Out-of-state abortion groups boost Wendy Davis’ bid for TX gov
by Kelli
Wendy Davis, running for Texas governor on the strength of her stand in favor of late-term abortion, raised nearly $3.80 million in the second half of 2013. Nearly $1.07 million – 28 percent – of that money came from outside of Texas, according to my analysis of her campaign finance filing….
In fact, the biggest out-of-state contributions Davis lists are all cash or in-kind contributions from pro-choice groups. EMILY’s List contributed $135,000 in cash, plus $25,000 in speechwriting and $4,761 in postage. Planned Parenthood and its affiliates have contributed more than $60,000 between cash, list rental, staff time, and other in-kind gifts.
NARAL has been fundraising for Davis, which accounts for more than $18,000 in in-kind contributions. Naomi Aberly, who sits on the board of Planned Parenthood’s lobbying arm, spent more than $10,000 as an “event expense” for Davis. Aberly has deep connections in Texas, but Davis’s campaign reports her as living in Boston.
Fully a quarter of Davis’s out-of-state money, then, is directly attributable to the cause of legal abortion.
~ Timothy P. Carney, reporting on self-proclaimed “pro-life” Wendy Davis’ (pictured above with Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards) pro-abortion campaign financial resources, Washington Examiner, January 15
[Photo via saynsumthn.wordpress.com]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
I hate to be pessimistic, but I’m really worried Wendy Davis might actually get in. The race has her opponent ahead, but a lot can change in 10 months (remember Cuccinelli?). She has charisma, can evidently raise lots of money, will be the favourite of the mass media, and will be able to capitalize on the Republican governors’ mistakes (especially since Texas has not had a Democratic governor in nearly 20 years). And the spin machines will be able to successfully mask and fabricate her position on abortion. I sincerely hope I am wrong, but this looks a lot like Obama 2.0.
She’s the only “positive” thing they have going on a national level and she’s going to lose. Texas will never vote for a gal who’s sole claim to fame is speaking out in favor of late-term abortion and whose loudest supporters are DC and NY media types. Fret not Navi, Texas is no Virginia, where it’s easy to win when most of the employees of Leviathan live in the northern counties. I’m so sick of hearing about her, but better that those deep pockets full from the slaughter of innocents is being spent there rather than swing districts around the country.
Always remember the 2 most important rules of love, war, and politics:
1. NEVER underestimate you opposition
2. NEVER expect..or predict…a quick and easy victory.
PL people would be very wise to strictly adhere to these rules.
Texas will never vote for a gal who’s sole claim to fame is speaking out in favor of late-term abortion and whose loudest supporters are DC and NY media types.
Never say never, Chris. Who dreamed that a community organizer with the weakest resume of any recent presidential candidate would become leader of the free world? She has the black vote sewn up without even trying and many Latinos will vote for her too, even though they are somewhat more independent than black voters. I’m just hoping that prolifers turn up in DROVES to vote against her.
And even if she does win, isn’t the TX legistature mostly prolife?
Hi phillymiss,
Amen to that.
As I said, PL people would do well to strictly adhere to the rules I posted.
Let’s not forget that a third party candidate could also be thrown in there. Where have we seen that before? Oh yes, Virginia.
“Fully a quarter of Davis’s out-of-state money, then, is directly attributable to the cause of legal abortion.”
She is still Abortion Barbie.
In 1990 Texas elected an outspoken pro-abortion democratic woman as governor…Ann Richards. (Her daughter, Cecile Richards, is president of Planned Parenthood.) It can happen again with pro-abortion Wendy Davis…especially if the Republican is weak or stumbles. Texas is not as completely redneck as what might exist in the popular imagination.
If there is a tainted or lackluster Rebublican she could win…like Obama did.
Hi Tommy:
Are you saying that AG Abbott may not prevail. Every source I read has him as the front runner.
Thomas,
Okay, it is not likely that Abbot will lose. He seems okay and whatnot. But in politics anything can happen…things can come out that hurt a candidate…unexpected things can happen…all kinds of things COULD happen. Then Wendy is there to pick up the win. That is basically what happened in the 1990 Ann Richards win.
Tommy, Richards won with 49% of the vote, a third party Libertarian that got 3% of the vote, and against a historically inept moneyed candidate who shot himself in the foot more times than the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. Richards was promptly shown the door by Dubya four years later. Abbott has been a lawyer, judge and attorney general, and already has a war chest in a non-presidential election year where even candidates for governor will have to deal with Obamacare. The only way he loses is if he forgets years of legal training and turns into Ross Perot overnight, which I don’t think is likely. Relying on your opponent to implode is never a good strategy, even the Lions viciously trounced the Packers this Thanksgiving!
Chris, I agree with everything you are saying about Abbott…he has sort of a perfect storm of shinny qualities to lead Texas. It is almost certain he will prevail. But you know things can happen. God forbid he should die or something. Then the republicans must run a last minute underfunded second best. That is the main hope Wendy has for winning. Even she probably expects to lose…running has its own rewards for her…money, fame and swanky parties. She will finish with an enlarged war chest and higher speaking engagement fees.
The main reason I commented was to say that Texas is not a uniformly red state. (I live in El Paso.) And that overconfidence in politics can bite…and has.
Hi guys:
From what I know, Abbott does not have any skeletons in his closet so I would not worry too much about Abortion Barbie getting an upper hand (as she has too many skeletons only acquired in the last few months). And as Chris pointed out, Wendy is nowhere close in terms of fundraising so how much airtime will that buy her? Abbott has been a fixture in Texas for decades and his reputation precedes him. Be more positive Tommy and say hello to Senator Whitmire :)
Hi Tommy R,
One thing that worked to Richards’ advantage when she won the Texas governor’s race was the fact her opponent, who’s name escapes me, was an insufferable clod. The race was his to lose, and he did.
He made a crude “joke” about rape which was highly offensive and refused to shake Richards’ hand when she offered it. Refusing to shake a lady’s hand was apparently something that didn’t sit well with Texans.
Let’s not put too much hope or fear into the various candidates and elections. Never forget that we win, even when we lose…. Obama has presided over the greatest era of pro-life legislation since Roe v. Wade, after all.
Let every Barbie rally be a pro-life rally. Let’s make sure that everyone knows Wendy stands for late-ten abortion, and nothing else. Let everyone know that she is owned by the abortion industry. Let’s force the pro-choicers to turn out in counter-protest, and let them remind Texans and all Americans what brutes and barbarians the pro-aborts really are.
Meanwhile, let us remind the Republicans (and good-hearted Democrats) that we intend to support the genuinely pro-life candidates. We will devote our hours and contributions to your campaigns.
To the slackers: We are not interested in candidates that pay cheap lip-service to the cause of Life. We do not need you, and we will win without you. We’d rather have an Obama or a glitzy Abortion Barbie than another milquetoast Republican. Blind Republicans are responsible for Gosnell and Karpen. You’ll get no more help from us.
No Republican has any blood on their hands. We can thank RvW for everything related to abortion in general. Democrats rule where Gosnell did his crimes and Republicans responded fiercely upon learning of Karpen.
The thing I find interesting is based on the person’s analysis, most of the money came from OUTSIDE Texas. I wonder if they didn’t have much luck with getting inside-Texas funding or if that was on purpose.
I will endeavor to talk up Abbott to my friends here in El Paso…not that that will really change anything. My state senator is Rodríguez who is sold out to abortion just like Whitmire and Davis.
I have wondered what I would say to people like that if they ever showed up in my life. I guess I could say Howdy…maybe.
But in politics anything can happen…things can come out that hurt a candidate…unexpected things can happen…all kinds of things COULD happen.
Yes, I’m kind of surprised that Christie is still planning to run after all that’s happened this week.
Tommy R., it’s good to hear about the race from the perspective of a Texan. From what I understand, Austin is pretty liberal. My sister is a civilian employee at Ft. Hood in Killeen and as can be expected, any area around a military base is going to be more conservative. This race is going to be interesting to watch — grab a seat and a box of popcorn and watch the fireworks!
Still think the “Stand With Texas Women” slogan is ridiculous. As if these campaigners can truly claim to speak for the opinions and values of all women in Texas. There are certainly pro-life Texas women, unborn Texas women and Texas women who, although they may not even be completely pro-life, are still opposed to the late-term abortions Davis advocated for allowing. Funny how abortion apologists and establishment feminists are the ones who claim to truly respect, trust and understand women, yet they lump all women into one monolithic group. That’s the same thing traditional patriarchy does, assume all women are essentially the same with the same beliefs, values, attitudes and opinions and there is no need to actually talk to many different women from a variety of backgrounds and hear their individual perspectives.
“Yes, I’m kind of surprised that Christie is still planning to run after all that’s happened this week.”
There’s still a lot of time between now and the election. The media will do everything it can to harp on this (something to do while ignoring all the democratic scandals), but unless they come up with some proof that Christie himself knew about it/ordered it, I see it blowing over before the election.
Most people are not aware of Chris Christie or the controversy that surrounds him this week. That kerfluffle is nothing compared to the scandals that Obama survived to squeak through on the way his reelection.
But as much fun as it is to play armchair politics, we need to make sure that life and abortion remain a forward issue in the minds and hearts of all Americans. Abortion Barbie stands for killing viable children who are five months along in their mothers’ wombs.
Abbot is a paraplegic. I wonder if his condition will be a factor in the race?
It never was as long as he has been in politics and it will not be.
Davis poses a real threat to antichoicers in Texas. If Davis wins she will turn back the Texas legislature’s antichoice agenda. Democrats have a winning issue with abortion. I suggest they keep talking about it and so do Republicans. Republican views usually are way outside the mainstream (much like the individuals on this forum) and scare women off in droves.