The first televised debate of the three GOP candidates for Governor of Texas was shown tonight. The three candidates, Gov Rick Perry, Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Debra Medina were all present and ready for the event. Governor Perry, however, seemed off his game.
Governor Perry did the predictable - touting the successes of the State of Texas while downplaying recent negatives of job losses and rising taxes. Yay Texas! Senator Hutchison was strong in her assertions of working for Texas in Washington. And, Debra Medina was a voice of the outsider not beholden to anyone.
Governor Perry looked tired and irritated. Senator Hutchison remained calm and collected, while smiling, as she responded to Perry's attacks. Hutchison used a debate style move of posing a question to Medina that was a direct swipe at Perry. Medina made mention several times that the other two would respond as typical politicians to questions.
The audience laughed several times as Hutchison struggled with the standard abortion questioning. Would she say, yes or no, if she would support the repeal of Roe v Wade? She responded by stating her concern that if the decision went back to a states rights issue then the most abhorrent of practices - partial birth abortions- may increase. She has a strong pro-life record in politics but it is never enough for the most strident of the far right of the GOP- those who consider the social issues as the most important of political issues. It is unfortunate that the state party has a pledge to work for the demise of Roe v Wade as a party platform.
No one made any real news. It was fairly boilerplate stuff. While Hutchison was grilled on her abortion stance, Medina was not asked about her decision to home school her children and only teach creationism to them while ignoring evolution. She believes the age of earth is not settled and that it must only be about 4,000 years old, as biblical teachings direct her. She was asked about her practice of carrying a gun without a conceal carry license, which is legal in Texas. You may be interested in knowing she does not take it into the grocery store.
Medina will not be a part of the next debate at the end of the month. That is a shame - the people deserve to hear from them all.
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