Breakfast with Mark Warner in Austin

[theredstate]

Mark Warner, presidential contender and former Virginia Governor, will be in Texas this week.

Warner has a very impressive record in conservative and rural Virginia. He will be in Austin on Friday to raise money for the Texas Democratic Party. Democrats are finally gaining momentum in Texas. It is great to see national figures come down to Texas to help us regain the voters trust and not just to fund raise for themselves.

Join Mark Warner for Breakfast in Austin

Where: Guero's Restaurant
1412 S. Congress (see map)

When: Friday, February 24
9:00am - 10:00am

Tickets: $125. Sponsor Levels: $250, $500 and $1000

Contact Rachel Johnston, Party Finance Director, at 512.478.9800 or via email at [e-mail].

Check out his speech "Why I am Democrat."

[sonias]

1. Well I hope they raise a lot of money

I'd love to see him but can't afford that. I'm sure some of the more wealthy Democrats in the Austin area will kick it up.

They impressive thing is that you do get to see some higher profile names actually coming into the state now to raise money that stays in the state. Wes Clark did it for Juan Garcia and Bob Gammage. Russ Feingold is coming in April to raise money for John Courage. Hell, this is better than we did for the last presidential election.

Sonia

[jobycom]

2. I love this line: It is great to see national figures come down to Texas

...to help us regain the voters trust and not just to fund raise for themselves."

Rather disengenuous. First, Warner is campaigning for himself, even if he's raising money for the Democratic Party here in Texas. Second, in 2002 when several national Democrats wanted to campaign in the state, our party, led by John Sharp and Tony Sanchez asked them not to come, and dis-invited them to our convention in El Paso, for fear they would "embarrass" Texas Democrats.

THAT's the real change in Texas, if you ask me. That the party wants to see Mark Warner.

[theredstate]

3. Jim and Tony aren't in charge anymore and 2002 was a long time ago

Of course Warner is campaigning for himself but he realizes that you have to build the party in states that were once forgotten. Dean understands this and so does Wes Clark. If you come to Texas, you leave money here. That is way it should be. I don't have a problem with his visit as long as Texas Democrats benefit from his visit. Warner is a serious contender. It is great to have him here. I just don't like it when non-Texans stop by "just" to raise money for themselves. It's like going camping, you have to leave the campsite better then you found it.

[jobycom]

4. In recent times the money was better spent elsewhere

A lot of Texas Dems sent their money out of state, especially to national figures, because there was no point wasting it in state. 2006 has the potential to be different, and everyone senses that.

[sonias]

5. Molly Beth Malcolm and Tony Sanchez are old history

We need to move on rebuilding the party at the local (county) level, the state level and nationally. Why the hell bring up a loser like Tony Sanchez. He's Molly Beth Malcolm's dream team. Not ours, never was.

I don't care if national candidates come into Texas to campaign and raise money, in fact I want them to. That's part of the 50 state strategy. Of course we need to watch them and make sure they also come to help rebuild the party, and not just suck money out of Texas for their own campaigns. Warner gets points for doing just that.

Sonia

[jobycom]

6. My point was only that

it wasn't the fault of the national figures that they did not come to Texas to raise money for candidates. They were ordered to stay away. Things have changed, and that's a good thing, but the statement struck me as disengenuous to the national party.