Schieffer Blasts Hutchison's Senate Vote Against Sotomayor

Both of Texas' U.S. Senators voted against Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Schieffer of Fort Worth blasted his potential opponent in the November 2010 governor's election, Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison, for voting against Sotomayor.

Schieffer, in a press release shortly after the Senate's historic vote, called Hutchison's vote against the first Hispanic on the high court a "sad commentary on the bitter partisanship that grips our state and our country." Hutchison, he said, "turned her back" on Sotomayor's personal accomplishments and judicial resume "to court favor with some of the most strident voices in the Republican party.

"The only reason Sen. Hutchison voted against Judge Sotomayor was because Republican partisans demanded it," he said. "That is not how the system is supposed to work, and is not the way a conscientious public servant would act."

Schieffer is seeking his party's gubernatorial nomination in the 2010 Democratic primary race to run against the victor of the bruising Republican gubernatorial primary between Hutchison and incumbent Gov. Rick Perry.

Democratic Party of Collin Co. Honors Gov. Ann Richards

Dinner RSVP Deadline was Aug 12th - for more information click here.

The Democratic Party of Collin County honors legendary Governor Ann Richards (Dinner and Silent Auction) August 15, 2009 6:30-Cash Bar / 7:15 pm-Dinner Hilton Gardens Inn, Allen TX 705 Central Express (map) Keynote Speaker: District Attorney Craig Watkins 2008 Texan of the Year First African American District Attorney in Texas

Invited Guests:
2010 TX Governor Candidate
Tom Schieffer
2010 U.S. Senate Candidates
John Sharp & Bill White
TX State Senator - District 23
Royce West
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Click for Ticket Information
Ticket Purchase Deadline Aug 12

Contrary to Steele’s Claim, TX State GOP Is Actively Promoting Town Hall Mobs

RNC Chairman Michael Steele: We’re not encouraging people to be angry I mean to the point of being nasty and brutish and ugly. That’s not what this is about. There’s no upside for the Republican Party or the people involved to do that. . . .that’s not something deliberately coordinated by me or any one state party.

Steele’s statement isn’t true. This past weekend, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) was harassed by right-wing protesters who refused to have a civil dialogue with the Congressman. The front page of the official website of the Texas Republican Party prominently features and endorses the incident. The website headline reads, “Doggett Fields Softballs“: If you click on the YouTube picture, it links to a video that portrays the Texas GOP's version of the Doggett town hall. This video is hosted at the Texas Republican Party’s official YouTube account, txgoptv. At the conclusion of the video, the words “Produced by the Republican Party of Texas” pop up alongside a legal disclaimer that proclaims the video was paid for the by the Republican Party of Texas.

Now, contrary to how the Texas GOP portrays the events of Congressman Doggett's town hall meeting this past weekend, the video left shows what really happened. Congressman Doggett was the victim of the right’s strategy, where protesters followed him and chanted “just say no” to health care. Congressman Doggett had this to say after being cornered by a mob this past Saturday:

"This mob, sent by the local Republican and Libertarian parties, did not come just to be heard, but to deny others the right to be heard. And this appears to be part of a coordinated, nationwide effort. What could be more appropriate for the "party of no" than having its stalwarts drowning out the voices of their neighbors by screaming "just say no!" Their fanatical insistence on repealing Social Security and Medicare is not just about halting health care reform but rolling back 75 years of progress. I am more committed than ever to win approval of legislation to offer more individual choice to access affordable health care. An effective public plan is essential to achieve that goal."

Control Over The Dollars Americans Spend On Healthcare

Video - MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Exposes How Conservative Protesters At Health Care Town Halls Are Being Manipulated And Used By The Insurance Industry And Ultra-Wealthy Money Men To Maintain Their Control Over The Dollars Americans Spend On Healthcare - 08/05/09.

In an email sent Wednesday morning, the Democratic National Committee labels recent town hall disruptions as "a sham," describing them as an orchestrated effort by the health care industry to "break the President and his agenda for change."

Jen O'Malley Dillon, Executive Director of the DNC, says the protests "are being organized and largely paid for by Washington special interests and insurance companies who are desperate to block reform." She accuses them of using "lies" and "fear" to sustain the status quo.

"Health insurance reform is about our lives, our jobs, and our families -- we can't let distortions and intimidation get in the way," writes O'Malley, before offering five facts about the protests:

1. These disruptions are being funded and organized by out-of-district special-interest groups and insurance companies who fear that health insurance reform could help Americans, but hurt their bottom line. A group run by the same folks who made the "Swiftboat" ads against John Kerry is compiling a list of congressional events in August to disrupt. An insurance company coalition has stationed employees in 30 states to track where local lawmakers hold town-hall meetings.


2. People are scared because they are being fed frightening lies. These crowds are being riled up by anti-reform lies being spread by industry front groups that invent smears to tarnish the President's plan and scare voters. But as the President has repeatedly said, health insurance reform will create more health care choices for the American people, not reduce them. If you like your insurance or your doctor, you can keep them, and there is no "government takeover" in any part of any plan supported by the President or Congress.


3. Their actions are getting more extreme. Texas protesters brought signs displaying a tombstone for Rep. Lloyd Doggett and using the "SS" symbol to compare President Obama's policies to Nazism. Maryland Rep. Frank Kratovil was hanged in effigy outside his district office. Rep. Tim Bishop of New York had to be escorted to his car by police after an angry few disrupted his town hall meeting -- and more examples like this come in every day. And they have gone beyond just trying to derail the President's health insurance reform plans, they are trying to "break" the President himself and ruin his Presidency.


4. Their goal is to disrupt and shut down legitimate conversation. Protesters have routinely shouted down representatives trying to engage in constructive dialogue with voters, and done everything they can to intimidate and silence regular people who just want more information. One attack group has even published a manual instructing protesters to "stand up and shout" and try to "rattle" lawmakers to prevent them from talking peacefully with their constituents.


5. Republican leadership is irresponsibly cheering on the thuggish crowds.Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner issued a statement applauding and promoting a video of the disruptions and looking forward to "a long, hot August for Democrats in Congress."

The DNC email concludes, "It's time to expose this charade, before it gets more dangerous. Now, more than ever, we need to stand strong together and defend the truth."

The DNC email is part of a larger effort by the DNC to combat angry disruptions in recent town hall meetings hosted by Democratic lawmakers.