Abbott's first trip post-election sent the right signal

The Corpus Christi Caller Times ^ | November 16, 2014

[2ndDivisionVet]

Gov.-elect Greg Abbott achieved a big enough victory margin to treat outnumbered, defeated Democrats like the North treated the South during Reconstruction — and to gloat shamelessly. But he appears to be choosing a much more dignified, statesmanlike path.

That path took him to the Rio Grande Valley — a region that didn't vote for him — for his first post-election trip. Abbott met with Valley leaders Tuesday to talk about economic development and to announce his first gubernatorial appointment — Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos, who will be Texas secretary of state.

Political philosophy-wise, Cascos isn't a diversity hire. He's a Republican and a certified public accountant (who come to think of it, might have made an excellent Republican candidate for comptroller).

But Cascos also is Mexican-born and — like Abbott's wife — Hispanic. Hispanics as a demographic are not likely to have emerged from the election feeling like winners. It's up to Abbott to make them feel that way. And it's hard to argue with the gestures he has made and the actions he has taken in that direction thus far.

Abbott said he was keeping a promise to "unite our great state with key appointments that reflect both the geography and diversity of our great state. Texans from every corner of the state need to feel that they are a part of our state's leadership, that they are co-authors of our future."

Spoken like someone who actually gets it.

Let's direct some attention to the geography part of what Abbott said. The Valley isn't just overwhelmingly Hispanic. It also was ground zero for the border crisis, during which Abbott took a hard line supportive of Gov. Rick Perry's decision to deploy National Guard troops. Valley officials didn't like all the posturing — or its detrimental effects on the Valley's economy. Abbott, Perry and Sen. Ted Cruz sent the message that the Valley was lawless and overrun by foreign criminals — not the kind of thing that goes into a chamber of commerce brochure.

Post-election, Abbott has not softened his strident border security stance. Those who disagreed with his position, as we did, at least should respect and maybe even admire his consistency and conviction — as we do. And it shouldn't be lost on those who were concerned about the effect on the border economy that the topic for Abbott's visit Tuesday was economic development and job creation.

Abbott campaigned vigorously in the Valley, surely aware that it was not where his voters lived. But he knew he'd have to govern a Texas that included them. Those campaign trips were a goodwill investment in the future — the Valley's future, the state's future and, of course, Abbott's political future — no shame in that.

This is the kind of leadership Texas needs after a campaign in which both sides contributed more than their share of ugliness. Winning — even as big as Abbott won — doesn't mean emerging unscathed. There are plenty of wounds to go around. Going straight to the Valley was an auspicious start toward healing.

If Democrats don't see appointing Cameron County's Republican county judge as much of an olive branch — if they see it as an empty, symbolic gesture — we can understand their skepticism. We'll agree with symbolic but not with empty. We would urge Democrats not to overlook the power of symbolic gestures — and to give the governor-elect at least a little bit of a honeymoon.

[Redbob]

"Oh now I get, you are implying they were licked already."

No, he was implying Abbott's shoe soles don't spend any time on the ground...

[Redbob]

"Abbott, Perry and Sen. Ted Cruz sent the message that the Valley was lawless and overrun by foreign criminals — not the kind of thing that goes into a chamber of commerce brochure."

If the shoe fits...

[Impy]

Yeah I know now. I totally forgot he was in a wheelchair. :/

He should back the dems lick his wheels.