Elizabeth Warren endorses Texas U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar's Democratic primary challenger

[brooklynite]

Texas Tribune

Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren is wading into one of Texas' highest-profile intraparty fights, endorsing Jessica Cisneros, the primary challenger to U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo.

"The people of Texas’ 28th district are ready for systematic change and deserve a Democrat that will be on the side of working people; not the side of big money and obstructionist Republicans," Warren, the U.S. senator from Massachusetts, said in a statement Monday morning. "I believe Jessica Cisneros is that fighter."

Cisneros, a young immigration attorney from Laredo, has the backing of Justice Democrats, the progressive group famous for helping elect freshman U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., last year. Cuellar is among the more conservative Democrats in the House.

"Jessica knows our diversity is our strength and that when progressives are unapologetic about our values and who we’re in this battle for, we win," Warren said. "It’s time Texans had a champion in Congress who does just that."

[George II]

1. I haven't been able to find Warren's official statement, just that snippet in the Texas Tribune....

This may be true, but if so this is going to hurt Warren in the Texas primary and overall.

There are very few "progressives" or liberals in Cuellar's district. But Justice Democrats and all their ancillary "groups" have tweeted and retweeted this a dozen times this morning, ALL using the Texas Tribune piece.

[Turin_C3PO]

2. I'm normally not for primarying Democrats.

But Henry Cuellar is uniquely bad.

[George II]

5. A congressman has to vote for his constituency. A more "progressive" candidate has no chance....

....of winning in that district.

[Turin_C3PO]

14. He doesn't have to be a progressive.

I think he could keep his seat by voting as a moderate. Right now, he’s a conservative.

[crazytown]

26. "no chance"?

Cuellar’s district along the southern border is solidly Democratic. He won re-election with 84 percent of the vote in 2018 and didn’t even face a Republican challenger

https://www.rollcall.com/news/campaigns/henry-cuellar-says-liberals-targeting-him-dont-get-his-district

[LincolnRossiter]

9. What's so bad about him?

Honest question. I don't know much about him or his district.

[Turin_C3PO]

11. He's anti-choice, anti-lgbt, pro-gun, pro big business.

The only good thing about him is the “D” after his name.

[pnwpolicy]

24. A true DINO

In this age, a politician that only votes their party 75% of the time is a huge outlier, costly to Dems since Republicans don't suffer similar defection rates on votes, and can be replaced with more reliable members.

[riversedge]

52. whow. surprised that he even has a D behind his name.

[LincolnRossiter]

65. Ah. Gotcha.

Probably necessary for his district, but I get the criticism. He was along for some of our bigger votes like ACA.

[Blue_Adept]

68. Cuellar's district is a safe blue district.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas%27s_28th_congressional_district

Ethnicity
15.09% White
4.02% Black
1.43% Asian
78.5% Hispanic
0.96% Native American

The 2016 election had him 66.2 to 31.3 over the Republican.

The 2018 one had him 84 to 14

Hell, Republican's didn't even bother to run anyone in 2014. It was only "competitive" in 2010 during the tea party swing and even then it was 56 to 42.

[Celerity]

29. see this

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287270714#post25

Fairly comprehensive breakdown on why he and Dan Lipinski, (who I do not deal with in that post) are the two Democrats in safe Democratic districts I so want to see go. Colin Peterson gets a pass, as his district is cherry Red, so he is the best we can do there.

[Demsrule86]

15. The point is can we elect someone better and the answer is no....he helps us retain our majority...

thus he is better than a Republican.

[MrsCoffee]

80. Yes we can. It's a solid blue district.

We should run a solid blue candidate.

Always pessimistic.

[still_one]

3. From my perspective it sure will.

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. Isn't the group Justice Democrats affiliated with Cenk Ugyr?

[Demsrule86]

13. I despise Justice (not) Democrats.

They take money from the right wing...and they earn it.

[George II]

19. He was a co-founder but was forced out because of racial and misogynistic posts on Facebook.

[Tarheel_Dem]

42. That sounds like our Cenk.

[Blue_Adept]

4. That'd be one less blue dog at least.

[George II]

6. Yep. And one more republican in Congress.

[Blue_Adept]

8. lol. Seriously?

Cuellar won 84/16 in 2018. You think the bulk of that 84 is going to vote republican if he's not running?

[Demsrule86]

12. What is the point? It doesn't add to our numbers. And yeah a moderate GOP type might win...

It is a risk we shouldn't take and a waste of money and time. We won't get progressive elected in Texas.

[NewJeffCT]

51. Clinton won the district big in 2016 as well

I'm pretty sure it's a safe Democratic district. If a progressive wins the district "only" 70-30, it will get rid of the most conservative Democrat in the caucus.

[vsrazdem]

17. If he votes with the Republicans, what's the difference.

[George II]

21. He gets elected in his district. If Cisneros were to win the nomination (not a chance BTW)....

....she'd be slaughtered in the general election and that would be one less Democrat in the House.

[vsrazdem]

28. Doesn't answer my question. If he votes with the republicans what is the difference if there is

1 less democrat, then he is basically a republican anyway.

[George II]

34. He votes with republicans about 30% of the time, whereas if Cisneros get the nomination...

...and her republican opponent gets election, he/she will vote with republicans 100% of the time.

So which would you prefer:

A representative who votes with Democrats 70% of the time, or....
A representative who votes with Democrats 0% of the time

[vsrazdem]

37. I consider that an independent, not a democrat.

[George II]

40. That's ironic.

[Demsrule86]

61. Regardless, he is part of the Democratic majority...40 of them are moderates to conservative...they

gave us the house...and if we lose many we lose the maority and get nothing.

[Celerity]

83. he voted with the Rethugs almost 70% of the time in the last full Congress (the 115th), not 30%

The 115th was much more reflective of his agenda, as the Rethugs controlled it, and if ever there was a time to try and block them, that was it.

Cuellar is pro-life, anti-LGBTQ, anti-immigrant, campaigns and fundraises for Rethugs, etc etc. I cut Colin Peterson a lot of slack as he IS in a ruby red district. I do not advocate primarying him, just Cuellar and Lipinski (whose seat is even more Blue than Cuellar's, having been held by a Rethug ONCE since the 1950's, for 2 years, right after the 1972 Nixon blowout.)



TX-28 is a safe Blue seat. I so hope Cisneros wins the primary, she will blow away the RWNJ Whitten in the general. If Cuellar was a poster here on DU he would be banned in a day or two if he pushed his agenda, especially his support for a Republican against MJ Hegar, who is a solid Dem, endorsed by the Blue Dog Coalition, and is now running against Cornyn for the US Senate.

full detail on Cuellar is here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287270714#post25



and h/t to DU'er crazytown for this:


MJ Hegar and other Democrats miffed at Rep. Henry Cuellar for helping her GOP opponent, Rep. John Carter

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2018/09/13/mj-hegar-and-other-democrats-miffed-at-rep-henry-cuellar-for-helping-her-gop-opponent-rep-john-carter/

Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat, had breakfast on Tuesday with an embattled Republican colleague, Rep. John Carter.

But this wasn't just a friendly bipartisan chat over huevos or chorizo at San Antonio's Mi Tierra Cafe.

This was a campaign fundraiser for Carter, who is badly in need of cash as he fights for political survival against former Air Force combat pilot MJ Hegar. Ticket prices ranged to $2,700 and Cuellar didn't just attend. He also encouraged others to donate.

(snip) Although I was not a host of the event, I was honored to attend as I typically do for colleagues who visit my district. Judge Carter is a dear friend and trusted colleague with whom I work on Appropriations. He is knowledgeable and supportive of issues important to South Texas. In today's climate, more than ever, friendship is more powerful than partisanship," Cuellar said in a statement provided by his campaign.

snip

[susanr516]

85. Spot on

Cuellar is a Republican shill who runs as a Democrat in a solid-blue district. He needs to go.

[Demsrule86]

49. It helps us retain the majority... you need warm bodies...that is the difference...geez.

[Blue_Adept]

58. Warm bodies that vote against party interests. Yeah, that's what we needed.

Again, anti-abortion, anti-lgbt. Bright blue district. Why are we compromising?

[Demsrule86]

60. If we don't have a majority than we bring nothing to the floor....yeah that is what we need...he can

vote against us...who cares but he helps us get a majority and we need a majority to do anything whatsoever. I don't like the guy...if he is the best we can do...I say any Dem is better than any Pug if only for a majority.

[Blue_Adept]

63. But that's the whole freaking intent of a primary

He may not be the best we can do. We may be able to do better. But people like yourself are arguing against even trying in a deep blue district.

[Demsrule86]

74. I find primaries overrated...go after GOP seats and increase the majority in the house...stop

playing musical chairs with Democratic seats...we don't have a good majority in the house...doubt the Speaker could even get votes for impeachment...waste of money and time. When you are in power, you can afford to mess around with Democratic seats...but I rarely see any good come from this sort of thing.

[susanr516]

84. The Democratic primary is the general election

for all practical purposes in the TX-28 District. The Republicans basically support the most conservative Democrat because it's best they can get there. Cuellar needs to go and the only way to do that is in the primary.

[Amimnoch]

18. I don't think so in this case.

The 28th is pretty solid and reliably "blue". I do think these are good areas to expand our Liberal/progressive idealism.

Now, if it was someone challenging Lizzie Fletcher in my district (the 7th), which is Democratic Party held for the first time in my life, and since the 1960's when George HW Bush was elected, and the same thing happened I've be furious enough to chew nails.

[Blue_Adept]

32. Again, if you think a district that voted 84% dem the last time is suddenly going to go republican

Because Cuellar isn't there, I've got some fantastic bridges to sell you at dirt cheap prices.

[crazytown]

38. Check your facts George.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=270799
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=270847

Party turncoats, who participate in campaign fundraising, for Republican incumbents, in winnable seats, do not not deserve your support.

[Demsrule86]

16. Yeah that is what they said in 2010 and (house) and 2012 (Senate) and it took us 10 years to win

back the house and we still haven't got the Senate...and we may not. Without a big tent with blue dogs given how our elections work...we will not maintain the house or win the Senate.

[Amimnoch]

23. I don't think this particular race is quite the same.

The 28th is pretty solid and reliably "blue". I do think these are good areas to expand our Liberal/progressive idealism. Laredo has been even more reliably Democratic Party supporting than Austin!

Now, if it was someone challenging Lizzie Fletcher in my district (the 7th), which is Democratic Party held for the first time in my life, and since the 1960's when George HW Bush was elected, and the same thing happened I'd be hot enough to fry an egg on my fury furrowed eyebrows.

[Demsrule86]

45. They vote for this guy...if he was out of step why no primary before? I think it is foolish and risk

not worth taking. Texas isn't Massachusetts.

[Blue_Adept]

46. Why keep voting in anti-abortion dems?

And he's anti-lgbtq?

Why are you so intent on making sure he stays?

Why should Texas dems continue to vote for somebody that votes against their interests?

Cuellar is anti-LGBTQ rights (he was both anti-gay marriage and in 2014, even against a rule prohibiting against employers discriminating against queer employees), anti-abortion rights, takes tons of cash from private prison companies, and fundraises for Republican colleagues.

Those are democrats we can do without.

Here’s a fun twist: This is a bit of a personal contest, as Cisneros interned for Cuellar back in 2014. She did not enjoy the experience. Via Laredo Times:

"I saw firsthand how he was silent on certain issues," she said. "He took the people of South Texas for granted. It was a very insightful experience. And that's when I (thought), 'You know what, that's going to be me one day running for Congress. I'm going to listen to the issues that South Texans want to be addressed. I'm going to listen to the people, and I'm going to be a fierce advocate for them.'"

Cisneros grew up in the Sal Si Puedes neighborhood in central Laredo. Her father owned his own trucking company but had to close his business when the trade industry took a turn, she explains in her campaign video. He is now a truck driver.

Cisneros graduated first in her class at Early College High School in 2011, studied government and Latin American studies at the University of Texas at Austin, and then earned her law degree from the University of Texas Law School, specializing in immigration law. While in law school, she worked with UT faculty to create the Women in Immigration Detention Assistance Project with the goal to help asylum seekers at the Hutto Detention Center in Tyler, Texas.

In the process of obtaining her law degree, Cisneros said she kept feeling that even presenting the best case possible wouldn't be enough if the laws aren't written to protect the rights and interests of everyday Americans.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/6/13/1864482/-Finally-Awful-Democrat-Rep-Henry-Cuellar-is-getting-primaried-by-a-young-brilliant-lawyer

[Demsrule86]

50. Realistically, in some states that is the best we can do...we don't have majorities in states houses

or in the Senate...and we won't if we are not big tent.

[Blue_Adept]

57. And in a district like this in Texas where we don't have to do that, we don't.

This isn't even a purple district in a state that's becoming increasing purple and close to turning blue.

This is a big blue district.

And you don't compromise on abortion and lgbt rights. Plain and simple.

[Demsrule86]

79. What makes you think this is a progressive district? I see no data supporting this assumption.

[TexasTowelie]

86. This is not a progressive district.

I was raised in the adjacent congressional district and I'm well aware of the voting trends for that particular district. The two biggest drivers in that district are oil/gas exploration and trade with Mexico. The educational institutions in that district (e.g. Texas A&M International) are not progressive bastions so there is not much there to advance progressive candidates. The majority of the population is Roman Catholic so the church's stance on LGBT issues and abortion are carried into the electorate. Being largely Hispanic also means that cultural biases against females (particularly young females) are present.

The Cuellar family is also influential in Laredo with other members of the family also holding political office. Cuellar even has a school named after him. Short of Cuellar being convicted of a crime, I do not see him losing a primary election.

[Demsrule86]

10. I find this wrong. Do not primary red state Democrats...it risks the seat...makes me question Sen.

Warren's judgement if this is true. Surely targeting a Republican seat would be a better thing to do.

[George II]

22. I'm still looking for "official" word of this endorsement. All I've found is....

...the Texas Tribune piece and now DOZENS of tweets by Justice Democrats.

It hasn't even been posted on Warren's campaign website.

[Demsrule86]

44. That is a very good point...may not be true...hope not.

[JonLP24]

59. Warren

Link to tweet

[melman]

66. Bazinga!

[George II]

72. ....

[George II]

71. Thanks. Wonder why it took so long since Justice Democrats started tweeting this mid-morning.

[Celerity]

33. it is a safe Democratic seat, regardless of TX overall being red and Cuellar is bad news on so many

issues, plus endorses and fundraises for Rethugs. I draw the line at him and Lipinski in IL-3, sorry. Both are safe Dem seats and many of their views are abhorrent and against the foundational platform of our Party. Cisneros is a lock if she beats Cuellar in the primary.

I will never advocate primarying a centrist (and it is a stretch to call Cuellar a centrist, he is right wing on multiple issues, including LGBTQ rights, guns, abortion, etc) in a toss-up or red district, but those 2 gotta go go go as they are in safe Dem districts.

Cuellar literally would deny my marriage (I am a married lesbian) and would outlaw abortion, and that is just for starters. We do not need him to win that seat. His views are offensive and are NOT necessary to win that seat.

Surely his endorsement and fundraising for a Rethug is enough to be against him anyway.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287270714#post25

[Demsrule86]

43. Texas is a red state...I doubt very much the seat is safe. He gets elected

doesn't he? I don't like his views but he is a warm body and we won't do better in Texas...we will get a pug.

[Blue_Adept]

47. The seat is D+9. Come on. That's like D+20 anywhere outside of Texas.

[Demsrule86]

48. D+9 with this candidate...there are conservative Dems in red states

[Celerity]

54. You obviously do not understand districting, even red states

often have safe Blue districts. That district is safe blue.

Cuellar is as close to a Rethug as you can get and still be a Dem. Cisneros needs to take him out. Many of his core beliefs are repugnant to human rights and our party's platform.

[Demsrule86]

62. I understand it just fine...You don't understand that a +9 might not survive if we get a candidate

that doesn't fit the district...and the GOP is smart enough to put up a moderate GOP candidate.

[Celerity]

67. 'GOP is smart enough to put up a moderate GOP candidate'

also Cisneros is hardly some wild-eyed radical

unless you count actually believing in OUR PLATFORM as being wild-eyed

you know, the parts Cuellar violates with impunity

the women's right/pro choice part

the pro-immigrant rights part

the anti-homophobe parts aka LGBTQ rights part

the SUPPORT DEMOCRATS part


In the U.S. House, Democrat Henry Cuellar raises eyebrows by fundraising for Republican John Carter

Cuellar, who has served in the U.S. House since 2005, has long had a reputation as one of the chamber's most conservative Democrats. But Democratic leaders are hopeful MJ Hegar's bid against Carter gains traction.

https://www.texastribune.org/2018/09/11/democrat-henry-cuellar-fundraising-republican-john-carter/

[Blue_Adept]

69. This is the republican opponent so far: Sandra Whitten

"Whitten is a mother of four who hails from Virginia, but she has lived in Laredo for the past 10 years. On her website, she describes herself as a constitutional conservative, Christian, opposer of abortion and supporter of strong borders, law enforcement and limited government."

"Whitten said she actually doesn't disagree with a lot of what Cuellar has done over the course of his career in Congress. He is pro-life and supports the Second Amendment, for example."

https://www.lmtonline.com/local/article/Republican-challenger-emerges-for-Cuellar-s-seat-14028429.php

[Celerity]

70. Cisneros would crush Whitten (who hasn't even lived in TX for 10 years) in the general nt

real moderate she is

NOT

Louie Gohmert and Sandra



Steve King Has a Friend in Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert

The East Texas tea partier came to the defense of white nationalist Steve King, underscoring the Iowa congressman’s deep ties with Lone Star conservatives.

https://www.texasobserver.org/steve-king-has-a-friend-in-texas-congressman-louie-gohmert/


https://sandrafortexas.com/about

I'm a strong woman with strong beliefs. I believe that our country was founded on strong biblical principals

[Demsrule86]

73. A Democrat is always better, and if we keep the seat...fine. But I think it is a foolish risk this

year.

[Celerity]

75. Profoundly disagree, if you cannot draw the line at Cuellar and Lipinski, both with atrocious views

and records and in safe Dem districts, you will never draw the line.

I choose to draw it. Cuellar is the worst Democrat in the House. His views and votes and actions on so many issues are repugnant. I so hope Cisneros takes him out. She will win that district in a cakewalk in the general. Rethug opponent Whitten is a RWNJ.

[Demsrule86]

78. Lipinski's disrict is not progressive...if you run one, the pugs could take the seat.

Now...in Texas...there is a reason why the current house member keeps winning if there was a real appetite for something different, he would have been replaced...we could lose the seat.

[Celerity]

82. False, Lipinski's seat, IL-3 is a completely safe Blue seat, and Newman is NOT some radical LW'er

who is too prog from that area. IL-3 has been held by a Rethug ONCE, for just 2 years (January 3, 1973 –January 3, 1975, the result of Nixon's 1972 crushing victory) since the 1950's. It is a completely safe Blue seat. ZERO chance Newman loses to a Rethug if she takes out Lipinski.


The only reason Newman

(who had almost universal support across the board, from Emily's List, from National Organization for Women to Indivisible, from Our Revolution to Planned Parenthood, from Illinois Federation of Teachers to the SEIU, from Gloria Steinem to NARAL, from to MoveOn.org, from the Human Rights Campaign to the Daily Kos, from LPAC to a bunch of sitting congresspeople)

lost last time was because around 1 million dollars came flooding in at the end from the detestable Lieberman-affiliated No Labels group and other centre right to RW groups (many of them supported with Republican and RW money as shown below) that hammered and smeared Newman with a shit tonne of adverts and direct mailings, including calling her a holocaust denier, etc.

Lipinski, after Cuellar, is one of the worst Democrats in Congress, he is pro-life, anti-immigrant (voted against the Dream Act and for Republican border security bills), was anti Obamacare, anti LGBTQ (voted for DOMA and is still openly against gay marriage), anti Obama himself (he refused to endorse him) anti stem cell research, etc etc.


Newman: My family will never forgive Lipinski

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/25/lipinski-newman-illinois-chicago-484736

snip

Newman blamed machine elements in Lipinski’s campaign as the forces behind disparaging text messages — including on St. Patrick’s Day, a major Chicago holiday when early voting was underway — that hurt her campaign among 3rd Congressional District voters.

While Lipinski is known for his mild-mannered demeanor and low-key political style, the 11th-hour texts accused Newman of running an abortion clinic, of wanting to put the Little Sisters of the Poor out of business and of being a Holocaust denier, she said.

“They did do all of those things,” Newman said, pinning the blame on Lipinski’s camp. “Just to be clear, my husband is Jewish, two of my family members are nuns, and my family volunteered for Little Sisters of the Poor, including my mother. My mother was so outraged they made that comment about Little Sisters of the Poor, she literally got sick one night. As far as my family is concerned, they’ll never forgive that comment that Mr. Lipinski put forth on me.”

Unofficial vote totals from Tuesday’s primary show the Lipinski family’s historic dominance has diminished. In past cycles, Dan Lipinski, who claimed the seat after his father’s longtime service, easily won Chicago precincts, with 70 percent or even 90 percent of the vote. But the latest Chicago ward and suburban township breakdowns signal that the tide is turning, with Newman claiming nearly half of the vote totals in what were once machine strongholds. Those results raise questions about Lipinski’s vulnerability in a presidential-year race featuring higher turnout.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Bipartisan ‘No Labels’ group’s super PAC network revealed: mega Chicago donors

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2018/3/12/18316470/bipartisan-no-labels-group-s-super-pac-network-revealed-mega-chicago-donors

With a boost from Chicago-area mega donors, including White Sox and Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, No Labels, a group advocating bipartisanship in Congress, has created a network of super PACs to influence the 2018 elections — but doesn’t want its fingerprints on the money.

One of the super PACs, United for Progress Inc., has spent $740,334 as of Sunday to bolster Rep. Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., in his March 20 Illinois Democratic primary battle with Marie Newman in the 3rd Congressional District. The names of the super PACS don’t link them to No Labels. A Sun-Times investigation determined super PACS related to No Labels include: United for Progress Inc.; Citizens for a Strong America Inc.; United Together; Govern or Go Home; and Forward, Not Back.

The Sun-Times inquiry included interviews with donors or their representatives and an examination of documents filed with the Federal Election Commission. United for Progress, Inc., is playing political hardball, attacking Newman in the commercials and direct mail pieces it paid for. Lipinski is part of a No Labels offshoot, the congressional “Problem Solvers Caucus.”

snip

THE ILLINOIS CONNECTIONS: Last year, a No Labels leader, former Sen. Joe Lieberman, was a draw at a meeting at the Chicago Club, 81 E. Van Buren. Lieberman was the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee who became an Independent senator from Connecticut.

snip



No Labels funds dishonest attacks against Marie Newman to boost Blue Dog Dan Lipinski

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/3/13/1748758/-Centrist-group-No-Labels-funds-dishonest-attacks-against-Marie-Newman-to-back-Blue-Dog-Dan-Lipinski

Well what do you know: It turns out the mysterious super PAC called United for Progress, which has spent at least $740,000 to help conservative Democratic Rep. Dan Lipinski in his primary against progressive challenger Marie Newman, received much of its funding from the aggressively centrist group No Labels and billionaire mega-donor Jerry Reinsdorf, who is chairman of both the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Bulls. No Labels promotes the same sort of naive #bothsides mentality that plagues the world of cable news punditry, and even went so far as to moronically label Donald Trump a "problem solver" during his presidential campaign.

While support from No Labels itself should be a mark of shame for any Democrat running in a safely blue district like this one, the mailer they've been funding is even more disgraceful. It takes the guise of an ominous fake-but-official-looking letter from "Illinois Restaurant Enforcement" that claims the restaurant Newman once owned was guilty of health code violations, then proceeds to outright lie about the economic impact of the single-payer healthcare plan Newman supports.



One would expect to see Republicans launch these sorts of dishonest attacks against a progressive challenger, not those who support a nominal Democratic incumbent. And it's one more reason why Democrats in this 55-40 Clinton district can do a whole lot better than Dan Lipinski.

snip




Delusional Group Declares Donald Trump a ‘Problem Solver’

The only problem Trump could solve is that we don’t have a dumb enough president

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/delusional-group-declares-donald-trump-a-problem-solver-58107/

Here are some labels that apply to Donald Trump:

–Racist
–Egomaniac
–Bloviator
–Delusional
–Liar
–Asshole

On Monday, the nonpartisan group No Labels gave him a new, and hilarious, one: problem solver.

Six presidential candidates – Democrat Martin O’Malley and Republicans Ben Carson, Chris Christie, John Kasich, Rand Paul and Trump – signed the organization’s Problem Solver Promise, officially making them No Labels Problem Solvers. The group says it will bestow the label on any candidate who signs its meaningless pledge.

No Labels declined to make an exception for Trump – the candidate who has proposed, among many other things, building a giant border wall, deporting 11 million people, banning Muslims from entering the country and shutting down mosques. In just the last two days, he’s come out in favor of direct head-to-head collisions in the NFL and elephant torture.

snip



‘Holocaust Denier’ Smear Hits Tight Chicago Area Congressional Primary

https://forward.com/fast-forward/396658/holocaust-denier-smear-hits-tight-chicago-area-congressional-primary/

A heated Democratic congressional primary race in suburban Chicago has reached a new low, as accusations of Holocaust denial are falsely hurled at progressive challenger Marie Newman.

Newman, who is seeking to unseat the incumbent Dan Lipinski as the Democratic candidate for Illinois’ 3rd congressional district, has staked a liberal position, hoping it would convince Democrats to chose her way over that of Lipinski, a “blue dog” Democrat known for his more conservative views.

In recent days, Newman claimed, voters have been receiving text messages from activists with the Washington-based No Labels group, trying to convince voters not to support her. In one instance, a voter receiving the text message informed the sender that he has already decided to vote for Newman, not Lipinski. “His opponent is a Holocaust denier among other things,” the Lipinski supporter texted back. In a second exchange, the voter was told again about Newman: “Did you know she’s a Holocaust denier.”

Newman accused Lipinski of “playing politics with a tragedy in human history that cost the lives of millions—and which deeply affects those of Jewish heritage, including my husband and his family.” Lipinski is considered one of the few endangered Democratic incumbents in the nation due to the tight primary. The winner should easily beat a Republican challenger in the district that voted for Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump by a healthy 16% margin.

snip


Group Tied To Lipinski Says Marie Newman Is 'A Holocaust Denier'

IL-3 Democratic challenger Marie Newman claims group tied to Congressman Dan Lipinski is texting voters saying she's a 'Holocaust denier.'

https://patch.com/illinois/oaklawn/group-tied-lipinski-claims-she-s-holocaust-denier


LA GRANGE, IL -- Challenger Marie Newman is calling out Congressman Dan Lipinski for running a "dishonest machine-style campaign" after some of her supporters complained of receiving text messages stating that Newman is a "Holocaust denier." Newman and Lipinski are said to be in a statistical dead heat in the contentious Democratic primary in Illinois's 3rd Congressional District. Supporters said they began receiving the text messages this past weekend.

A woman who identifies herself as "Leslie Benjamini" from the Washington, D.C.-based No Labels group -- a political centrist organization comprised of Republicans, Democrats and Independents who aim to combat partisan dysfunction in politics by focusing on bipartisan problem solving -- texted a voter asking him if he planned to vote for Dan Lipinski in the March 20 Democratic primary. When the the receiver stated he is voting for Newman, Benjamini states that Lipinski's opponent is a Holocaust denier. Benjamini tells the receiver to look up "No Labels, a new group that is trying to get government working again." The message goes on to state that Lipinski is a "believer in this group."

"His opponent is a Holocaust denier among other things," the text goes on to say. "Please educate yourself before you vote. All I ask."

Lipinski does have an opponent who is a Holocaust denier who is running as the lone candidate in the Republican primary in Illinois' 3rd District, avowed neo-Nazi Art Jones of Lyons. In the second message sent to the Newman supporter, Benjamini mistakes the receiver's phone number for his mother's.

"For the second time I am NOT [NAME] … she is my mother and she hosted a fundraiser for Marie Newman. And for the record, I voted for her early Saturday [March 10]." "Thanks for voting," Benjamini texts back. "Did you know she's a Holocaust denier."

The No Labels group based in Washington, D.C., was founded in 2010. The group strives to "create a vibrant New Center that supports leaders who put country before party." No Labels inspired the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group of congressional members that includes Lipinski. A Chicago Sun-Times investigation has also tied No Labels to such Super PACS as United for Progress Inc. As of late, United for Progress Inc. has been sent out a flurry of political hit pieces attacking Newman's progressive agenda, as well as TV and radio commercials

An angry Newman demanded an apology from Lipinski, accusing the congressman of running "dishonest machine campaign."


snip





‘No Labels’ Needs A Warning Label

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/opinion-no-labels-mark-pocan_n_5c06b110e4b0cd916fb0b042

I was duped.

When I was elected to Congress in 2012, I attended the Bipartisan Program for Newly Elected Members of Congress at Harvard University. I was so excited to be a member of a branch of government for the most awesome country on the planet. At the program, one of the presentations was from a group named No Labels. The organization put forward a proposal for governing that meant working across the aisle to solve problems and stopping the gridlock in Washington. I was excited! While I was a strong progressive in the Wisconsin Legislature, that was my governing approach. By working with people who do not always agree with you, you find out what you have in common and you can get good things done.

snip

However, things quickly went south. I attended a few meetings at the outset, but the rhetoric wasn’t about finding ways to get things done and breaking gridlock ― rather it was more about finding more centrist, more corporate and more special interest-focused things to do. Soon thereafter, No Labels became involved in elections with a closely contested U.S. Senate race in Colorado, backing Republican Cory Gardner over Democrat Mark Udall. That didn’t seem right. A group that wasn’t supposed to pick labels was doing exactly that: picking a label. When asked to join the Problem Solvers Caucus, members were never told that this would be part of the program.

snip

I drifted away from the organization, as apparently did most people who thought it was focused on trying to break through the gridlock in Washington. No Labels’ membership has dwindled steadily since 2015. Fast-forward to the past few weeks, when No Labels’ Problem Solvers Caucus tried to threaten Nancy Pelosi’s speakership. While No Labels was originally advertised as a group committed to getting things done and breaking gridlock, it now seems more focused on stopping Pelosi and providing a fast track for special interests and lobbyists.

Worse, this past week I’ve read a few articles regarding what No Labels has been up to in the last couple of years. First, the organization spent almost twice as much helping re-elect Republicans as it spent helping Democrats. Second, reporters reviewed email correspondence that showed No Labels contemplating a plan to attack Pelosi and use her leadership as a wedge to divide congressional Democrats. And third, it’s clear that No Labels never had any meaningful ultimatums or demands on rules for leadership during eight years of a Republican-led House, or over the last four years of a Republican-led Senate. No Labels only has challenges for Democratic leadership in the House, specifically, for our next speaker, Nancy Pelosi.

That sure seems like a label to me. Look, I get it. No Labels is slick, and I got duped. But no other current or newly elected member of Congress should fall for its shtick. No Labels is a centrist, corporate organization working against Democrats with dark, anonymous money to advance power for special interests. Period.

snip

[susanr516]

88. Cuellar won with 84.4% of the vote in 2018

He didn't even draw a Republican opponent. In an off-year. In Texas. There has NEVER been a Republican elected in the TX-28. Ever.

I've lived in south Texas for 40 years. We can do way better than this in the 28th.

[TexasTowelie]

87. Do you live in Cuellar's district?

If you don't, then all the line-drawing that you are doing is pointless and meaningless. I was raised about 100 miles away from Laredo and I don't think that Cisneros has a chance. The voters are not going to be willing to trade Cuellar's longevity and ability to bring home the bacon with a young female candidate in an overwhelmingly Hispanic district that still has "traditional" ideas about gender.

[Celerity]

90. I am going to contribute to Cisneros's campaign and so hope she takes out Cuellar

I will do the same with Marie Newman versus Lipinski.

Those 2 need to go. I do not have to live in their districts to be effected by their actions, views, and votes. They give succour to anti-LGBTQ, anti-immigrant, and anti-choice elements within the Party. Cuellar also actively works against Democrats, via fundraising and campaigning for a Rethug.

[TexasTowelie]

92. You are welcome to contribute to whomever you wish (as long as it's legal).

I don't see the voters in that district voting against Cuellar though. There are other races that deserve campaign funds more than this race. Warren should have stayed out of the race and it will inevitably cost her votes in the Texas primary.

[Celerity]

93. the type of voter who would support Cuellar over Cisneros was never going to vote for Warren anyway

And Cuellar's ties to the despicable private prison GEO Group (who are now involved with running the brutally anti-human immigrant for-profit detention centres and are also now tied to Rump via a potential corruption scandal) is going to be a big issue in a majority Hispanic district, especially with Trump now in charge and making this a HUGE issue.

Private Prison Campaign Cash Still Welcomed by Some Democrats in the Trump Era

https://rewire.news/article/2018/09/14/private-prison-campaign-cash-still-welcomed-by-some-democrats-in-the-trump-era/

No congressional Democrat has received more financial backing from private prisons than Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), who has taken $88,990 from GEO Group and CoreCivic America since 2012, according to Open Secrets. Cuellar, who has voted in line with the president 68.9 percent of the time, has received more campaign cash from GEO Group in 2018 than any congressional lawmaker but Rep. John Culberson (R-TX). Almost all of Cuellar’s private prison campaign cash over the past six years has come from GEO Group, which has a history of in-custody deaths and other abuses. Cuellar’s office didn’t answer questions submitted by Rewire.News about the Democrat’s acceptance of private prison campaign money.

snip


Cuellar was the only Democrat to vote for a House bill that would have made it easier to deport unaccompanied minors from Central America.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Cuellar-From-migrant-family-to-growing-clout-in-5801927.php

“We have to send a signal,” he said.


Cuellar also is by far the biggest Democratic (and close to the top overall) recipient of the GEO Group, the for-profit prison firm with massive Rump and Rethug ties who are profiteering now off running those horrid immigrant detention camps. Almost ALL the rest of the top people were Rethugs.



"GEO GROUP GAVE GENEROUSLY TO TRUMP" to run lucrative detention centers

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212276389



GEO Group's top recipients (All of Congress)

https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.php?id=D000022003&type=P&sort=A&cycle=2018





https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.php?id=D000022003&type=P&sort=A&cycle=2016





https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.php?id=D000022003&type=P&sort=A&cycle=2014

[TexasTowelie]

94. I doubt that any of the things you mentioned will make a difference to the voters in that district.

The voters in that district are not that politically astute and compared to the rest of the state are woefully uneducated. As a matter of fact, a lot of the jobs in that district benefit from the GEO Group having prisons and detention centers in that district. When it comes down to choosing between ideology and a paycheck, you can bet that those voters prefer to earn a paycheck.

This is not the same as AOC's district. Justice Democrats made a mistake by endorsing Cisneros. Warren made a mistake endorsing Cisneros. Both will be viewed as outsiders in the district and both will lose. I'm as certain about that as I am that I still can't roll an "r" when I attempt to speak Spanish. I'll take good old country boy intuition over a bunch of charts and statistics every time in regards to that particular race.

[Celerity]

95. we are just going to have to fundamentally disagree, and unlike you I do NOT hold the voters

there in the condescending contempt you just did.

The voters in that district are not that politically astute and compared to the rest of the state are woefully uneducated.

Also, you are straight strawmanning, as I NEVER compared that district to AOC's, in fact I never brought up AOC at all. I also do not care if JD endorses Cisneros. She is an actual Democrat, not some anti-LGBTQ, anti-choice throwback who goes around supporting Rethugs like Cuellar does. I judge people and candidates on a case by case basis, and do not get auto-triggered simply because JD is mentioned.

[TexasTowelie]

96. If you were raised in that part of Texas like I was, then you would realize that my statement is

based upon observations over the past 40 years and is accurate. There are no liberal arts colleges in the region. The educational level in that part of the state lags behind other regions. A significant proportion of the voters in that district will vote for the candidate that their employer tells them to vote for.

Cisneros was endorsed by Justice Democrats at the beginning of her campaign so I believe that is important to indicate that is her support base. The Green New Deal isn't very important to people that won't walk ten feet to throw an aluminum can in the trash or do little else to benefit the environment. For those that work in the oil/gas exploration industry (this is near the Eagle Ford shale development), they consider the Green New Deal to be a threat to their livelihoods.

I don't have much money to contribute to any candidates, but I view that race as having little impact from a nationwide perspective. There will be other races that will be more important and that are more likely to get a donation from me. I expect Cuellar will win the primary by at least 15 percentage points and be reelected in the general election.

[Gothmog]

20. This will hurt Warren in Texas

[crazytown]

35. I don't have time for Dems

who participate in campaign fundraisers for sitting Republicans.

MJ Hegar and other Democrats miffed at Rep. Henry Cuellar for helping her GOP opponent, Rep. John Carter

Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Laredo Democrat, had breakfast on Tuesday with an embattled Republican colleague, Rep. John Carter.

But this wasn't just a friendly bipartisan chat over huevos or chorizo at San Antonio's Mi Tierra Cafe.

This was a campaign fundraiser for Carter, who is badly in need of cash as he fights for political survival against former Air Force combat pilot MJ Hegar. Ticket prices ranged to $2,700 and Cuellar didn't just attend. He also encouraged others to donate.

(snip) Although I was not a host of the event, I was honored to attend as I typically do for colleagues who visit my district. Judge Carter is a dear friend and trusted colleague with whom I work on Appropriations. He is knowledgeable and supportive of issues important to South Texas. In today's climate, more than ever, friendship is more powerful than partisanship," Cuellar said in a statement provided by his campaign.

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2018/09/13/mj-hegar-and-other-democrats-miffed-at-rep-henry-cuellar-for-helping-her-gop-opponent-rep-john-carter/

MJ Hegar is a solid Dem, endorsed by the Blue Dog Coalition .

"friendship is more powerful than partisanship"? Not in my book. Party loyalty comes first.

[Blue_Adept]

36. Exactly!

Lots pearl clutching coming from people that don't know what Cuellar is like and just fearing that it'll encourage their own favorite rip to get primaried.

[Celerity]

39. +10000

[TexasTowelie]

89. I agree.

Those not acquainted with south Texas are not familiar with the cultural bias against female candidates in Hispanic communities. Cuellar may be a conservative, but his votes are also consistent with the beliefs of his constituents.

[Celerity]

25. so glad to see this, highest Dem Trump score in the House last term, anti LGBTQ, pro-life, anti-

immigrant, pro NRA, has endorsed and fundraised for Republicans, etc. He was higher in his Trump score (voted almsot 70% of the time with Rump) than multiple Republicans. He and Dan Lipinski are the main 2 House Dems in safe Dem seats I so want to see ousted in the primaries.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/house/

115th Congress






He is Pro-Life (votes that way), voted to ban abortion from all federal healthcare, voted to restrict minors going to an out of state abortion clinic, etc.

http://www.ontheissues.org/TX/Henry_Cuellar_Abortion.htm

http://time.com/4782994/democrats-anti-abortion-men-congress/


Rate A- by the NRA

https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/how-the-nra-grades-the-34-members-of-texass-congressional-delegation/

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D, Laredo.
NRA rating: A-
NRA campaign contribution: $2,000


Raised money for a Republican

In the U.S. House, Democrat Henry Cuellar raises eyebrows by fundraising for Republican John Carter

https://www.texastribune.org/2018/09/11/democrat-henry-cuellar-fundraising-republican-john-carter/



Private Prison Campaign Cash Still Welcomed by Some Democrats in the Trump Era

https://rewire.news/article/2018/09/14/private-prison-campaign-cash-still-welcomed-by-some-democrats-in-the-trump-era/

No congressional Democrat has received more financial backing from private prisons than Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), who has taken $88,990 from GEO Group and CoreCivic America since 2012, according to Open Secrets. Cuellar, who has voted in line with the president 68.9 percent of the time, has received more campaign cash from GEO Group in 2018 than any congressional lawmaker but Rep. John Culberson (R-TX). Almost all of Cuellar’s private prison campaign cash over the past six years has come from GEO Group, which has a history of in-custody deaths and other abuses. Cuellar’s office didn’t answer questions submitted by Rewire.News about the Democrat’s acceptance of private prison campaign money.


He was the only Democrat to vote for a House bill that would have made it easier to deport unaccompanied minors from Central America.

https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Cuellar-From-migrant-family-to-growing-clout-in-5801927.php

“We have to send a signal,” he said.


Rated as low as 25% on LGBTQ Issues by the Human Rights Campaign in some years

https://www.hrc.org/resources/congressional-scorecard

Was strongly against same-sex marriage
http://www.qsanantonio.com/cuellar-gallego.html


Has an anti-LGBTQ voting record

https://www.washingtonblade.com/2014/04/02/meet-8-house-dems-dont-co-sponsor-enda/



He is the 2nd most conservative Democrat in the House, now that Sinema was elected to the Senate from Arizona.

GovTrack

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/report-cards/2017/party-house-democrat/ideology

2017 Report Cards
House Democrats / Ideology Score

These special year-end statistics dissect the legislative records of Members of Congress during the 2017 legislative year (Jan 3, 2017-Dec 31, 2017), looking at Members who served at the end of that period. This page was last updated on Jan 6, 2018.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS
most conservative

#1 0.71 Rep. Collin Peterson [D-MN7]
#2 0.64 Sen. Kyrsten Sinema [D-AZ] now US Senator
#3 0.57 Rep. Henry Cuellar [D-TX28]
#4 0.54 Rep. Ron Kind [D-WI3]
#5 0.53 Rep. Josh Gottheimer [D-NJ5]
#6 0.53 Rep. Jim Costa [D-CA16]
#7 0.50 Rep. Kurt Schrader [D-OR5]
#8 0.47 Rep. Tom O’Halleran [D-AZ1]
#9 0.47 Rep. Vicente Gonzalez [D-TX15]
#10 0.45 Rep. John Delaney [D-MD6, 2013-2018]
#11 0.45 Rep. Gene Green [D-TX29, 1993-2018]
#12 0.45 Rep. Filemon Vela [D-TX34]
#13 0.44 Rep. Timothy Walz [D-MN1, 2007-2018]
#14 0.44 Rep. Cheri Bustos [D-IL17] <<< have seen her mentioned as a possible future Speaker of the House
#15 0.44 Rep. A. Dutch Ruppersberger [D-MD2]
#16 0.44 Rep. Bradley Schneider [D-IL10]
#17 0.44 Rep. Daniel Lipinski [D-IL3]
#18 0.44 Rep. Stephanie Murphy [D-FL7]
#19 0.44 Rep. David Loebsack [D-IA2]
#20 0.44 Rep. Sanford Bishop [D-GA2]




Cuellar also is by far the biggest Democratic (and close to the top overall) recipient of the GEO Group, the for-profit prison firm with massive Rump and Rethug ties who are profiteering now off running those horrid immigrant detention camps. Almost ALL the rest of the top people were Rethugs.

"GEO GROUP GAVE GENEROUSLY TO TRUMP" to run lucrative detention centers

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212276389


GEO Group's top recipients (All of Congress)

https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.php?id=D000022003&type=P&sort=A&cycle=2018





https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.php?id=D000022003&type=P&sort=A&cycle=2016





https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/toprecips.php?id=D000022003&type=P&sort=A&cycle=2014





Its a safe Democratic district

Happy to see him primaried. His views (and multiple votes) are offensive and out of touch with our party.

[vsrazdem]

30. So, he's basically a Republican charading as a Democrat.

[Celerity]

31. as close as one can get. IF it was not a safe Dem seat, I would not advocate this, but

Jessica Cisneros will be a lock if she beats Cuellar in the primary. Same for Lipinski if Marie Newman beats him in the IL-3 primary.

I am sorry but I draw a line at those two. If both go down, we still hold the seats.

You will never see me advocate primarying centrists in a toss up or red district. Cuellar's views on people like me (I am a married lesbian) are troglodytic. Same for his support from the NRA, his virulent pro-life stance, immigration, and his fundraising and campaigning for Rethugs, etc. Same for Lipinski (minus the fundraising for Rethugs.)

[Celerity]

97. Yet more reasons to support Cisneros, Cuellar's horrid on climate change, fossil fuels, & the NRA

Their Districts Are at Risk. But They Still Vote ‘No’ on Climate Action
High waters and toxic blooms haven’t scared these lawmakers

https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/lawmakers-climate-action-threat-districts

snip



snip



snip



snip







Texas' Climate Change Deniers
Meet Texas' climate change deniers.

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/vvazdx/texas-climate-change-deniers

snip

Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28)
Poor climate change voting record

Voted in support of S.J. Res. 24, a "resolution of disapproval" under the Congressional Review Act that would nullify the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan—the first nation-wide limit on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, and key climate change policy.

[League of Conservation Voters]

Call him: [phone] | Email him

snip


and the Rethug he fundraised and campaigned for against MJ Hegar (who is now running against Cornyn for Senate)


Rep. John Carter (R-TX-31)
Climate change denier

"Global warming is simply a chicken-little scheme to use mass media and government propaganda to convince the world that destruction of individual liberties and national sovereignty is necessary to save mankind, and that the unwashed masses would destroy themselves without the enlightened global dictatorship of these frauds.

We do face a global threat. But it is not global warming, it is global tyranny from this crowd of liars – the Warmers."

http://web.archive.org/web/20121021131931/http://carter.house.gov/op-eds/the-return-of-the-warmers/

Call him: [phone] | Email him



snip


Big Oil’s favorite Democrat? Texas lawmaker’s votes reflect industry interests

https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article150650492.html

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, whose southern Texas congressional district sprawls across one of the nation’s largest potential sources of oil and natural gas, may be Big Oil’s favorite Democrat.

Four times this year, Cuellar has voted in favor of bills that environmental groups say would benefit the oil and gas industry while weakening regulations.

He also is the top Democratic recipient in Congress of oil and gas campaign contributions over the 2015-16 campaign cycle, receiving $165,305, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks money in politics. Since he assumed office more than a decade ago, he’s received over triple the amount of money from the oil and gas industry that his fellow Texas Democrats in the House of Representatives have, on average.

Since 2006, in fact, the campaign donations Cuellar has received from the oil and gas industry inversely track his environmental voting record, according to a McClatchy analysis of his votes and his donations. Now, in the first few months of the Trump administration, Cuellar could become a key vote from the other side of the aisle for the GOP’s energy agenda.

snip



snip



snip


Dirty Denier$ Day 16: Congressman Henry Cuellar

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dirty-denier-day-16-congr_b_5701095

100% ... 70% ... 51% ... 49% ... 29% ... That’s the sound of Rep. Henry Cuellar’s (D-TX) national score from the League of Conservation Voters plummeting over the last five years. Indeed, after scoring a perfect 100 percent in 2009, Rep. Cuellar scored just 29 percent in 2013.

That 29 percent score includes votes to block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safeguards designed to protect public health and the environment from toxic coal ash and to stop the Department of the Interior from reducing methane emissions from oil and gas drilling operations on public lands. (Methane is a super pollutant with an impact on climate 20 times greater than carbon dioxide.)

On his official House website, Rep. Cuellar practically boasts about his 2014 vote to prohibit the EPA from taking ANY action or consideration of carbon pollution to address climate change, and to exclude carbon pollution from the definition of air pollutants. Yet back in 2009, Cuellar voted yes on the House bill to take action on climate change.

We did a little digging and found an interesting pattern. It turns out that while Rep. Cuellar’s pro-environment votes went way, way down, his contributions from the oil & gas industry went up — way, way up.

In 2006, Cuellar took in $52,100 from Big Oil, which was the 6th largest industry contributing to him. In 2008, the industry rose to being his 3rd largest source of contributions. In 2010 and 2012, it was the single largest source, giving him $96,375 and a whopping $117,700 in those two cycles respectively. Polluters seem to be willing to reward dirty votes handsomely.

snip

EDF Action Names San Antonio Congressman Henry Cuellar To List of Politicians Who Have Failed to Keep Commitments on Pollution & Climate Change

https://www.edfaction.org/media/edf-action-names-san-antonio-congressman-henry-cuellar-list-politicians


Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar happily takes Koch money. It's time for him to stop.

https://act.credoaction.com/sign/cuellar-koch


Conservative Democrat Continues to Take Koch Cash
Rep. Henry Cuellar of oil-rich Texas got another campaign donation from the PAC of GOP megadonor Charles Koch’s fossil fuel conglomerate, Koch Industries.

https://readsludge.com/2019/05/20/conservative-democrat-continues-to-take-koch-cash/

One of Congress’ most conservative Democrats will face a primary challenge in 2020 from progressives who say he’s too far to the right to be part of the Democratic Party. But that hasn’t stopped him from accepting campaign donations from the corporation headed by one of the Republican Party’s biggest benefactors.

The PAC of Koch Industries, a huge oil, chemicals, and paper product conglomerate led by centibillionaire Charles Koch, gave $1,000 to Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas on April 30, according to a new campaign finance report published today by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

KochPAC has consistently donated to Cuellar since the 2004 election; in the 2018 cycle, the PAC donated $7,500 to his campaign. In 2008, in addition to giving thousands of dollars to Cuellar’s campaign, KochPAC gave $5,000 to his leadership PAC, Texas First PAC. KochPAC has contributed $39,000 to Cuellar’s election campaigns since its first donation in 2004, according to records from the FEC.


Excerpt from KochPAC’s April campaign finance report.

Texas is the biggest oil-producing state in the union, and Cuellar has benefited from hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of campaign donations from PACs and individuals in the industry over his nearly 20-year career. In the 2018 election cycle alone, Cuellar’s campaign took in more than $140,000 from oil and gas PACs.

snip


NRA too


The NRA Spends a Lot of Money on the Texas Congressional Delegation
The majority of members also received high grades for their voting record on gun issues.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/texas-nra-campaign-donations/

Nine members of the Texas delegation—all Republicans—received A+ ratings from the NRA. These include senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. Another 18 members—all Republicans except for U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Laredo—received an A grade. Seven Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke—who is hoping to unseat Cruz in the Senate this fall—received an F rating. Only two Texas Democrats—U.S. Rep. Gene Green, from Houston, and Cuellar—accepted any money from the NRA.

[BlueWI]

77. Hard to argue with facts like these.

A Democratic lite candidate can sometimes depress turnout, misreading the will of the constituency and resisting structural change.

Maybe this is exactly that situation. An energized base helps Democrats statewide.

Instead of shouting at left leaning Democrats who vote Democrat most consistent, some folks need to talk their white neighbors out of voting Republican. That's the real problem.

[brooklynite]

27. Here's Warren's endorsement...

WASHINGTON — Presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren is wading deep into intra-party Texas politics ahead of the third round of Democratic debates in Houston, with the Massachusetts senator endorsing the primary challenger of longtime Laredo Rep. Henry Cuellar.

Warren on Monday announced her full-throated support for Jessica Cisneros, a Laredo attorney who is seeking to topple one of the more conservative Democrats left in Congress.

"The people of Texas' 28th district are ready for systematic change and deserve a Democrat that will be on the side of working people; not the side of big money and obstructionist Republicans," Warren said in a written statement. "I believe Jessica Cisneros is that fighter."

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2019/09/09/elizabeth-warren-backs-jessica-cisneros-primary-challenger-of-laredo-democrat-rep-henry-cuellar/

[Rstrstx]

41. GOOD! He's a snake

I've never trusted him ever since he "won" his primary bid against Ciro Rodriguez about 15 years ago. Rodriguez was ahead by a slim margin when mysteriously out of nowhere an "undiscovered" box of votes appeared from a district around Laredo that (IIRC) had every vote in it for Cuellar, which put him ahead by a few dozen votes and he went on to win the primary and the general.

I believe he's also publicly come out against impeachment.

He's in a safe D district so it's about time we get him out. He'll probably win because he keeps bringing in the goodies to Laredo but it's way past time that he be put on notice.

[susanr516]

91. Yeah

That stank to high heaven.

[riversedge]

53. ... by instead voting with Donald Trump nearly 70 percent of the time," said Danny Diaz, an activist

I know thing about him until I read this OP. So I went looking a bit. He seems not to be much of a Dem!





National left-wing group creates fund to oust Laredo Democrat Henry Cuellar from Congress



https://www.texastribune.org/2019/01/11/justice-democrats-makes-texas-congressman-henry-cuellar-2020-target/

Justice Democrats, which helped elect New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has made the seven-term Texas official its first target for the 2020 primaries.

by David Weigel, The Washington Post Jan. 11, 20199 PM
Republish



............Left-wing campaign groups, which had their greatest success last year in deep-blue districts, have pointed to the heavy Democratic advantage in Cuellar’s seat as evidence that anyone who unseated the congressman would be elected in November. Cuellar also rankled Democrats last year by helping raise money for Rep. John Carter (R-Tex.), who narrowly defeated a strong Democratic challenger in the Austin exurbs.

“South Texas is in a special position to lead the nation on immigration, renewable energy, and health care, yet Henry Cuellar has failed to do this by instead voting with Donald Trump nearly 70 percent of the time,” said Danny Diaz, an activist in the district who co-founded a voter turnout group, Cambio (Change) Texas.




U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 23, 2017.
Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/FvcPTPYhYowW6vNqCgD4L78oi7Q=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(80)/

[corbettkroehler]

55. If The DSCC Can Endorse Hickenlooper In The Senate Primacy, Warren Can Endorse Cisneros For House

I hope that the few haters of Justice Democrats who also support Warren for POTUS are ready for this.

I, for one, think it's great! Besides, Ms. Cisneros is a woman of the people and knows her district as well as if not better than Cuellar knows it.

[Celerity]

64. I am rock solid in my beleiefs that we should not primary centrists in purple and red districts

but NO WAY should we accept Cuellar types in Blue districts. He is against so many of the bedrock Democratic Party's core platform beliefs. There is no way it is a good faith effort to support him versus a real (ie. one who supports our platform) Democrat.

If we go the that route (ie. people like Cuellar and Lipinski as templates) we will end up further disastrously sliding the country politically to the right. Hickenlooper will more than likely be the same I fear, based off his OWN WORDS in the 2020 primaries.

I do not want to be governed by a nation of Manchins, Sinemas, Cuellars, and Lipinskis. The last two would destroy my right to marriage as an lesbian woman, and take away women's rights to an abortion. Hickenlooper has already said universal healthcare is 'dangerous to the American people.' and that progressives are bringing back the ideas of Stalin and Marx (WTF??!!) and is full steam ahead on carbon-based fuel sources, especially via fracking (he drank franking fluid ffs, and bragged about it to Congress). Sinema and Manchin vote with Trump almost 60% of the time and Manchin voted to confirm that RW rotter Kavanaugh and has already endorsed the POS Rethug Susan Collins in Maine and probably will campaign for her.

If they are the template for which our Party puts a stake in the ground and defends at all costs moving forward (especially in the House in safe Dem districts and in near Blue states like Colorado), expect electoral doom ahead when my generations (Millennial and Gen Z) truly take over from the Boomers. We are not going to buy into that dross.

I do not expect a nation of AOC types to win AT ALL, that is a pipe dream, but I will NOT bend over and support anti-women's rights, anti-immigrant. homophobes like Cuellar and Lipinski when we have completely viable real Democratic options in safe Blue districts.

[JonLP24]

56. That's good

I hear he takes Koch money.

[Kurt V.]

76. the time of liberals and progressives be apologetic is over. warren is here to remind us...nt

[democrank]

81. I trust Elizabeth Warren.

She has raised the bar....thank goodness.