TX-28: Let it begin with Cuellar CAFTA traitor update

[Joanne98]

TX-28: Let It Begin With Cuellar
Posted by Tim Tagaris
It wasn't the "Gang of Fourteen" that sold out the working men and women of America in the early morning hours of July 28th, it was the "Gang of Fifteen Democrats" who voted for CAFTA that did the dirty work. Chief among the back-stabbers was Democrat Henry Cullar of Texas.

Rangel recalled a conversation he had had with Cuellar when both attended a meeting at the White House several weeks ago. “He gave me his personal assurances that if I helped this president , that this president would be there for me,” Rangel recalled. “He said he knew this from personal experience.”
And Cuellar does have a good amount of personal experience with the President and other Texas Republicans.
As a state House member in 2000, he stumped for George W. Bush's presidential effort. Afterward, he agreed to serve the new GOP governor, Rick Perry, as secretary of state.
Not only did he vote for CAFTA, but Cuellar took his actions a step further, attempting to lobby other Democratic representatives to support the bill. Fittingly, Cuellar will get primaried in 2006 by Ciro Rodriguez, former Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in the House of Representatives. I read with glee that labor leaders are already rallying against Cuellar and the DCCC will likely turn its back on any attempt defend the traitorous representative.
That outraged unions. Chuck Rocha, national political director at United Steelworkers, called Mr. Cuellar his No. 1 target and said he's mobilizing the district's 20,000 members and retirees. <...>

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee generally backs incumbents but probably won't give much help in this sort of contested primary.

This comes on the heels of Majority Leader Pelosi reportedly contemplating formal action against several of the Members who strayed from the caucus on this important vote. Maybe Greg Meeks (NY-6) will be next. Meeks supported CAFTA despite being unchallenged by a Republican in both 2002 and 2004. I say let the formal action begin, and let it begin with Cuellar.

In 2004, Cuellar defeated Rodriguez by 55 votes. He went on to defeat Republican Jim Hobson 59% to 39%. And although George Bush won by a narrow margin over John Kerry in 2004 in the district, Al Gore defeated Bush in 2000. We should retain this seat no matter what happens in the primary. In Texas-28, it's time to fight it out in the primary.

I know there is a lot of dissatisfaction with the D-Trip lately, but this made me happy. I know the official line is that they don't get involved in contested primaries anyway, but we all know that can be a load of mularkey at times (see Jeff Smith). I hope we can start using potential primary challenges more often as a stick for those who feel it convenient to stray from the caucus on important votes like CAFTA. For a Democrat who won by 20% in 2004, there was no excuse to vote "aye" and then attempt to lobby other Democrats to join the dark side on this one.

http://www.swingstateproject.com/

You have to scroll down one story. This is great news. Finally some backbone.

[msongs]

1. in CA we are trying to get a dem primary opponent for feinstein so she

will be reminded that CA is a blue state and she is supposed to represent the views of the democrats who elected her. If we want a republican lite we would vote for a real one.

so far as I know, there is no one in CA who has announced running against DiFi, even to prove a point.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[Joanne98]

4. Do a Hackett! Find a Iraq war vet who is against the war and hates Bush

That will teach her.

[lostnfound]

2. And he stole his election from Ciro, too, IMO.

"Found" 300 votes in the vault of his friend's bank. Won by 55. In the primary against a very decent Democrat (Ciro Rodriguez).

[acmejack]

3. I will be donating to Ciro!

Hard to believe he lost last time. We have a real uphill battle here in TX 21, but we have a strong candidate. I really want to oust Lamar Smith in the worst way!

We are already block walking here. Off to a quick start...