TX 35 candidates vy for support of Northeast Bexar County Democrats

Today's Northeast Bexar County Democrats meeting was a forum for congressional candidates and the TX 35 race was the most hotly contested with 3 candidates. Patrick Shearer made a strong case for his candidacy and the need for a progressive who will not just vote the right way but who will be a real leader.

The club members seemed genuinely enthusiastic about his candidacy and one attendee told me that Patrick is just the kind of congressman the district deserves. That same person, a Hispanic male, was disappointed in Sylvia Romo whose case for her candidacy was largely "this district was drawn as a minority district and I'm a Latina, I represent diversity."
Ciro Rodriguez was defensive when called out for his votes in favor of the Stupak "coat hanger" amendment to the health care reform bill and his vote against the bailout of the US auto industry that saved tens of thousands of well paying union jobs, American jobs. His defense for Stupak was that it isn't any different than the existing Hyde Amendment preventing federal funding for abortions which isn't really true and if it was then there was no need for Stupak in the first place. His defense for voting against American union jobs was non-existent, he just said he was proud to have voted against the bailout. Ciro blustered as if to say "How dare you call me out on those votes!" His defense seemed to fall on largely deaf ears judging by the audience response.

Patrick Shearer showed that he is a committed progressive and received a strong round of applause that I take to be an indication that he connected with most of the membership in attendance. I look forward to the final maps and the real start of the campaign.