I’m getting increasingly more interested in the Texas senate race. In a state that is redder than Mars, the sure fire victory that Ted Cruz would normally have…well it feels a little less certain. Honestly, the odds are certainly in his favor, but Beto O’Rourke is really making a name for himself as an up and comer in the Democrat scene. Even Ted Cruz’s attempts to discredit O’Rourke may have only ended up making him look more awesome, and now, Cruz is being called out for underhanded donation solicitation. Listen, I understand that campaigning can be kind of a dirty business. Campaign flyers and junk mail irritates everyone, and if you want people to read your junker, than sometimes you have to think creatively. But there is a firm difference between being creative and being overtly deceptive. Take Ted Cruz’s latest mailer, which is more than just deceptive, it might be straight up illegal in Texas to do. You see, Ted Cruz’s campaign sent out a letter disguised as an official looking Summons in order to drum up donations. It even continues that deception in the letter asking for money. Now while some might argue that this is harmless, that no reasonable person would take this seriously, it’s worth pointing out that the reason this came to public attention was because a mailer was sent to man’s recently passed grandmother, who was suffering mental decline. Were she to come across this letter, he reasoned, she would have thought this was some kind of bill as opposed to deceptive solicitation. And honestly, if this kind of thing becomes okay, what becomes the next tricky maneuver to get people to donate?
I guess Texas conservatives who happen to be Willie Nelson fans are shocked an appalled at Willie’s endorsement of Democratic Senate Candidate Beto O’Rourke over Republican Ted Cruz. And that I say, really? It’s Willie Nelson. He’s FAMOUSLY progressive in his leanings. He openly supports marijuana legalization, marriage equality, anti-war efforts, and combating climate change. I don’t even consider myself much of a Willie fan, and even I am more than vaguely aware of his political leanings, and yet his conservative fans are angry and betrayed at his political endorsement. I mean, you stick with him when he openly endorses and performs for causes you don’t support, but the second it’s for the sake of someone who embodies all his political positions, then it’s a step too far? You know, lines in the sand don’t mean a whole lot if you have to keep redrawing them.
Ted Cruz has been launching a campaign to discredit Beto O’Rourke. For good reason. At most other times, Ted Cruz would likely breeze through a midterm election, but he’s been losing ground to O’Rourke. For whatever reason, be that the state of the country, O’Rourke’s charisma, Cruz’s lack of charisma, or perhaps a more conscientious electorate. One way or another, polls that just a few weeks ago showed a substantial lead for Cruz, now show the two neck and neck. Now, personally, I don’t have a lot of faith in polls, but I do enjoy a good reaction. And Cruz’s to O’Rourke’s traction has been notably funny. In an attempt to make O’Rourke look less wholesome and charismatic, Cruz’s directed people’s attention to the fact that O’Rourke was once in a Punk band. But instead of making people think less of him, people just thought it made him seem cooler. When Cruz tried to make O’Rourke seem like an immoral pottymouth by telling everyone that he swears on the campaign trail, people just seem to think that makes him seem more real and approachable. Basically, Cruz is making his opponent look better and more in touch than he is, which may only serve to widen that poll gap. And what would be more hilarious than Cruz being responsible for helping to push his opponent to victory.
Mind the Exit 