The Rio Grande Valley is one of the most beautiful places to be on God's green earth. But Abbott is correct. The Mexican culture dominates the place and corruptions is rampant.
Abbott’s reply to his critics....
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Public service is a public trust. As attorney general, I have prosecuted judges, district attorneys and other public officials across Texas who violated that trust, who have been corrupted.
While most all who serve the citizens of Texas do so honorably, left ignored, a virus can quickly spread.
This corruption — wherever it occurs — erodes the social fabric of our communities and destroys Texans’ trust and confidence in government.
As your attorney general — and hopefully as your future governor — my job is to ensure your families are safe and your opportunities for prosperity are many. That job includes tackling the problem of corruption by public officials.
Honest, hardworking businessmen and women, single-parent families seeking a better future and citizens who play by the rules, work hard and strive for the American Dream — they are the real victims of that corruption.
To ignore their pleas for help is to allow the problem to thrive.
I will not cede ground to those who corrupt and twist our system of justice. This is not the Texas we know, the America we love, nor the system that we want for our children.
The Rio Grande Valley — like all of Texas — is filled with ethical, hardworking families whose very foundation is based on integrity. But, even The Monitor recently noted, “the pall of corruption has dogged the Rio Grande Valley and continues today” and “cases of public officials on the take have spiked.”
On Jan. 1, The Monitor published a Valley Morning Star article entitled: “Depth of corruption in Cameron Co. hard to believe, says judge.” It detailed how a “federal investigation found corruption in the Cameron County’s legal system and judiciary to be so pervasive that most people wouldn’t believe it.” That led to a former judge’s conviction for accepting money in return for favorable rulings in a public corruption investigation that included a former district attorney and a former Texas legislator.
And there have been other stories about law enforcement officers in other Texas counties involved in money laundering, drug smuggling and accepting bribes to protect the cartels and their smuggling routes.
Sadly, these violations of the public’s trust are just a few of many allegations I am familiar with in my role as attorney general.
Does corruption occur across all of Texas? Absolutely. I’ve prosecuted it. And it is abhorrent wherever it occurs.
My comments about “corruption resembling third-world country practices” are as true today as when I said them last week. My goal is to make them untrue tomorrow. Those comments were not directed at the Rio Grande Valley — they apply wherever corruption is found. I’d encourage all readers to share their thoughts on my detailed plan and join the discussion at http://townhall254.gregabbott.com/.
It does not matter where public corruption occurs in Texas; it must be stopped. Texans deserve better, no matter their ZIP code.
The Monitor was misguided to suggest that my legitimate concerns about corruption stem from being a “white conservative” or from “xenophobia.”
Like many Texas families, mine is multicultural by choice. My family gatherings include the Segura, Cuellar, Rocha, Torres, Gamez and Valdillez families. We share more than a meal; we share conservative values.
Conservative is not a color, it is not a race, it is not an ethnicity. It is a commitment to the idea that every American has a chance to succeed; that faith and family are foremost; that jobs and education are the best pathway to a better future; and that secure communities are a part of all that.
I will do more than talk about corruption. As governor, I will build on my record of keeping Texans safe, marshal the tools we need to secure our border, enforce the rule of law and rout out corruption wherever it attacks.
Public service must be built on public trust.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is running for the Republican gubernatorial nomination
http://www.themonitor.com/opinion/columnists/article_d6d33a72-92b3-11e3-b173-0017a43b2370.html
spade = wetback
I like a candidate who doesn’t apologize when he’s right.
First World problems,, jeeez
lol
“I’m sorry you look like a 3rd world country!”
I wish Abbott would say, “Here’s my apology....F You...THAT’S my apology.”
Maybe she did and I missed it.
Oh Flores can puke me a river.
truth be know, south texas has been annexed by mexico, so it is a 3rd world country.
Would it have been racist to use the phrase Banana Republic?
Wendy Davis’ campaign team staff made fun of Greg Abbott’s handicap and are looking for some way to put him on “sensitivity” defense.
Being a conservative means never having to say you’re sorry.
Greg Abbott not only refused to apologize, he effectively defended himself, his statement and conservatism itself.
The Monitor should apologize to him!
Abbott is emerging as a very impressive human being. He should be a great governor...and, down the line, may be even more.
The truth hurts. Just as large parts of CA or other SW states are becoming third world like.
The whole Republic is being run like a third world country
Scour a candidates past statements, find a word that has an alternate meaning, then call on the candidate to apologize.
George Allen? Macaca.
John Roberts? Amigo.
Mitt Romney? Binders of women.
This tactic is based on the expectation that all Republicans cave at the first sign of pressure.
-PJ
Sure thing, Abortion Barbie ... as soon as you apologize for accusing him of attacking your family history.
You Texans are doing a great job exposing Little Miss Late Abortion Killer as the fascist that she is.
Carry on...
I doubt Abbott will get many votes from South Texas anyway.
Abbott’s remarks were absolutely accurate. The RGV/border area is as corrupt as it could possibly be. Guess what political party runs the RGV? Thats right, you guessed it. It’s run by democrats. 90% of the vote there is democrat. It’s a one party system in deep S. Texas. Judges, DA’s Sheriffs, State Reps. I know. I lived there for over 25 years.
Ummm, apparently the folks at the McAllen Monitor have not yet visited some of the more “scenic” areas in East Dallas, south of Ross Av.
Or some parts of west Dallas either…
.