ACROSS TEXAS – Nowhere in the nation is the conservative movement stronger than in Texas, and some of the most politically well informed leaders of the “Texas Liberty Movement” are women. Energized from big wins across the state in the March 4th Republican Primary, these pro-family, pro-liberty, pro-free market conservative women are a diverse group of mothers, professionals, business-owners, bloggers, and leaders of some of the largest conservative organizations and TEA parties in Texas.
These women may not always agree on every issue, but they do agree on one thing – David Dewhurst has gone too far. Today, several of these conservative female leaders released a joint statement calling on Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst to apologize to women, Hispanics, and legal immigrants for exploiting them in a cheap, un-statesmanlike shot at the top vote getter in the Republican primary race for lieutenant governor – Senator Dan Patrick.
Dewhurst raised the ire of these conservative women because of highly offensive comments he made when speaking to the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce luncheon last Thursday (April 17). Speaking in Spanish and English, Dewhurst attacked Patrick, “My opponent is anti-immigrant, anti-Hispanic, and anti-woman, and I’m not any of those things.”
Sonja Harris, TexasGOPvote.com blogger and long-time Republican activist: “I am disappointed that David Dewhurst would launch such a baseless attack on Dan Patrick. In the debate with San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, and indeed throughout his public service, Dan Patrick has made it very clear that he welcomes legal immigrants, but he believes we have a responsibility to secure the border for safety. He also strongly objects to the exploitation of the people coming across the border. Dan Patrick is not anti-immigrant, anti-Hispanic, or anti-woman.”
Michelle Smith, a long-time pro-life, pro-family activist: “There is absolutely no justification for such an exploitative attack on Dan Patrick. For Mr. Dewhurst to say Sen. Patrick is anti-woman is just laughable. I’ve known Dan Patrick for many years. He is deeply pro-family, pro-life, and very inclusive of women when it comes to discussing legislation and public policy.”
JoAnn Fleming, executive director of Grassroots America and two-term chair of the Texas Legislature’s TEA Party Caucus Advisory Committee: “Mr. Dewhurst needs to do the honorable thing and apologize. It was bad enough that he tried to destroy Ted Cruz during the US Senate race. We hoped he had learned a lesson. Sadly, he has now resorted to taking a page out of the liberal Democrat playbook. This is the worst kind of politics – it’s racially divisive, demeaning, and quite pathetic.”
We, the undersigned, call on Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, to apologize publicly for his exploitive, baseless attack on Senator Dan Patrick, which employed racially divisive, extreme, and demeaning language and only served to debase the very serious issues surrounding illegal immigration:
JoAnn Fleming – Executive Director, Grassroots America – We the People PAC
Two-term Chairman, Texas Legislature’s TEA Party Caucus Advisory Committee*
Lori Cook – Kaufman County TEA Party Leader*
Toni Fabry – Chairman, Frisco TEA Party*
Sharon Hall – Two-term member, Texas Legislature’s TEA Party Caucus Advisory Committee*
Terri Hall – Founder/Director, Texans Uniting for Reform & Freedom (TURF)*
Sonja Harris – blogger for TexasGOPvote.com and long-time Republican activist
Dawn King – Parker County TEA Party, President*
Robin Lennon – Kingwood TEA Party, Co-Founder/President*
Julie McCarty – President, Northeast Tarrant TEA Party*
Morgan McComb – Dallas County Grassroots Leader
Pamela Prince – Dallas County Grassroots Leader
Michelle Smith – Texas State Director of Concerned Women for America*
Dr. Julie Turner – Texas Patriots PAC, President*
Kathleen Wazny – Robson Ranch Republican Club, President*
Maggie Wright – Past President (2011), Co-founder of the Texas Patriots TEA Party (Burleson)*
*titles included for identification purposes for those women approving this statement
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Where applicable, a political advertisement paid for by Grassroots America – We the People PAC, PO Box 130012 Tyler, TX 75713.
