I might as well say it. My choice for the U.S. Senate next year isn't even close, either in the Democratic primary or the general election.
Rick Noriega is way beyond any other candidate has come up, either Democrat or the disease of an incumbent we have now in Bush rubber stamp John Cornyn.
Mikal Watts, also seeking the Democratic nomination, is a big-time trial lawyer who has contributed tons of money to Democratic campaigns throughout the country.
There is, however, some other concerns about Watts that concern me about his giving.
I'm bothered when a Democratic candidate's money winds up in the hands of Republicans. Check this out:
Corpus Christi liberal personal injury trial lawyer Mikal Watts of the Watts Law Firm has given hundreds of thousands to Democrat candidates and committees, including liberal Democrats Barbara Boxer, John Edwards, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, Nick Lampson, and Martin Frost.
In addition to backing liberal Democrats at the federal level, Watts has also given thousands to state Democrats like Kirk Watson and Sherry Boyles. Although the bulk of his booty continues to go to Democrats, Watts has increasingly bankrolled selected Republicans both directly and indirectly.
Late in 2004, Watts gave $125,000 to the Good Government Political Action Committee, which in turn contributed $10,000 to David Dewhurst, $25,000 to GOP plaintiff lawyer State Rep. Bryan Hughes, and $50,000 to HillCo PAC, a well connected Austin lobbying firm that has in turn made large donations to Republican statewide officials. Watts has also contributed thousands to Republican Texas Supreme Court Justices Wallace Jefferson and Paul Green.
In March 2006, Watts contributed $10,000 to Texans For Insurance Reform (TFIR), which in the most recent primary backed GOP legislative candidates Gus Ramirez and John Devine who lost to Leo Berman and Patricia Harless respectively. Similarly, TFIR pumped thousands into the campaigns of plaintiff lawyers Drew Mouton and Wade Gent, who were defeated by Jim Landtroop and Betty Brown respectively.
I applaud his generousity to Democrats, but all this Republican giving makes me wonder whether he can really be an effective senator who really reflects the views of regular folks like myself.
His web site tells much about his background, but other than a item calling Heartless John Cornyn's opposition to federally-funded children's health care-- or CHIPS) "wrong for Texas," the site says nothing about other BIG issues like the Iraq war, civil liberties, the economy, health care for all, and so on.
I'm very much impressed with Rick Noriega's background and convictions, and I am convinced that he will not only be an effective Democratic nominee against Heartless John, but he will be a tremendous senator for our state.
While Watts undoubtedly has the financial wherewithal to wage a successful fight against Cornyn, I wonder if he will be as effective a senator for ordinary Texans like myself as Noriega would.
I can see Republicans running attack ad after attack ad calling Watts, in effect, a rich trial lawyer who wants to buy a Senate seat. They'll do everything to turn the general election into a referendum on Mikal Watts, not (as it should) as a referendum the failure of a senator that Cornyn has become and the failed policies of George W. Bush that he has supported.
Here's a statement from another web site that I strongly agree with:
If Mikal Watts is the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate voters are going to see a young, rich, trial lawyer with no public service experience going against an incumbent U.S. Senator who'd previously been on the Texas Supreme Court and had been Texas Attorney General.
Incumbency is powerful, and short of a video showing Cornyn biting the heads off live puppies, we have to give voters a reason to change.
Rick Noriega (HD145) has tons of legislative and public service experience and is a military veteran. Hispanics in south Texas have a long, proud history of service to their country; their families have suffered more than most from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. I believe someone like Rick Noriega, or even Juan Garcia (HD32), would have a better chance of motivating these Democrats to go to the polls. They'd also have a better chance of attracting Independents and moderate Republicans.
I couldn't have said it better myself. My choice is Rick Noriega, and no other candidate comes close.
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