Texas Lt. Governor Race: Patterson Calls Austin "Washington West"

According to the Tribune's Primary Pencil Bracket, we've four Republicans running for Lt. Governor:  David Dewhurst, Jerry Patterson, Dan Patrick, and Todd Staples.  Apparently the Dems are still looking for a sacrificial victim candidate to represent higher taxes, gun control, and unrestricted taxpayer-funded abortion.

Here's the latest from the Jerry Patterson campaign. 

Barbie Shoes and the "Creep" Factor

Below is my All In Perspective Column from last week.  Shortly after my publisher's deadline, the Wendy Davis controversy re-ignited over Erick Erickson's post at Red State calling Davis "Abortion Barbie."  Erickson pointed out that the media was glamorizing Davis; gushing on and on about her shoes, outfits, hair, etc., while ignoring the fact that she was lobbying to abort babies after five months gestation.  Horrific.  Lefties went beserk, calling Erickson a sexist, but I think these folks have missed a deeper point.  As the outrageous but honest comments of creeps like Ben Sherman demonstrate, abortion reduces women to mere playthings.  Like Barbie, they are just sex objects to be exploited with no strings attached.  What is sexist is pretending that abortion doesn't hurt women, and that women aren't anything more than plastic dolls who can repeatedly abort their babies without a second thought. 

Barbie's shoes look notoriously uncomfortable, but if the Barbie-shoe fits, maybe Davis should wear it.

Original Column:

Gender, Politics, and the "Creep Factor"

As a young, single professional on a business trip in 1996, I overheard a couple of other women discussing that year’s upcoming presidential election.  They expressed disdain for Republican Bob Dole because he “just seemed like an old man,” and, as one of the women explained, “Clinton just looks so cute in his jeans.”  Face, palm.  I can’t say my political views were highly developed in those days, but I was pretty sure I would not choose a candidate based on how he looked in his jeans.
 

Sadly, there are far too many voters who cast a ballot based on the most absurd criteria, and I am especially dismayed by the way some women participate in politics.  Rather than delve into important issues like maybe Constitutional limits for government or effective foreign policy, some women have bought into a false narrative of ‘women’s issues,’ celebrity candidates, and the politics of ‘firsts.’  For example, some think that since we’ve now had our first “black” president, we must elect the first woman to the White House.  Never mind that the likely candidate has a history of unethical and incompetent behavior; Hillary Clinton is apt to be the only woman running, and what difference does it make that a few unimportant Americans died in Benghazi.
 

There are also a disappointing number of women who are willing to buy into false narratives about ‘women’s issues.’  In the recent abortion law debate, we were told that the evil men of Texas were on the verge of outlawing abortion and taking away women’s rights.  Fortunately, quite a few smart women read the proposed legislation and knew the bill mandated safety measures for abortion clinics while allowing elective abortion during the first five full months of pregnancy.    (A compromise bill by definition.)  Despite the facts, certain women took to marching around the capitol wearing decorative tampons and carrying “Hoes before Embryos” signs.  And Susan B. Anthony went to jail for this?

Women who don’t bother to inform themselves on the issues are a problem, but another disturbing trend is the willingness to not only tolerate, but promote men who happen to be creeps.  The sad spectacle of poor Huma Weiner standing by her ‘sexting’ husband so that he can obtain even more power and glory, breaks my heart.  While the Clintons may be in a huff over the comparisons, Hillary pretty much set that standard when she showed co-dependent wives how to keep on putting up with a creep on a national level.  And this empowers women how?

Women on both sides of the aisle have found themselves yoked to creeps, but I much prefer the reactions of Marianne Gingrich and Jenny Sanford.  Instead of playing the part of the abused wife, these gals refused to put up with unacceptable behavior and told their unfaithful men to ‘hit the road, Jack.’   An empowered woman does not put up with nonsense; she might show up to the press conference, but maybe only to smack her wayward husband in the back of the head with a shovel.  Now that would be a great news story.
 

I believe that part of the problem is that women aren’t listening to their instinctual “creep detector.”  As we learn more about allegations that Democrat San Diego mayor Bob Filner has been engaging in sexual harassment for years, women who supported him are publicly admitting that the guy has always been creepy.  It’s too bad these gals continued to support and enable a man like Filner.
 

Of course while Congressman Weiner and Mayor Filner may be in a close race for National Creep of the Year, we have a Texas nominee too.  In a spectacularly revealing article published last month, a writer at the ‘Progressive’ Burnt Orange Report expressed concern that proposed Texas abortion laws might hamper his ability to hook up.  He wrote to his fellow ‘bro-choicers,’ “Your sex life is at stake…don’t be surprised if casual sex outside of relationships becomes far more difficult to come by.”  At least this guy was honest; unrestricted abortion allows him to exploit more women.  ­What a creep.

Unfortunately, women who have bought into the phony mantra of “women’s issues” seem much more likely to put up with these creepy guys.  The truth is that many progressive ideas, like unrestricted abortion and a state-controlled economy, are harmful to women and their respective families.  Truly empowered women really think about the long-term impact of government policy, and will reject the attempts of left-wing exploitation.  Time to kick the creeps and their harmful policies to the curb.    

Planned Parenthood's Medicaid Fraud Problem

While Planned Parenthood apologists constantly try to present the abortion business as a benefit to the community, PP is under investigation in several areas for Medicaid fraud.  Two years ago Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast director Peter Durkin retired under interesting circumstances, and the El Paso facilities were forced to close back in 2009- also due to...Medicaid fraud.  Now Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast has agreed to pay $1.4 million in the hopes that the latest investigation will go quietly away before abortion champion Wendy Davis launches a bid for governor.  

Good luck with that.

Here's the content of a release from the Texas Alliance for Life:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:July 25, 2013
AUSTIN, TX -- Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast agreed Wednesday to pay $1.4 million for fraudulently overbilling the taxpayer-funded Medicaid program. The Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott issued a statement explaining that an investigation revealed Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast billed the Texas Medicaid program for services and products that were not medically necessary, never actually rendered, and not covered by the Medicaid program. Investigators also revealed that Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast falsified information on patient records in order to obtain fraudulent reimbursements from the Medicaid program.

This case is believed to have been introduced in federal court by a former Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast employee Karen Reynolds in 2011. According to her complaint Reynolds learned that her employer knowingly engaged in continued violations of federal and state law by implementing policies designed to fraudulently maximize reimbursements from government health care programs such as the Texas Medicaid program.

Another case pending against Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast was first filed by plaintiff Abby Johnson in December, 2011. Johnson managed the Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast abortion facility in Bryan, Texas. According to Johnson's complaint, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast filed 87,075 or more false, fraudulent and/or ineligible claims from January 1, 2007, to at least October 6, 2009. According to these allegations, Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast could be liable for treble damages close to $600 million.

Johnson publicly referred to the $1.4 million settlement as "simply a slap on the wrist." When asked if she intended to settle Johnson stated, "I have absolutely no intention of settling with my former affiliate. I don't want to settle. I want them to be held accountable."

Texas Medicaid rules permit the Office of Inspector General to exclude entities engaging in Medicaid fraud from being providers. It is not known whether this will be pursued in the case of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast.

Texas Abortion Bill Update

Update:  I just received notice from Lt. Governor David Dewhurst's office that the Senate version will be hear in the Senate Health & Human Service Committee on Monday, June 8 at 10am in the Senate Finance Room - E1.036. 

On a party line vote, the House version of the abortion bill (HB2) passed out of committee last night/this morning.  The bill introduces new health and safety standards for abortion clinics and doctors, and bans most abortions after 20 weeks.  Although the media has focused on the pro-abortion side, supporters of the bill were out in force and Becca Aaronson of the Texas Tribune reports that of the 3,543 witnesses registered, 2,181 were FOR HB2, while 1,355 were against.  In case you missed it, even prominent Democrat Kirsten Powers has come down against Wendy Davis and the pro-abortion lobby on this one. 

Sadly, many of the pro-abortion side were very hostile-some of my friends were spit on and had cigarette ashes tossed on them.  In addition to the profanity, some pro-aborts were chanting "Hail Satan."  Not everyone was uncivil however, and some of our pro-lifers were able to have calm, reasonable conversations with the other side.  Praying folks should keep praying for hearts and minds to change.

Reports indicate that HB2 will come to the House Floor early next week, possibly July 9.

Will keep ya' posted.