Kos: Texas GOP bought Texas Green party for less than $200,000

[WI_DEM]

by kos
Mon Oct 25, 2010 at 08:16:02 AM PDT
Devilishly smart.

Basic Point- The Texas Republican Party bought the Texas Green Party for less than $200,000, knowing that without a Democrat running for Comptroller, Green Party nominee Ed Lindsay could more easily garner 5% ensuring Green Party access for the 2012 elections.

Ed Lindsay, twice the Democratic nominee in HD-54 against Republican Rep. Aycock is but a pawn in this almost beautiful GOP scheme. Many Democrats, seeing no nominee of their own on the ballot, still want to vote against Comptroller Combs- but now they have a Green candidate (instead of just a Libertarian) for whom they can cast their protest vote. And if enough voters, just 5%, choose the Green Party candidate to "stick it" to the Republicans by voting for the "most liberal" alternative, Democrats will give the Greens (and the Republicans) the only thing they both want- automatic statewide Green Party ballot access for 2012.

Note, the Texas Greens have been trying for years to get that 5% and automatic ballot access and have failed. Texas Democrats, incompetent lots that they are, failed to field a candidate in the Comptroller's race, so the GOP literally paid to get the Green candidate on the ballot. So now, if that Green candidate breaks 5 percent, Democrats will have to contend with spoilers in 2012. Even losing a single point to fringe Green candidates could prove devastating, as this chart of several sitting Texas House reps shows:

2008 Election Win %
Rep. Turner 51.30%
Rep. Bolton 51.19%
Rep. Moody 51.05%
Rep. Thibaut 50.62%
Rep. Miklos 50.55%
Rep. Vaught 50.44%
Rep. Hopson 49.27%
Rep. Maldonado 48.60%

Blame the Democrats for putting themselves in this position, but if you are a Texas voter, don't compound the mistake by voting Green in the Comptroller's race.

As for those who will feel compelled to defend the Greens -- I'll take them more seriously when they can get their ass on the ballot without cashing the GOP's checks.

www.dailykos.com

[GSLevel9]

1. it's all politics...

and I just hope that DEM groups are funding libertarians and whack-job tea baggers to dilute GOP votes in certain districts.