Several readers and Rob Booth call attention to this reporting by Brandon De Hoyos for the 1960 Sun:
Opponents of the [Joe] Nixon campaign are taking issue with the awarding of a $300,000 settlement between the state representative and Farmers Insurance Group for severe mold damage in his home.
[snip]
A paper trail of e-mail correspondence between Arnold and Jim Daues, Farmers’ vice president of property claims, used in the trial paint “a picture of yet another politician answering to the special interests”, said Patrick campaign spokesperson Chris Begala.
Citing Nixon’s representation of an insurance company against a Spring area church, in addition to support of the industry through recent legislation, Begala chalked up “Mr. Tort-Reform himself” and the issue as another reason why voters are fed up with the state of politics.
“The way our campaign looks at this is people are tired of the hypocrisy,” Begala said. “Joe Nixon is just another average politician-and there is nothing wrong with that, but you can be sure he’ll certainly pick up checks from his special interest friends.”
[snip]
From claims of special interest favoritism to the candidate’s strengths on issues of homeland security, critics also point out that Sandler-Innocenzi, Inc., the producers of the Nixon campaign’s advertising, is a company of special interest by opponents and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Registered as a foreign agent of Saudi Arabia with the department, Sandler-Innocenzi, Inc. has produced campaign advertisements for many Republican candidates on the national, state and local stage.Additionally, the Alexandria, Va.-based PR firm was tapped, along with Qorvis Communications, to create a series of ads designed to counter anti-Saudi sentiment in the U.S. after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Polling of public opinion found favorability to Saudi Arabia dropped after the New York City and Washington D.C. attacks, in which 15 of 19 hijackers were Saudis.As a result of the hiring, opponents, like the Patrick campaign, now call into question the representative’s commitment to homeland security.
“In regards to Sandler-Innocenzi, Inc…” Begala began, “It is pretty clear what this is about. People can make their own judgments.”
It’s funny that Chris Begala mentions hypocrisy above, since Patrick continues to state on his radio program that he will be running a campaign of ideas, and will not be engaging in negative attacks on his opponents. Interestingly, Dan Patrick and KSEV/campaign associates Edd Hendee and Chris Begala all find themselves slinging mud with the likes of Tim Fleck (now with the Chronicle) and Rick Casey on this topic, despite the finding by Ronnie Earle’s office that there was no “there” there. Politics does make for strange bedfellows! And Patrick certainly seems to have become a politician, the outsider campaign theme notwithstanding.
As for Begala’s suggestion that Nixon is somehow weak on homeland security because of his choice of advertising firm, it’s worth noting that the firm counts many prominent Republicans among its clients, including none other than Harris County Judge Robert Eckels and Rep. Tom DeLay. Surely Chris Begala didn’t mean to call them out as weak on homeland security?
The Patrick campaign has a good set of issues. It’s not clear why it insists on engaging in the very behavior that Patrick says he won’t engage in. They might be wise, at the very least, to invest in a muzzle for Chris Begala — although that could make his substitute appearances for Patrick on KSEV during the campaign a bit awkward.
We can’t help but think that Walker, Texas Ranger would encourage the Patrick campaign to focus on issues!
PREVIOUSLY: Patrick makes quick transition from insurgent to politician, Patrick continues transition from insurgent to pol.
CLARIFICATION (12-13-2005): In case it was not clear from the reporting or the post, I should make clear that the reporter contacted the Patrick campaign and asked for comment on the matter. Reporter Brandon de Hoyos tells me he contacted all of the candidates who are running for the seat, and gave them three days’ notice for comment. He also points out that readers had initiated these queries and concerns, and he was simply covering the issues of the campaign.
