An Open Letter to Kinky Friedman

GetKinky, says:

I'm sorry, but Bell is taking away votes from Kinky... not the other way.

Bell should drop out of the race and encourage all Democrats to jump on the Kinky train.

There are just as many angry Republicans as there are Democrats who are voting for Kinky.

The 2 party system is a joke and its time for a person who sees himself as a "TEXAN" first instead of a "Dem" or "Rep" to be governor of Texas.

I've talked to over 30 Republican voters and they all (to my surprise) are voting for Kinky.

Ignore the polls. 500 "likely" voters surveyed will NOT be an indication of who is winning. I expect the largest turnout of "unlikely" voters ever.

Do yourself and Texas a favor and vote for Kinky on Nov 7.

RealWestTexas, says:

I also disagree with your statement.

El Paso, the state's fifth largest city and major democratic stronghold has Bell trailing last place in fund raising and polling in the city of El Paso. The Republican party of El Paso is non-existant in the city. I am sorry to say it, if Bell can't even carry a Democratic stronghold like El Paso he doesn't have a shot at being Governor.

ChrisA, says:

I understand both sides, but for Bell to ask that of Kinky and then the campaign to try and start slandering him as a racist is just bad politics...to me, it's a sign of weakness.

Bell did sound great in the debate, and there's a lot that I agree with that he says. However, I'm still not sure how he would do in office. I don't know if I can fully side with Bell yet, I'm sorry.

hardg23, says:

Hang on. It wasn't a million voters that suddenly changed their minds and decided to keep Bell in the race, it was one million dollars from "one voter", a single trial lawyer, that is keeping Bell in the race. Had it not been for that single contribution Bell would be toast right now. Regardless of how well he did in the debate.

That boatload of money from a single lawyer is exactly what we are all trying to fight against. Isn't that were all the problems started around here in the first place? Money? Lobbyist, Lawyers?

Until we get the 2 party system to realize that we as voters can choose from third party opponents, nothing is ever going to change. If Kinky were counting on the polls he would drop out, but he's counting on the people. Kinky has also stated that no politician should ever be elected twice, including himself. In my mind those are words of wisdom.

I'm sticking with Kinky!

oldschoolt, says:

I like the idea of Strayhorn dropping out if anybody should leave at this point. She is by far the worst of the three candidates and takes votes from each of the other three contenders: people who vote independent and distrust current systems (Kinky), people who claim to be different from Republicans (Bell), and people who tend to lean more conservative (Perry). I think the main issue comes with those who think that a Democrat is just a wolf in sheep's clothing, and therefore voting Democratic is not much of a change. I would like to think that Chris Bell would be different from Rick Perry, but my skepticism of differential between the two is like the Kerry-Bush lesser of two evils debate. Settling is not the right attitude for change. If Democrats want change and a little progression in politics, than for my money, there is no doubt that Kinky would bring the most change, and frankly, I've just had enough of the status quo from the two-party system.
And on the debate, Kinky did not perform as well as the others, excluding Grandma, but that is because he is not a robot, he is human, and is not good at acting like a politician. To his supporters, that is their favorite quality about him, as he claims to be a statesman, not a politican. Very similar to how saying and doing are two separate entities, so goes my opinion in the Bell vs. Kinky debate, respectively.

...although Kinky saying "the internet is the work of Satan" was a little too extreme for my taste. Just keep the bigger picture in mind.

Jeremy, says:

The Governor of Texas is not its chief executive. That honor belongs to the Lt. Governor. All the Governor can do is make appointments and attempt to set an agenda.

The agenda Kinky Friedman will set as Gov. is vastly superior to Bell's, in my opinion, largely because it's honest and unmoderated by party interests. Instead of attempting to win back conservative votes by bemoaning the ills of teen pregnancy when he talks about abortion rights, Kinky comes out and says he doesn't think men should be making laws about women's bodies. Instead of advocating separate-but-equal "civil unions", Kinky supports gay marriage. He's come out against the massively screwed up capital punishment system in Texas while Chris Bell's run from that issue (and border security) for fear of losing votes.

Kinky's the best man for the job, and this is the right time to elect a good man instead of the best politician. Kinky Friedman is my governor.

Sunkissed, says:

I am a democrat who plans to vote for Kinky but am pulling the lever for the rest of the democrats on the ticket. I sent an e-mail to some democrats trying to urge them not to start a dirty campaign against Kinky and as a response to an article in the Dallas Morning News where the dems said they were going to starting negative ads calling him a racist...This is both my letter and the Bell campaign's reply to same. My vote for Kinky is ensured:

~~~

From: xxxxxx [mailto:xxxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 4:22 PM To: [Email addys redacted -- Admin] Subject: SWIFTBOATING OF KINKY FRIEDMAN AS A RACIST!

At this time, I intend to vote for all democrats on the ticket in November; HOWEVER, I am a Democrat who IS voting for Kinky for Governor. Like it or not. If the democrats insist on dirty politics (KINKY IS NOT A RACIST) then you are no better than the republicans and you will lose my vote If the democrats continue down this road, I will leave the democratic party and vote independently hence forth. Cease and Desist!

~~~

Bell campaign reply:

If you were a Democrat, you would support the Democratic ticket.

Thank you for your comments.

Trista Allen Political Director Chris Bell for Governor 4032 S. Lamar, Suite 700 Austin, Texas 78704

[contact information redacted -- Admin]

Sunkissed, says:

She absolutely did. You can e-mail her and call it her on it. I'm still in shock.

Sunkissed, says:

Thank you and my apologies. If anyone is wishing to contact the Bell campaign directly I did so by visiting their website. Its easy enough to find.

juliro, says:

Mr. Wynne ought to be ashamed for posting a letter like this in public.

In my book, you are a quitter and a coward. Moreover, you have grossly misjudged the people of Texas.

The support for Kinky Friedman has NOT appreciably waned, despite what you may think of the debate performances. And I'm in more of a position to know this than you, BECAUSE I HAVE WORKED NON-STOP FOR OVER A YEAR, ON THE STREETS, TALKING TO REAL PEOPLE, while you and your rich friends sat around drinking at high-dollar fundraisers. You sent Kinky a few bucks, but you never did any of the REAL work.

You weren't there when we marched in January in the rain, in the Martin Luther King Day parade.

You weren't there when we sat in the cold March wind, gathering signatures at hip-hop clubs and redneck honky-tonks.

You weren't there when we handed out flyers in 100-degree heat.

You haven't fielded hundreds of phone calls and thousands of emails, from people all across North Texas who are desperate for change.

Let me borrow a phrase from Public Enemy: Don't believe the hype.

Kinky Friedman can win this thing. The only thing that can stop him is a lack of courage on the part of the public.

For God's sake, don't let the Establishment win again.

Vote Kinky, starting 10/23.

FrankE, says:

I'm nominally a Republican and have supported Kinky monetarily since last November, but I can tell you that most of his supporters I've met are disaffected Democrats.

That's why I'm afraid that the recent dust-ups over Kinky's alleged - if comically untrue - racism, are going to hurt.

Kinky was marching to desegregate lunch-counters when Chris Bell was in diapers; Rick Perry has anchorman hair and is signing laws in churches; and Carole Stewart Keeton McClellan Rylander Strayhorn can't decide what the hell she stands for or to what party she belongs.

The choice is clear for me: Vote Kinky!

LinkLemaster, says:

As someone who has tirelessly worked alongside Juliro in getting Kinky on the ballot, working hundreds of volunteer hours, I can tell you one thing: She is dead on right! I've been talking to tons of people since last Friday's debate, not a single person I've talked to has wavered in their support for Kinky Friedman. If anything, it has gotten stronger! I'm telling you people, WE are on the verge of making political history, we got less than 4 weeks before the elections and the voters are TIRED of the same old crap coming from the 3 Stooges. (And much apologies to those Legendary Comics, who are in my personal Hall of Fame and are my cultural heroes to boot, right there with the Marx Brothers, Monty Python and Rocky and Bullwinkle!) But I digress......these morons want Kinky out, Why? cuz they can't pull his strings, can't control him, (and won't when he's elected). This Shannon Wynne moron....don't frequent his establishments anymore, hit him in the ol' pocketbook where it hurts him the most, cuz if you hit him between the legs it wouldn't hurt at all....gotta have balls to stand alongside Kinky Friedman....and Shannon Wynne is sorely lacking in that department. Screw him. Viva El Kinky!!!

nicolrenee, says:

What Shannon seems to have lost sight of is that if you want change, you have to be willing to fight for it and not just give in when it gets uncomfortable.

This country has been asleep for far too long. Voter turnout all over the country has fallen consistently over the years, and as a result of voter apathy, we have a mess running our state and running our country. We as a collective voice have got to get angry enough (and most of us are) to stand up for what we believe in and stop letting the political parrots run the show.

Shannon has unfortunately fallen in amongst the number of people who have decided that nothing is ever really going to change so why should they bother trying. Why we should bother trying is the same reason that stirred our ancestors to revolt against the British many decades ago and stirred our founding fathers to create a unifying document that is the basis upon which this great country was created. It is the same reason that others of our ancestors stood and fought knowing they would likely die at the Alamo. The odds then were viewed by many as equally poor that change would happen, but happen it did. Why those people were able to create that change that enabled us the freedoms we have today is because they were unafraid to stand up and even to fight for what they believed in.

We are in a time of revolt. It is time to instigate a new revolution, this time created with our voice and our vote rather than violence. Kinky Friedman is a man to lead that revolution here in Texas so we, The People, can take back our great state and see policy created that will make us proud.

You can be a part of the problem, or you can be a part of the solution. You, Shannon, are now a part of the problem. Who amongst you are ready to be a part of the solution? Who amongst you has the courage and is ready to stand tall and stand proud and cast your vote for the New Revolution? I am, and I will, and I will make my state a better one in which to live. Until you are ready to do the same, Shannon, though I respect your right to your own opinion, don't think you are any less a traitor to this state and this country, any less a turncoat.

Viva El Kinky, Viva La Revolucion!

shetexan, says:

One thing that has become evident in this campaign -- there are those (Shannon) who have latched on to Kinky early on (Shannon), made some money off the extra business brought in at petition signings (Shannon) and declared themselves a "friend" of Kinky's (Shannon).

His letter, despite his claim that he "loves" Kinky, screams of a opportunistic attempt to grab a headline. Bet there are lots of Bell supporters frequenting his establisment now.

The funny thing, Shannon, is that Kinky represents everything that is good about Texas. And I for one know that everything he says, comes directly from his heart -- it's what he believes. Is he perfectly rehearsed with every syllable? Thank God, no. It is refreshing. Perry? Empty and arrogant words. Strayhorn? Puh-lease. Grandma ain't so tough and she has little to say or offer the people of Texas.

I've been a Democrat all of my life. I've watched the Democrats get beat up for years, while those in charge of our party sat back and let it happen. Chris Bell may be a nice guy, he may be smart, but he is no governor. He isn't inspiring. He merely repeats the same old stuff the Democrats have been repeating for years. IT'S NOT WORKING! The Democrats are losing party members right and left. Chris should throw in the towel, not Kinky. And believe me, there are many, many Republicans who are detest Perry and his do-nothing administration and would NEVER vote for a Democrat -- but they support Kinky and will vote for him. Be worried, Bell campaign.

With Kinky, there is a real chance to get all this partisan junk out of the way and address some real issues -- the ones that matter to all of us, not just to those whose party is in power at the moment. That's been going on too long.

Kinky a racist? Ridiculous. Talk to the man for 5 minutes and you'll see. Let's remember --this 62-year-old man is a JEW, growing up in TEXAS. Ask any of your Jewish friends what that has been like, and tell me they haven't faced racism. It is a weak attempt and shame on the Dems for being ignorant enough to latch on to this idiocy and running with it. Just another sign of reactionary weakness from the Democrats.

As for the NAACP, from what I have learned from my black friends, many African Americans feel the NAACP has lost touch with its base. It got hung up on watching for the political correctness of things, and lost control of the real issues facing our black citizens.

There are millions of us out here, still supporting Kinky, who still believe that Texas is in big trouble and the two major parties and their politicians are at the heart of its problems. We are going to take back Texas, one way or another. Kinky is leading the way.

Sparselogic, says:

How do you get someone else besides Kinky to throw in the towel?

Where did you get the idea that Kinky's the most likely to throw in the towel?

From the article: You won’t be letting your supporters down… you’ll be ridding the state of Bush Baby, the one that most of us have learned to despise.

Kinky's got bigger plans than taking out Rick Perry.

ScottChaffin, says:

_100% opportunistic, without any sort of discernable political philosophy other than "elect me"_

This differs from "Why the hell not?" how?

hardg23, says:

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content...

This is a "MUST READ" for anyone that plans to vote in the Nov.7 election.

nicolrenee, says:

McCrea, you completely miss my point, unsurprising, since it seems you only read what you want to see into things.

My point is and always will be that either you want change or you don't. If you don't care about rampant corruption, politicians who only pander to big business and special interest groups rather than working for the people as they are elected to do, then you won't be voting for Kinky. If, however, you are fed up as Shannon apparently was as long as it was making him money, then Kinky is your man.

Change is only affected when enough people participate in the process. It takes courage, it takes being willing to stand strong even when the going gets tough, and it takes being willing to fight for what you believe it. Our founding fathers got it, throughout history there have been other people who have gotten it, and it is time for the great people of the State of Texas to get it again. Shannon, though liking Kinky, has decided to turn tail and run at the first sign of trouble. That's okay, he's entitled. That's what's great about living in a free country. To encourage others to bail on the Kinky bandwagon because he lost faith is tantamount to treason. No, I've never mentioned anywhere that I consider Shannon a terrorist, as you seem to imply, just someone who, when faced with the choice to stand with the People's Revolution, picked the easy way out when things got tough. Back in the early beginnings of our country, there were those who switched sides when it looked like they might die trying to fight the good fight. Maybe Shannon thinks this fight is lost already, but he is sadly mistaken.

Kinky can win this race, something that is made clear by how hard the other politicians are trying to discredit him as a viable candidate. Kinky is a man of integrity, a man who is not afraid to call things as they are, and isn't in anyone's back pocket. That is what will get him into office. He is a gentleman, a kind and compassionate man, a man of subtleties and not so subtle humor. He is the only candidate who hasn't tried to pander to the masses, who hasn't tried to beat down the other candidates to lift himself up, who hasn't tried to 'put lipstick on this pig'. That is why he gets my vote, why so many thousands of others have volunteered their time across this great state of ours in support of Kinky Friedman.

Call me what you want, call the campaign what you want, it won't change the fact that change is needed and Kinky is the man who can create that change. Kinky knows it, his volunteers and supporters know it, even Shannon knows it but he is choosing the easy way out now that Bell has the big bucks.

juliro, says:

Dear Mr. McCrea,

I think you have misinterpreted my (admittedly) somewhat emotional post.

"How in heaven's name do you three Kinky supporters think you're going to win over undecided voters, or keep wavering anti-Perry pro-Kinky voters like me from jumping ship, if you keep on engaging in this sort of juvenile name-calling?"

We have fielded more calls and emails from undecided and skeptical voters than you can imagine. In virtually every case, we were able to persuade them to join Camp Kinky. NEVER by criticizing the other candidates, but by speaking from the heart about what we believed was good about our guy.

I am open to ALL people who support positive change for Texas. I don't care what their skin color, previous party affiliation, religion or economic status is. I am a progressive who is sick and tired of the divide-and-conquer mentality that is killing this country. It's my personal opinion that if the Good People don't soon come forward and stand together, we will have no country left to save.

My beef with Mr. Wynne is not that he dared support someone else. Viva la difference.

It is that he injected himself into Kinky Friedman's life, talked to him "nearly every day" on the phone (his words), and was constantly involved with the campaign staff. That to me is a declaration of friendship. Then he changed his mind. And did it publicly.

I don't know about you, but I do not back out on my friends, just because they hit a rough patch.

If you have a problem with a friend, you talk to them face to face. You don't post a letter in public, humiliating them.

Those of us in the trenches who have worked our hearts out for over a year now are tired. We have been excoriated by the Democrats because we dared to back someone other than their Chosen One, and so they call us "racist". The Republicans have called us "queer lovers."

We have turned the other cheek, until both cheeks are raw.

We grow weary of making nice, even though Kinky Friedman himself has personally told us to "be nice" to the other candidates. Now THAT'S class.

Would that the other candidates had given this advice to their own staff.

Instead, certain Democrats in Dallas County (Royce West) are getting ready to launch the ugliest, most negative campaign ads ever aired here. And Chris Bell stands by and watches it happen.

This is morally wrong, it will strain race relations, and it will damage SO MUCH MORE than merely Kinky's candidacy. My heart cries out against this outrage, but it seems there is little we can do to stop it.

And so there is much in the background that you, as a casual observer, cannot possibly know that fuels our comments.

I wish you all the best and commend you for the effort to at least follow the election and make a choice, when so many will stay home yet again in apathy.

Gregory, says:

Ok, by saying that Kinky's camp should throw support behind Bell is assinine.

One... You're assuming that everyone who had planned on voting for Kinky, who's platform is "politicians suck", would gladly support Chris Bell.

Two... Kinky has more support right now. Chris Bell should suck it up, swallow his low-in-the-polls pride, and support someone who has a chance.

I'm sick of hearing people say things like "Kinky doesn't have what it takes to be Governor". According to the Constitution, he does. Our government was supposed to be "we the people". Kinky's the people. The founding fathers didn't want career polititions running this country/state, via corporations & lobbyists. If someone sees a problem, and they're sick of it getting ignored, it's their DUTY to run for office.

If Bell & Grandma (the low rungs on the ladder) REALLY want Perry out of office, they need to support Kinky. Because Bell's supporters are more likely to vote for Kinky, than vice versa.

hardg23, says:

Kevin, Juliro is refering to these comments from Royce West.

Bell hasn't been able to coax rival Kinky Friedman out of the race for governor, but his fellow Democrats are preparing a media and campaign offensive against the independent, planning in part to portray him as a racist.

The blitz is aimed at not only stopping Mr. Friedman from poaching Mr. Bell's base voters but also at exciting Democrats who could determine the outcome of local races, as well as statewide contests.

"It's designed to fire up the base," state Sen. Royce West of Dallas, who will record radio ads criticizing Mr. Friedman, said Wednesday. "But just as important, it's an issue of respect."

The plans follow Mr. Bell's effort Tuesday to persuade Mr. Friedman to abandon his quirky campaign and unite behind the Democrat in an effort to dislodge Republican Gov. Rick Perry. The Friedman campaign dismissed the new plans as the work of "slime balls" on behalf of a desperate candidate; Mr. Bell's team denied involvement.

The escalating rhetoric shows an increasing urgency as the governor's challengers attempt to break from the pack with fewer than four weeks left until Election Day.

Mr. West said his ads, which will air on radio stations with large black audiences, would use recordings of Mr. Friedman using various racial and ethnic slurs. Television spots could follow. Mr. West is raising money for the ads, and he said the Dallas County Democratic Party might chip in as well.

The commercials will urge voters to support Mr. Bell, Dallas County district attorney candidate Craig Watkins and the rest of the Democratic ticket.

"After hearing these ads, [voters] will know exactly what they need to do," said Mr. West, one of the area's most prominent black politicians.

juliro, says:

Kevin,

Those are indeed their plans (as reported in the DMN) though I have it on good authority that neither Senator West nor the DCDP has sufficient funds to run such a campaign. Leading one to wonder.. where will this money come from?

The truth is, I am even more troubled by the potential impact on race relations than any effect this may have on Kinky's campaign. Dallas does not have a history of tolerance, but we have made progress. Such a hateful campaign pitting black against white could erase in a heartbeat many of the gains over past years. At the very least, it will make it increasingly difficult to engage people of color in meaningful political discussion.

At worst case, it could even lead to violence.

To me, launching such an attack, when they -know- Kinky is no racist, is not only dishonest, it's dangerous and irresponsible.

Furthermore, it confirms the very point that Kinky has made all along: These politicians care more about their own power than they do their own constituents.

I know the Kinky supporters are angry at these attacks and other perceived betrayals. But I would respectfully ask you this: please do not make any inflammatory public statements, nor urge boycotts of any business, nor encourage people to vote only for Kinky.

Study the issues, examine the all candidates, and vote your heart.

This is an important election, let's give it the consideration it deserves.

Grampa, says:

An Open Letter to Shannon Wynne

With an entertainment empire to oversee you may have missed one of the South's most respected journalist [ of any hue ]BOB RAY SANDERS article UN playing the race card on behalf of KINKY ...http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/columnists/bob_ray_sanders/15582807.htm .. or perhaps missed Liz Smiths plea for fans of the late Governor Ann Richards to rise up and reclaim Texas government in this rare chance for 'regular' Texans to have a voice. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/m...

Any human being who ever met Kinky Friedman would know , from the heart , that he is JUST what Texas needs. Now is the time for all good TEXANS to come to the aid of TEXAS. The other three candidates .. all tried to write KINKY off early with 'not a chance'.. and now each one is singing verses from campaign songs Kinky wrote a long time ago.. 'shake Austin up' 'health care for our lil' Texans' etc...indeed. Mr. Wynne you KNOW Kinky is no racist.. yet you turncoat to the folks who play that bogus card...not in the privacy of the voting booth ..but in the bully pulpit. Old style politics? Biddness as usual? Shame on you...when they name a highway after you .. I hope it runs right out of town.... apparently in 'any direction'.

This Grampa can't Wynne...fellow Texans.. I URGE you to go meet the candidates.. look them in the eye...make up your own minds...I think you'll GO KINKY!!

mkmartinek, says:

if the democratic party wants to make difference in texas, democrats should back kinky for governor. people that are sick of the status quo would appreciate that and throw their support behind democractic candidates in other races. who thinks chris bell really has a chance when he advocates raising taxes on small business? perry is an idiot, sure, but the democrats do not deserve to win by default.

so far all i know is that i am voting for kinky. are democrats worth supporting? kinky supporters will know when we see how democrats treat kinky

c'mon chris bell! are you really going to watch passively as your party tries to wrongfully portray kinky as a racist? that kinky is a racist is a lie and if you help to perpetuate that lie, you will be seen as a liar. this issue is the test for whether or not the democratic party has any integrity. kinky is no racist and if the democratic party stoops so low as to try and paint him as such, they will lose the support kinky supporters would have given democrats in almost every other race.

kinky is not going to throw in the towel for bell, and to even ask is the height of arrogance.

kiss my ass shannon wynne!

.

phylkgrn, says:

In Mr. Wynne's case, he is the real loser because he is opting to vote for a man who is owned by a Houston businessman who bought Chris Bell for $1,000,000. Too bad that Shannon Wynne can be suckered in so easily!

karena, says:

Why is Kinky called a racist?

Sunkissed, says:

The Bell campaign reply I posted early says it all. It isn't about doing what's right for Texas. Its not about getting rid of Perry. Its about electing a democrat and they will do whatever it takes - including swiftboating Kinky to accomplish it. As a democrat who votes for whom I consider the best person, regardless of party, I was deeply offended by Trista Allen's (Bell campaign) statement that "If you were a Democrat, you would support the Democratic ticket." Perry is a republican, Bell is a democrat, Stayhorn is a chameleon and Kinky is a Texan.

sciencelady, says:

That's alright, Shannon. Why don't you busy yourself with something else.

So many of us are convinced that finally we have a candidate without an agenda. I can't wait to vote for Kinky. I'll be one of the first in line on Oct. 23!

I've seen ONE Bell sign, Zero Perry or Strayhorn signs and (quite literally) HUNDREDS of Kinky signs. Nov. 6 will be an amazing day!

I'll bet all the lobbyists are explaining to their families what "austerity measures" are!

hardg23, says:

Last night I went over to Chris Bell's campaign website just to look around and see what was happening over there. They had a press release posted defending themselves over Perry's new Jaws commercial that began airing a few days ago. At the end of the press release there is a comments section where one or two people had posted messages.

I wish that I had made of copy of what I wrote, but in a causal tone I said something to the effect that "I don't understand why Bell is standing behind Royce West and going along with these planned commercials that he intends to run depecting Kinky as a racist." Then a few minutes later Ryan Malone wrote back "Senator West is doing that on his own behalf." So I continued by asking, "I just don't understand how those radio spots are intended to help Bell. Perry had $9.2 million in cash at the beginning of last week and Bell, even with the money from O'Quinn will barely have half that amount, why don't they use the money to encourage democrats to get out and vote for Bell rather than trying to slam Kinky who is scoring very low in all the polls and no one believes has a chance at winning?".

That isn't word for word what I wrote, but the general tone of the question. Well apparently they didn't like what I was asking one bit. A few minutes later the entire conversation had been erased and my access to the website was "denied" from that point on. I didn't think that what I was asking was anything threating at all, just something that any potiential voter might ask at a campaign stop on any given day. But their response made it crystal clear that they are behind the West commercials but will NEVER admit to it.

If I had made some massive attack or really spamed them the situation would be different, but that was not at all the case. However, after the fact I did send a couple of emails directly to cbell@chrisbell.com and stated my intent to vote for Kinky and possibly write editorials to every newspaper in the state describing their reaction to my question.

Gregory, says:

Lets not forget that Kinky is the only one on the ballot who's never been a Democrat.

Strayhorn went from Democrat to Republican to Radical/Conservative/independent.

Karl Rove groomed then Democrat, Rick Perry, as a Republican to run him against Dem. Jim Hightower (excellent author) for the Dept. Aggriculture.

And of course, Chris Bell is a Democrat... for now.

TexasGoneKinky, says:

Hi Mr. McCrae,

We welcome you back to the Kinky Camp.

"Such ads, if and when they air, will do nothing for me other than assure that I will no longer consider switching from Kinky to Bell. If Bell is going to run as a common-sense centrist but allows partisan hacks like West to do his racially-charged dirty work for him, then screw him."

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws...