Texas-14 Update: Paul Outraises Peden; Peden's Political Director Endorses Alan Keyes

David Weigel | February 25, 2008

On Friday, Ron Paul lost the endorsement of the Galveston County Daily News (circ. 30,000) in his race for re-election. It wasn't a huge surprise for them to go for Chris Peden:

We can say without reservation that he is courageous and principled.

We can’t say he is an effective representative of the district.

Paul makes it a point to cast no votes on government spending, even if those funds are going to be spent in his own district or in a neighboring district.

Neighboring congressmen return the favor.

Even when the GOP had a majority in Congress, it was clear that the district was being punished because of all those no votes. Since the Democrats won a majority, that punishment hasn’t stopped.

The Victoria Advocate (circ. 40,000) already endorsed Peden, and his campaign is trumpeting both of the endorsements. (It's also, strangely, linking a recent criticism I wrote of the move to purge anti-war Republicans.) But Peden's latest FEC filing reveals that Paul's plea for fundraising has rocketed him past his challenger. Peden raised less than $20,000 since the start of February and has about $100,000 left to spend. Paul's raised nearly $500,000 this month and has nearly $300,000 left to spend.

Peden's disbursement report reveals where the cash is going:

- Nearly $3,900 to Houston-based Ignite Marketing for campaign materials

- About $8,000 for campaign signs

- Nearly $20,000 to DC political consultants at Marsh Copsey and Associates. (Marsh Copsey didn't end up producing anything for the campaign—the relationship ended without ads.)

- $679 to his 17-year old daughter Brittany for "contract labor"

Paul's disbursements are here: Most of his money is going into media and paying his staff, and as a result he's pummelling Peden on the airwaves. I wonder if the people taking Patrick Ruffini's advice are getting much for their cash.

A weird side note: Peden's political director Onzelo Markum (who's been paid around $2,700 this year) has encouraged TX-14 voters to mark their ballots for Peden and... Alan Keyes. A little bit of dissonance in the "mainstream Republican" pitch, I think. Markum has a cache of Peden videos up here, but he missed a campaign event where Paul was asked to debate Peden. Paul's response is here:

Comments

Dirty Frank|2.25.08 @ 3:04PM|#

- $679 to his 17-year old daughter Brittany for "contract labor"

So about four and a half hours of work huh? Well, based on what she charges me anyway, but maybe she gives the campaign a special rate.

|2.25.08 @ 3:08PM|#

I don't blame Ron~
Peden needs to debate with himself..Peden has no honor.. Lier's should not be given another thought. DONE
Ron is winning over him at 60% anyway..what's the point?

Bingo|2.25.08 @ 3:36PM|#

I thought jen was joe for a second...

I wouldn't mind seeing a Peden and Paul debate, just because its always amusing to see a flip-flopping neocon explain his actions and statements.

|2.25.08 @ 3:56PM|#

Peden would certainly benefit from Ron taking him to school for a couple of hours on a debate stage, but what's in it for Ron?

-jcr

|2.25.08 @ 4:00PM|#

Dennis Kucinich is in trouble in his congressional district because voters felt he ignored them for too long while he ran for President. I suspect many voters in Paul's district feel the same way.

|2.25.08 @ 4:02PM|#

Yeah, Paul is beating Peden badly.

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YzI5MTUyOTY3YTA0MTYzODkyNmNkNWMxYWJiZTAwMGE=

Does anyone vote based on newspaper endorsements? Out of those subscribers, how many are voting age? Democrats? Plan to vote in the republican primary? Lock for Paul? Lock for Peden? Undecided?

My guess is those two newspaper endorsements give Peden a net gain of less than ten votes. It's not like the Herbert Taylor's (Galveston Daily News) endorsement of Shane Sklar took him anywhere. Why would Peden be any different?

Petunia Wainwright|2.25.08 @ 4:14PM|#

Reason sucks

Mad Max|2.25.08 @ 4:17PM|#

Peden's political director has endorsed a Presidential candidate who makes Dr. Paul look mainstream.

"Paul makes it a point to cast no votes on government spending, even if those funds are going to be spent in his own district or in a neighboring district.

"Neighboring congressmen return the favor."

That's funny, I thought Dr. Paul hypocritically made sure that federal spending was directed to his district, thereby betraying his own principles. According to this interpretation, Dr. Paul's vote on final passage is utterly irrelevant because it's going to pass anyway.

I guess some of the media in his own district doesn't see it this way.

Mad Max|2.25.08 @ 4:19PM|#

(the last two paragraphs should have had sarcasm tags, of course, to indicate what I thought of the bogus "hypocrisy" argument)

Brandybuck|2.25.08 @ 4:22PM|#

So basically the Galveston County Daily News is in favor of earmarks? If Dondero were here, he would most certainly call earmarks the core of libertarianism.

The Democratic Republican|2.25.08 @ 4:25PM|#

I wish Paul had been that efficient disbursing presidential campaign funds....

|2.25.08 @ 4:27PM|#

Ron Paul's district DID benefit from earmarks..
He said he wanted to give the taxes back to his people. The money would either go to his district or be sent to Iraq..
I wish I lived in his district..I wish he ran the whole country!
Great Man!

He always voted against earmarks, but he's in a class of his own..has to make the best of the craziness in Washington..What can you expect from a man who wants us to keep our hard earned money?
Where there is a will,there's a way..Good for him!!

|2.25.08 @ 4:35PM|#

I live in District 14, the Galveston Daily news really isn't anything to waste your time with. Galveston county intself has a history (some quite recent) of corruption, the newspaper surely goes along with it. As for Peden he's a smearing sleaze who offers nothing. As for us supporters we are the ones that "get it"...don't give up!

economist|2.25.08 @ 4:40PM|#

If I bother voting, Ron Paul has my vote.

|2.25.08 @ 5:07PM|#

If I lived in TX-14, I'd definitely vote for him, but I've got Michael *zzzzz* McCaul representing me, who hasn't had an original thought in years judging by his congressional record.

|2.25.08 @ 5:12PM|#

Ron Paul is the honest-to-goodness candidate. A smart voter knows that the way Paul votes actually is to the benefit of the people.

|2.25.08 @ 5:14PM|#

Does anyone vote based on newspaper endorsements?

Apparently, about half the Republican primary voters in New Hampshire do.

|2.25.08 @ 8:26PM|#

Be careful folks. 60% support figures for Ron Paul may give his supporters a false sense of security - and not bother making the trip to the polls. Remember all the projected "front-runners" who are now out of the race? Take a lesson here ....

|2.25.08 @ 8:51PM|#

Hahah Ron answered that one just right. When people change their position because of the way the wind blows they don't need anyone to debate with..........just open a window.

LOL

|2.25.08 @ 8:54PM|#

If you live in Galveston County, subscribe to the newspaper, and plan on voting for Ron Paul, please cancel your subscription and urge your neighbors to do so as well.

I can't imagine a bigger endorsement for Ron Paul than the Galveston County Daily News losing 30,000 subscribers.

RP08

|2.25.08 @ 10:14PM|#

Michael,

I doubt Galveston County Daily News HAS 30000 subscribers

|2.26.08 @ 12:38AM|#

30,000 is the correct guess:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galveston_County_Daily_News

|2.26.08 @ 7:28AM|#

Dirty Frank,
And you wonder why RP supporters (or those posing as such) get a bad name? Come on, Frank! Have the courage to leave the daughter out of it and come up with a little creativity that allows you to make a comment of substance.
You choice of words was a poor choice indeed.
Kevin Cain

|2.26.08 @ 8:31AM|#

If you live in Galveston County, subscribe to the newspaper, and plan on voting for Ron Paul, please cancel your subscription and urge your neighbors to do so as well.

Too bad this isn't the Galveston Daily News message board, then we could all drink. As it is, we stay sober this morning (for now). :(

poetryman69|2.26.08 @ 9:12AM|#

Energy Independence Now!


No more Oil Wars!


Stop funding the terrorists!


Drill in Anwar.

Build more nuclear power plants

Use More coal.

Use more natural gas


Turn trash into energy


Double the efficiency of windmills and solar cells.



If France can do nuclear power so can we.


If Brazil can do biomass/ethanol power so can we.


If Australia can do LNG power so can we.


Domestically produced energy will end recession and spur the economy.

|2.26.08 @ 9:51AM|#

Why is the media portraying this as some sort of contest? The majority of the Texas 14th have never even heard of Peden before. Paul wouldn't need to spend another penny, and still win re-election by a mile.

|2.26.08 @ 11:41AM|#

How can anyone support a guy (Paul) who supports the TransTexas Corridor. Sure, he 'says' he is against it, but at the same time he is talking, he is sneaking in tens of millions of dollars in earmarks for it.

http://images.chron.com/content/news/photos/07/07/01/paul_earmarks/Transportation3.pdf

|2.26.08 @ 11:54AM|#

Wake up people. Ron Paul isn't the messiah his tards make him out to be. On immigration, for example, he is not far off from McAmnesty.

Ron Paul's Immigration Record
Source: http://www.federalobserver.com/archive.php?aid=11832
URL Source: http://NumberUSA
Published: Oct 29, 2007
Author: Excerpted from : http://www.federalobser

Paul's Immigration Voting Record & Report Card on the NumbersUSA website:

(1) Paul consistently voted every year since 1999 against putting the military on the border:

2006: H. Amdt. 206 to H.R. 1815 2004: Goode Amendment to H.R. 4200 2003: Goode Amendment to H.R. 1588 2002: H. Amdt. 479 to H.R. 4546 2001: Traficant amendment to HR 2586 2000: Traficant amendment to H.R.4205 1999: Trafficant Amendment to H.R. 1401.

(2) Paul voted in 1997, 2001( H.R. 1885) and 2002 (H RES 365) to grant, extend or continue Section 245-i amnesties for illegal aliens.

(3) Paul voted NO on extending the voluntary Basic Pilot Workplace Verification Program (H.R. 2359),

(4) Paul voted NO on the border fence in 2005 (Hunter Amendment to HR 4437 - "Enforcement Only" Bill).

(5) Paul voted YES to increase H2-B (HR 763 in 2005) and H-1B visas (HR 3736 in 1998). In 1998, he voted to allow US firms to lay off Americans to replace them with foreigners.
TAKE NOTE:

(2) Paul voted in 1997, 2001( H.R. 1885) and 2002 (H RES 365) to grant, extend or continue Section 245-i amnesties for illegal aliens.

Everyone needs a reminder of some of Pauls BAD immigration votes.

Especially Item #2. This was an amnesty and allowed for chain migration, more visas, blah,blah, and one reason it has gotten as bad as it has. It was pushed by the White House.

H.R.3525 Title: To enhance the border security of the United States, and for other purposes. (introduced 12/19/2001) Related Bills: H.RES.365, H.R.1885, H.R.3205, S.CON.RES.106, S.1618, S.1749 Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 107-173 [GPO: Text, PDF] Note: On 3/12/2002, H.Res. 365 was agreed to by the House. H.Res. 365 incorporated the text of H.R. 3525, the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act, in H.R. 1885, previously the Section 245(i) Extension Act dealing with certain immigration petition filing deadlines. Subsequent action on border security returned to H.R. 3525.

http://www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d107:HR03525:

The White House [snip]

H.R. 1885 - Section 245(i) Extension Act The Administration strongly supports House passage of H.R.1885 as expected to be considered on the House floor. H.R. 1885 would extend the window created under section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act during which qualified immigrants may obtain legal residence in the United States without being forced to first leave the country and their families for as long as several years. This legislation reflects the Administration's philosophy that government policies should recognize the importance of families and help to strengthen them.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/legislative/sap/107-2/HR1885-h.html

also:

Rep. Paul is a cosponsor of H.R. 793, the Save Our Small and Seasonal Business Act of 2005, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to limit the timing of issuance of H-2B visas during a fiscal year. Specifically, H.R. 793 would split the H-2B visa cap so no more than 33,000 visas are made available for the first six months the fiscal year, and another 33,000 visas would be available in the second half of the year. However, H.R. 793 exempts from the annual cap aliens granted an H-2B visa within three years prior to approval of an H-2B petition, thus potentially TRIPLING the number of H-2B workers in the United States at any one time. Although timing the issuance of H-2B visas is a common-sense approach that would help prevent the situation that occurred in FY 2004 and FY 2005 when the 66,000 annual cap on H-2B (low-skill) nonimmigrant visas was hit within the first quarter of the year, H.R. 793 would ultimately harm American workers by creating exemptions which potentially could triple the number of H-2B workers in the U.S. at any given time. Nearly doubled H-1B foreign high-tech workers in 1998

and

Voted on House floor against Hunter amendment to increase security with border fence in 2005 Rep. Paul voted against the Hunter Amendment to H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005. The Hunter Amendment would shore up security by building fences and other physical infrastructure to keep out illegal aliens. Specifically, it mandates the construction of specific security fencing, including lights and cameras, along the Southwest border for the purposes of gaining operational control of the border. As well, it includes a requirement for the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a study on the use of physical barriers along the Northern border. The Hunter Amendment passed by a vote of 260-159.



______________________________

Now tell me honestly, if you replaced Paul's name with any other R, and saw this record versus what he wrote, what would you say about him?

|2.27.08 @ 12:23AM|#

"Wake up people. Ron Paul isn't the messiah his tards make him out to be."

And with that, you lost me as an interested reader.

Grow up.

jmr|2.27.08 @ 12:42AM|#

Please, Wulfgang, you must understand. It's perfectly-acceptable to call RP or his supporters any and all names, while at the same time bitterly-complaining about the behavior of RP supporters. It's all part of that one-standard thing the neocons are giving us, where Pakistan and Saudi Arabia aren't dictatorships.
JMR

|2.27.08 @ 10:22AM|#

Why hasn't Chris brought up the good doctor's involvement in the 1988 Libertarian Party embezzlement scandal? The good doctor was implicated as a recipiant of personal payments from campaign funds in the six figure range. Some very high level people in the Libertarian party went down in this, including the good doctor's own campaign director.

|2.28.08 @ 7:26PM|#

How to brainwash the average voters.Own the Galveston County News and distort the truth.Hirer employee that go along with you ideology. THEN SUPPORT BOTTOM FEEDERS LIKE CHRIS PEDEN,who daughter Brittany received 679.00 dollars of campaign funds and Chris Peden call it "contract labor".Cute isn't.That why Ron Paul did'nt debate Chris,he's a Bottom Feeder a liar,and a deceiver.So is the papers that support Chris.. Christian don't kill innocent people over a war that was founded on lies. Chris support these lies.

|2.28.08 @ 10:12PM|#

The jackiel.This person is part of the elite bottom feeders.Their mind has been tainted by inferior DNA.They gorge themselves on lies and deceptions.Their easy to indentify.

|2.29.08 @ 8:56PM|#

More trash media from some trash media outlet. Reason mag....go sell your souls a bit more you piece of trash.

RON PAUL FOREVER