The election for governor of Texas is a few weeks away, with no hope for the Perry/White debate.
For those not in the know, Gov. Rick Perry refuses to go on public debate with former Houston mayor Bill White, demanding that White must first make his tax records from when he was deputy US secretary in the 1990’s public. However, White refuses to do so, stating he’s published his records all the way back to his time as Houston mayor.
Debates are the norm in politics. Although it doesn’t actually produce a winner or a loser, it gives undecided voters an idea of where the politicians stand.
Yet, Perry has refused to debate White. He also shuns interviews by newspaper editorial boards and questions at the end of his well-prepared speeches.
This is a truly masterful sleight of hand. Perry has turned the tables on White, making him the villain for not publishing arbitrary tax records, and in doing so keeps from ever having to deviate from his script.
The catch-22 for White is, if he doesn’t publish the tax records he will be at fault not only for appearing to hide something, but also for failing to get Perry to the podium. If he does make the records public, White essentially submits to his opponent, and in all likelihood Perry would just come up with another reason for not debating White.
From a strategic standpoint, Perry’s strategy is smart. He is ahead in the polls, and has a strong voter following. It would be risky to debate or be interviewed where he might be asked to answer a question that doesn’t come from a pre-written speech.
Yet how could an undecided student cast a vote for a governor who refuses to be asked questions? Inquiries like these are lost in the campaign hustle.
The theme for this year seems to be stubbornness among candidates. What motivates them so? Why is Perry pushing so hard for a third term, and why is Bill White so adamant on a minor issue when it could cost him the race?
To answer the former, there is a legacy to be had, and a historic point of being one of the longest running governors.
As for White, there is the possibility that he is actually hiding something in his tax records, but there is just as good of a chance that he is sticking to his guns, so to speak. The question that should get answered is, who’s going to budge first?
David Haydon is a political science junior and may be reached at [email protected].
Bill White was a decent Mayor, but not a great one. He did not leave Houston in agood situation. In alot of ways. I'm no great fan of Rick Perry, but having Bill White in the Governor's Mansion would be the wrong choice. Bottom line. You have to pick the lesser of two evils. Just my 2 bits.
The lesser of 2 evils is Bill White then if that's how you are placing your vote. Bill White was elected until he could not longer run due to term limits, so Houston voted him in over again and saw he must have been doing something right. Everyone is entitled to their "2 bits", but I seeing that Texas is ranking 49 in our education is due to Perry and his GOP.
I don't think Bill White was even a decent Mayor. He left the city broke, and used money he should not have to run the city government. We have enough problem with the people we have in Washington, to even think of enduring the same in Texas. A vote for Bill White is a vote for the kind of Government that will spend and tax us to death. No Thanks!!
Agreed, he left the city in fiscal shambles, and completely failed to rein in Metro. What will happen if he is put in even more power? These Harvard hedge fund guys run the same play wherever they go, leaving people like me (and I suppose you too, assuming you are really a "present Houstonian" unlike these other trolls) to have to deal with the aftermath, when it is already too late.
Bill White was a good mayor. To those of you saying otherwise must be living under a rock. He was mayor and re-elected until his limit. The man knows how to run the city like a business, and not like a lost candidate like Perry. Under Perry for the last decade, this state is number one at minimum wage jobs. Something I am not proud of. Our public schools are not scoring as high. Another thing I am not proud of. Bill White has an excellent plan for education and energy. Perry will continue to use OUR money to support his lifestyle and make sure his friends benefit rather than true Texans. This is not a Washington vote! This is a local vote. Bill White did not even like Obamacare. He is a true moderate. Once Bill wins, he will have to clean up what Rick Perry left behind. Sound familiar?
Perry just don't want to stick his foot in his mouth. lol
I can guarantee that everyone on this board criticizing Bill White as mayor of Houston did not live there during his administration. He was so conservative that for years I assumed he was a republican. Even then, everyone thought he was doing an awesome job. The criticizers are just Perry impostors trying to make up things that did not happen.
Great article.
Good solid summary of the facts.
Write more!
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