Facing Wendy Davis, Republican Greg Abbott says he’s the candidate of women

[TexasTowelie]

With Wendy Davis officially in the race for governor, Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott is wasting no time on the campaign trail talking about reasons women should support him. Davis burst on the political scene with a filibuster against an abortion-restriction bill. Democrats say there’s a Republican war against women. They cite GOP policies on education, health care, abortion and equal pay. Davis’ filibuster brought thousands of supporters, many of them women, to the Capitol where a rowdy group of abortion-rights advocates shut down the Texas Senate. GOP frontrunner Abbott opposes abortion and has said he is against all exceptions but to save the life of the woman, although he has hedged more recently on answering a question about exceptions. He also opposes expansion of Medicaid and health care under Obamacare, which would benefit many poor women with children. On Tuesday, he told supporters in El Paso that he’s the candidate Texas women should support in the governor’s race next year.

“Women are going to be a powerful voice in this election,” Abbott said. “I’m proud to say there is nobody in the state of Texas who has done more to fight to help women than I have in the past decade.” The El Paso Times reports that Abbott pointed to his work as attorney general in fighting domestic violence, human trafficking and collecting $27 billion in child support.

Democrats haven’t elected a governor in Texas since Ann Richards in 1990. A key to her victory was the backing of women. Richards got 61 percent of women in that race, including 21 percent of Republican women who crossed party lines. To win, Davis would have to attract not only the Democratic base but also many moderate, Republican-leaning suburban women – something no Democrat has done in big numbers since Richards. A poll last week by the Texas Lyceum has Abbot and Davis in a statistical tie among women voters. Also running for the GOP nomination is former state GOP chairman Tom Pauken.

Hispanics will also be an important voting group. Democrats are counting on a growing Hispanic population to end Republican political dominance in the state. The GOP holds every statewide office and controls the Legislature. Hispanics vote disproportionately for Democrats and Davis hopes increased Hispanic turnout will boost her prospects. Abbott sought to play up his ties to Mexican-Americans during his campaign stop in El Paso. He noted his wife, Cecilia, is Mexican-American. “If I’m elected governor, my wife will be the first Latina first lady in the history of the state of Texas,” Abbott said. “My wife’s grandparents came from Monterey, Mexico, to San Antonio, Texas, in search of greater opportunity for their children.”

Source: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/10/with-wendy-davis-in-the-race-republican-greg-abbott-makes-a-pitch-to-women.html/

[zbdent]

1. ask him if he'll repeal legislation which closed women's clinics ...

or provide federal funding for getting them up to the code that his party LEGISLATED ...

[Thinkingabout]

2. I like the information I have heard and read about Wendy and hope she can return the governors

Office blue. The Bush machine has started the downfall of Texas and a sensible leader will have lots of work to turn Texas around. When I learned some years George W had moved to Houston to establish residency I checked on him, what I found did not make me like him very much and shortly all the research was not available any more. Since then OOPS changed from Democrat to Republican to TP crazy. We need some sanity in Texas politics. I was also surprise to find in the last election the number of oriental and middle easterners voting Democrat. Also Harris county has been electing more Democrats so it is my hope we can get this great state turned purple again. Go Wendy, let's work for sanity.

[Gothmog]

3. Abbott is crazy if he thinks that he can sell this crap

Abbott does not care about women and this line will not be credible

[DhhD]

5. Abortion is one thing and taking away birth control pills for women, let's say in their late 30s who

have two children in high school, is something else that is not going to go over with the women of Texas. Women understand the plight of other women as well as themselves, that they should have the right to the pill as birth control. And even if your company does not want to provide insurance for women's health/birth control, who would be forcing a women to get a prescription for the pill or forcing a woman to go to a pharmacy or forcing a woman's mouth open and physically shoving a birth control pill down her throat? Why isn't The GOP advocating that this physical assault stop? Answer, the real motive of the GOP is control over women.

In my opinion,the GOP is in to control and decision making for some individuals who are willing. A person has the right to make their own decision: that is the meaning of the first part of the ACA, The Patient Protection of ACA.

[DhhD]

6. Ryan to emotionally abuse women, nationally by additions to the Paul Ryan Plan, even thought

Republicans lost the 2012 election and the Plan was voted down. He continues to force it on America.

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/10/13/2775061/paul-ryan-debt-ceiling-leverage-deny-women-access-birth-control/

[Melissa G]

4. Greg Abbot Is the Oppressor of Women in Texas

as is the GOP. Anyone who does not know that is just not paying attention.

[malokvale77]

7. Abbott does nothing to collect child support.

He just makes sure it is routed through his office so he can scim off a bit of it. When is the media in this state going to quit pandering to this nasty asshole.