test” this week by the Bell County media. After being caught lying about his answers on the test, Sheffield tried to fix the first lie by telling more lies.
The sad, sorry affair started last week with Sheffield’s moaning to the media claiming that Democrat Sam Murphey was running “negative” campaign ads; Sheffield alleges that Murphey broke his promise to run a positive campaign. Murphey’s ads, of course, are strictly issue-based.
On Tuesday, Murphey released an ad addressing immigration. The ad cited Sheffield’s responses to the Project Smart “Political Courage Test.” When Sheffield originally answered the test, he noted that he did not support financial penalties for employers that employee illegal immigrants.
Late Tuesday, Sheffield held a press conference and claimed that Murphey needed to take Windex to his glasses:
“I think Mr. Murphey needs to get his glasses checked number one. Number two, I think he needs to get his ears checked because at all the political forums I’ve always said I was gonna be tough on immigration. I’ve never, ever said that I would not punish employers that knowingly hire an illegal.”
It was Sheffield, however, who ended up needing his glasses cleaned–and perhaps his memory refreshed.
Sheffield made the mistake of waving around a copy of the Political Courage Test–one that had a check next to the box where Sheffield could indicate his support of financial penalties for companies who hire illegal immigrants.
Of course, reporters jumped on the discrepancy, and Sheffield’s campaign denied changing its answers. So, reporters called Project Vote Smart. PVS’ staff confirmed that Sheffield had called earlier Tuesday and directed the group to change Sheffield’s answer.
Here is an account of what happened next from a tipster who was there:
When the reporter gave the phone to Sheffield’s campaign manager, Will Franklin, and asked him to speak to the Project Vote Smart director, Franklin became visibly shaken and admitted that he had called and changed the answer.
After this ordeal, Sheffield’s campaign changed its story and claimed that the campaign’s initial response was a clerical mistake. Of course, people would have an easier time believing that answer if Sheffield’s campaign hadn’t lied about the whole episode.
The Sheffield campaign claims the emailed PVS in September and asked them to change the answer; however, they have provided no proof of that, and Project Vote Smart clearly never received any such email.
Than goodness voters in Bell County have another choice in the race for State Rep. than Switcheroo Sheffield. Sam Murphey is a veteran and will represent real Bell County values in Austin. Check out his campaign website here.
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