Exclusive Insider Analysis on Each Candidate in Texas Gubernatorial Race
By Stephen Raines
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is the senior United States Senator from Texas the position she has held since 1993. A proud member of the Republican Party since the 1970s Hutchison is running for Governor under the proposal to restore unity growth & respectability to the party and the state. It is in all of our best interest she has said that we have a Republican Party thats worthy of governing Texas and also has the message go out to Americans that the biggest state that is still reliably Republican is a state that has enlightened Republican leadership.
The one thing Hutchison makes clear in her promises she will not be like her rival the incumbent Governor. The success of her campaign hinges on this selling point to traditional conservative and more independent-minded or moderate voters.
On issues Hutchison continues to faithfully oppose federal power over health care climate control or anything else from President Barrack Obama and Congressional Democrats.
She supports lower taxes lower state spending a reduction in public debt private property rights pro-life positions on abortion (with an exception for overturning Roe vs. Wade) and ethics reform.
She opposes tolling of existing roads the Trans Texas Corridor and the trend in the State of House of Representatives toward a Democratic majority the last of which she lays at the feet of the incumbent Governor.
Why Hutchison desires to trade for a job less powerful than her own is a matter for some speculation.
One theory has it that years ago she came to know state government as a member of the House of Representatives and wanted to direct it as CEO of the State. George W. Bush laid claim to the job before she had a chance at the prize. Then Rick Perry got in her way and will not leave.
Another theory concerns Kays adopted and still relatively young children.
Is it that she wants to raise them here as real Texans? A Texan could applaud that sentiment. However many of her long-time supporters keeping questioning whether that should compel her to put at risk her own partys unity.
To overcome these concerns Hutchison continues to make the case that the incumbent governor has done such a poor job that he has to be thrown out.
In the future of Texas Hutchison envisions neither good old boys nor Christian conservatives run the state or the Republican Party. While attacking the good old boy network and the Christian conservatives might work for a political outsider or a Democrat that attack from within the Republican follows a narrow path at best.
To carefully avoid attacking either of these groups Hutchison speaks of cronyism and emphasizes a very solid voting record with conservative interests groups on key issues like abortion and taxes. Hutchison has promised ethics reform and an end to cronyism the examples of such in the incumbent Governors administration (her campaign repeatedly sends examples) either have failed to capture the attention of the public or press.
The good old boys feel attacked and steeled in their resolve in support of her opponent. The Christian conservatives have never cared for her much anyway.
An argument reemerged after the loss of Senator John McCain in the race for the Presidency and continues to percolate around the country among Republicans. Should Republicans stir the base to succeed or should they moderate policy emphasis and tone?
With a very clear dividing line between Hutchison and the incumbent she will vote for a more moderate policy and tone.
I want to build a Republican majority the senator says implying her opponent has done the opposite. On this point she provides some proof.
Since 2002 Republican numbers in the Legislature have diminished. The questions for Republican voters remains who should lead the Republican Party and the State of Texas moving forward.
A Hutchison administration differs only slightly from than current administration. While the Hutchison record reflects a conservative voting record and support from leading figures in Republican circles like former Vice President Dick Cheney and former US House Majority Leader Dick Armey the business community has stuck with the incumbent and the cultural conservatives have as well.
If you feel Republicans are losing elections because of Governor Perry if you feel ethics reform like term limits and limitations on the Governors office need to be enacted if you oppose the TransTexas Corridor and believe Kay Bailey Hutchison will restore property rights integrity and lower taxes to Texas your vote should be for Kay Bailey Hutchison.
