O'Rourke Doubles Down On Denials That He Tried To Flee Drunk Driving Scene [#TXPOLITICS 24/7]

Did U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke try to flee the scene of a drunk driving-related crash in 1998? The police report says he did. But he insists he didn't.

The U.S. Senate candidate doubled down Saturday, claiming again (as he did in his debate with rival, Sen. Ted Cruz, that he did not leave the scene the arrest, which happened near El Paso, and added a new claim, that a passenger inside his vehicle that night backs his story.

"I did not flee,” O’Rourke told Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith during the 2018 Texas Tribune Festival in Austin. "The police report on this is wrong.”

He rejected September 1998 police reports that quoted an unnamed motorist as saying he stopped O’Rourke from fleeing the scene of a DUI crash on Interstate 10.

Appearing as the festival’s closing keynote speaker, O’Rourke said he recently contacted the female passenger to get her recollection of that evening. 

“I reached out to the passenger who was in the car that I was driving — who also does not appear in the police report, among other factual errors — somebody that I’ve not spoken to in more than 15 years, and asked her recollection of that evening,” O’Rourke said. “She said, ‘No, we were in the median of the road. We did not try to flee. I don’t know that there was anywhere we could have gone.’”

Univ. Of Texas Investigating Allegation State Senator Texted Pic of Genitals to Grad Student [#TXPOLITICS 24/7]

The Austin American-Statesman is reporting the explosive allegation that state Sen. Charles Schwertner sent a sexually explicit image and text message to a graduate student he met at an on-campus event this summer. The University of Texas is investigating the allegations, which the paper received from three unnamed sources.

The student allegedly met Schwertner, a Georgetown Republican and a UT alumnus, at an on-campus event to which Schwertner was invited, and told him she was interested in working at the Legislature, according to two of the officials.

The paper reports:

After the event, they allegedly exchanged messages on the networking site LinkedIn before moving to text messaging. 

During an otherwise professional exchange on networking and career advice, Schwertner abruptly wrote, “I just really want to f—- you,” and sent her an image that appeared to be a picture of his genitals that was taken in the shower, according to a UT official who has seen the exchange and the photo.

Schwertner campaign spokesman Tom Holloway issued a statement denying the allegations.

“The Senator is eager to cooperate with the University of Texas and hopes to make clear he played no part in the behavior described," wrote Holloway.

POLITICAL FALLOUT

Politically, Sen. Schwertner's district is solidly in the red, Republican column and he is probably in no danger of being defeated by his Democratic opponent, Meg Walsh.

However, it's less well known that he has aspirations to one day become lieutenant governor. Those hopes will be significantly affected if these allegations are proven to be true.

The immediate effect of the allegations alone will need to give Democrats yet another talking point to bolster their claim that Republicans are corrupt. This can only help the "Blue Wave" November narrative

Washington Post Says Beto O'Rourke Lying About Trying To Leave Scene of DWI Accident; Gives His Debate Claim "Four Pinocchios" [#TXPOLITICS 24/7]

The Washington Post took an in-depth look at the claim that US Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke that  he never tried to flee the scene of a DWI in 1998. Police reports indicate that he did, in fact, leave, says the paper.

During a Sept. 21 debate with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), O’Rourke was asked pointblank about a drunk-driving incident when he was 26 years old: Did he try to leave the scene of the accident? The Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News had recently obtained the police reports of the incident and reported he had done so, stopped only by a bystander. But he replied, in what it called a "well-rehearsed answer":

"I did not try to leave the scene of the accident, though driving drunk, which I did, is a terrible mistake for which there is no excuse or justification or defense, and I will not try to provide one."

The Post took on his claims (though clearly seeking an excuse to justify his obfuscation:)

O’Rourke was so drunk that he could barely get out of the car without falling, so perhaps he would not have gotten far – or he was simply confused. Perhaps in his memory, O’Rourke believes he did not try to leave. But, given his [blood alcohol level] at the time of the accident, O’Rourke’s memory 20 years after the fact is not nearly as credible as the police reports written just hours after the accident.

O’Rourke could have dodged the question during the debate or he could have said his memory is not clear from that night. Instead, he chose to dispute the factual record. We also believe in second chances and O’Rourke should revise his answer if given another opportunity. In the meantime, he earns Four Pinocchios.

It's worth noting that the DWI charges were dismissed after O’Rourke, whose father had been a local judge, completed a court-approved diversion program.

For whatever reason, whether his internal polling shows that him revealing that "leaving the scene" would be a fact voters couldn't forgive, or whether he really doesn't remember, he's not being truthful with Texas voters.

 

Former GOP Land Commissioner Patterson Endorses Democrat Over George P. Bush [#TXPOLITICS 24/7]

The Statesman reports that former Republican Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has endorsed Miguel Suazo, the Democratic nominee for land commissioner, over current land commissioner — and fellow Republican — George P. Bush.

The decision is the latest sign of lingering tensions between Patterson and Bush, who squared off earlier this year in the brutal Republican primary.

He cited Bush's performance during Hurricane Harvey and his controversial "re-imagining" process to renovate the Alamo, which has caused consternation among many Republicans.

Gov. Abbott Pledges An End To Red Light Camera Enforcement In Texas [#TXPOLITICS 24/7]

Maybe this time, a ban on red light cameras will get to the governor's desk. Gov. Abbott this week called on legislators to once again try to send him a bill to rid the state of the Red Menace that are red light cameras. Past efforts have struggled to gain momentum in the Legislature, failing to reach the governor’s desk each time.

The Houston Chronicle reports on efforts to renew the ban, with Abbott seeking to stop cities from using the unpopular devices next year.

Abbott contends red light cameras can make intersections less safe by causing more rear-end wrecks due to sharp braking. He adds that the cameras can pose a constitutional issue by “rendering accused violators guilty until proven innocent,” and by accusing drivers of violating the law without a witness.

Lawmakers have already called for a renewed effort to unplug red light camera enforcement in Texas, promising to push for a ban in the 2019 Legislative session.

Gov. Abbott Pledges To Enshrine Income Tax Ban In TX State Constitution [#TXPOLITICS 24/7]

Gov. Greg Abbott says he wants to bury the idea of a personal state income tax permanently, by entombing it inside the state constitution itself. "Currently," tweeted Abbott Tuesday night, the state constitution, "says an income tax can be imposed by a majority vote of Texans. If we omit that from the constitution it takes a 2/3 vote to add it back in."

The Dallas Morning News reports that the election-year pledge by the governor announced the proposal at a Republican rally held in McKinney on Monday.

In 1993, the Texas Constitution was amended to take the power to levy such a tax away from lawmakers and give it to voters; an income tax can only be imposed, Article 8 of the Constitution says, if it's approved by a majority of registered voters in a statewide referendum and any net revenues must used for the "support of education."

A new constitutional amendment to wholly ban an income tax would require a two-thirds vote by both the House and Senate and approval of a majority of voters.

GOP Jittery As #Cruz Looks More And More Vulnerable To #Beto Bandwagon In November [#TXPOLITICS 24/7]

As poll after poll shows the contest between Ted Cruz and Beto O'Rourke neck and neck, and Gov. Abbott seemingly miles ahead of his opponent, the US Senate race is taking up all the oxygen in Texas politics these

Republicans around the country are beginning to worry about Cruz's ability to win a seat that was almost taken for granted would remain Republican.

The Dallas Morning News reports that with Beto O'Rourke fighting Ted Cruz to a draw in polls and topping him in cash, and his party itching to nab a Senate seat and end their drought in Texas, major GOP players are grappling with a possibility they haven't faced in decades.

Republicans fear that they may soon need to divert serious cash to Texas to protect their formerly "safe" US Senate seat here. For some, comments the Dallas Morning News, rather astutely, that would mean aiding a senator they don't much care for.

And the problem is complicated by a president who, just two years ago was pointing out how pointless and ineffective Senator Cruz has been in his position.

Of course, that was during a heated presidential campaign, but voters have a way of remembering these things, and Democrats are already joyfully regurgitating Trump slurs against Cruz.

Ted Cruz, with the help of national Republicans, may very well hold on to his seat in November, if only in a squeaker at the polls. But that would mean many millions would have to be taken in from races throughout the country that truly are, and always have been toss-ups. This can only be good news for Democrats, who are gleefully hoping for a Blue Wave election.