Another Bush lends support to Cornyn
Posted on 10/16/2002 6:28:06 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
Another Bush lends support to Cornyn
Reports: Republican raised more funds than Kirk in third quarter
10/16/2002
FORT WORTH - The president's mother on Tuesday became the latest Bush family member to stump for John Cornyn, telling donors that her son needs his help to face down Senate Democrats.
"We need a senator who's close to the president, who can work with the president. ... No matter how fine the opponent, or even how bad the opponent, or how good a man he is, it's his first vote that will count," former first lady Barbara Bush told about 200 donors at the Fort Worth Petroleum Club. "Do we want Senators [Paul] Wellstone, Hillary Clinton, Jim Jeffords, Tom Kennedy - Ted Kennedy - Tom Harkin or John Kerry setting the agenda for the next 10 years? We've got to send John to the Senate. He's got to be there."
President Bush has campaigned with Mr. Cornyn twice. His father, the former president, has appeared with Mr. Cornyn, as have first lady Laura Bush and the president's nephew George P. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and a host of top White House aides.
The parade of Bushes and Bush confidants has been so relentless that Democratic nominee Ron Kirk has portrayed Mr. Cornyn as a candidate so indebted that he would lack the independence Texans value in a senator.
Political analysts agree that this is a risk for Mr. Cornyn, but the president and his family are very popular in Texas, which might sway some voters.
"It's not a surprise that Republican leaders are campaigning on behalf of Republican candidates," Kirk spokesman Justin Lonon said Tuesday. "Certainly Barbara Bush has been well-regarded as first lady, and we welcome her to North Texas. But ultimately there are two names that are on the ballot on Nov. 5, and voters are going to have the clear choice between Ron Kirk and John Cornyn and no one else."
Tuesday's Fort Worth luncheon added about $100,000 to the Cornyn coffers, helping him pull further ahead of Democratic opponent Ron Kirk in fund raising.
Money talk
Mr. Kirk announced Tuesday that he had raised $7 million through Oct. 1, compared with $8.4 million for Mr. Cornyn. The Republican, who announced his tally a day earlier, out-raised Mr. Kirk during the third quarter $2.5 million to $2.1 million. And he enjoys a wide lead in cash on hand, a key measure of a campaign's ability to get its message to voters in the final weeks. Mr. Cornyn had $5.2 million remaining, to Mr. Kirk's $810,000.
Kirk aides said their situation wasn't as dire as that gap suggests, because the campaign spent $1.2 million buying TV time a few days before the end of the third-quarter disclosure period. They also said they are getting help from the national Democratic Party, just as the GOP is spending so-called "soft money" - funds spent by the national or state parties rather than by the candidates' organizations - to help Mr. Cornyn.
"Ron Kirk has known all along that he would be outspent by his opponent," said spokesman Robert Gibbs. "But by no means is that anything serious or insurmountable."
Cornyn spokesman Dave Beckwith, though, said Mr. Kirk was far more dependent on his party's largesse.
"They are heavily dependent on national special-interest soft money to try to convince Texans that he's the best candidate," Mr. Beckwith said. "They have to have it to stay in the game."
As he introduced Mrs. Bush on Tuesday to donors who paid $250 or more for a plate of chicken, rice and asparagus, Mr. Cornyn thanked the Bushes for all their help in his effort to succeed Sen. Phil Gramm. And he pressed the view that his election means an easier ride for the president's version of Homeland Security Department, Social Security reform and a prescription-drug benefit for senior citizens.
"Like every election, it's a question of whose values are going to be represented in the United States Senate. Are they going to be Texas values? Are we going to break the gridlock to pass this important legislation that's being held hostage in the Senate, or are the special interests going to continue to prevail and hold the public interest hostage?" Mr. Cornyn asked.
Mrs. Bush regaled the crowd with stories of the hectic 4 ½ months she and her husband just spent in Kennebunkport, Maine, receiving visits from all of their children and grandchildren except for Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, "who's been very busy lately reapplying for his job in an extremely tough re-election campaign."
Florida and Texas are the states receiving the most attention from Democrats, she said, and "we've got to really work hard in our state to make sure that we support the candidates, like John, and certainly support our great president."
Rapper controversy
In another development on the Senate campaign trail, on Tuesday the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas criticized Mr. Kirk for sharing a stage last weekend with rapper D.O.C., a Dallas native known also as Tracy Curry who was one of the writers on the 1988 album Straight Outta Compton by NWA, which featured the controversial song "[Expletive] tha Police."
"This song advocates the murder of police officers. It encourages, even celebrates, disrespect and violence against law enforcement officers," association president Ron DeLord said in a statement. "We know that Ron Kirk does not share those views, so that is why we are so disappointed that he would accept the support of someone who does."
The 13,500-member organization endorsed Mr. Cornyn. Mr. Kirk appeared Saturday at the Hip-Hop Summit in Dallas with D.O.C., Def Jam records founder Russell Simmons, and others.
Mr. DeLord called on Mr. Kirk to "disavow this endorsement and return any contributions he received from these so-called gangsta rap musicians."
Mr. Gibbs, responding for the Kirk campaign, said Mr. Kirk does not condone violence against police and was not seeking any endorsements at the gathering.
"He was invited to speak to young people and encourage them to get involved in democracy," Mr. Gibbs said.
E-mail tgillman@dallasnews.com and gjeffers@dallasnews.com
It's hard for me to believe that even a Democrat would take such a lazy/lackadaisical stand regarding a Rap Group that advocates violence against policemen. Anyone with a hint of decency would have at least discouraged them...
In another development on the Senate campaign trail, on Tuesday the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas criticized Mr. Kirk for sharing a stage last weekend with rapper D.O.C., a Dallas native known also as Tracy Curry who was one of the writers on the 1988 album Straight Outta Compton by NWA, which featured the controversial song "[Expletive] tha Police."
"This song advocates the murder of police officers. It encourages, even celebrates, disrespect and violence against law enforcement officers," association president Ron DeLord said in a statement. "We know that Ron Kirk does not share those views, so that is why we are so disappointed that he would accept the support of someone who does."
The 13,500-member organization endorsed Mr. Cornyn. Mr. Kirk appeared Saturday at the Hip-Hop Summit in Dallas with D.O.C., Def Jam records founder Russell Simmons, and others.
Mr. DeLord called on Mr. Kirk to "disavow this endorsement and return any contributions he received from these so-called gangsta rap musicians."
Mr. Gibbs, responding for the Kirk campaign, said Mr. Kirk does not condone violence against police and was not seeking any endorsements at the gathering.
John Cornyn-R, left, and Ron Kirk-D
Check out the comment regarding the Rap Group and their song "[Expletive] tha Police."
Kirk shoot himself in the foot again, imho....
Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.
No, you don't HAVE to be a Texan to get on this list!
Says it all IMO. Myopic Mr. Kirk has given up on the decent people of Texas and is trying to rally his "base", i.e., guttersnipes. Tells me he's toast. Seen any reliable polls this week?
FGS
Agreed. The polls indicating a "neck 'n neck" race are obviously taken in Dim zip codes. As much as anything else, this is a desperate attempt to keep the funds flowing to an otherwise DOA campaign. Gotta luvit!
FGS
I think you've seen both? If not, let me know and I'll post the NBC poll....
I believe so; they're about a week old? Although I don't remember the margin being THAT large....heh,heh. BTW, are dog catchers elected or appointed in Dallas? Kirk may have other options to explore ; )
FGS
Yeah, the NBC poll is from Oct. 6th....
lol !
I thought so too. I get about the same feeling when I see/hear Dims spewing their Marxist drivel like so much vomit on us, only to be parroted by their kinsmen in the Ministry of Information. That's disgusting! I will however take your suggestion under advisement ; )
FGS
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