...You gotta abandon your responsibilities?

Lately, I've been doing some extra research on the Kay Bailey Hutchison campaign, since I'm in the process of writing a feature article on the subject. I have to say I think she's doing an excellent job of creating a good public image and raising up grassroots support (especially among college students) early in the game. That's why I was a bit surprised when I came across Jason Embry's blog in the Austin American-Statesman, which questions Hutchison's commitment to her campaign. But he's not the only one.

There certainly are reasons for questioning Kay Bailey Hutchinson's dedication to her bid for governor of Texas. She still hasn't stepped down from her Senate seat, claiming she wants to stay to fight the healthcare reform bill. This continued absence from Texas could hurt her, since she has to be in Washington at least a few days each week. A recent poll, which shows Rick Perry leading by 12 percent, suggests Hutchison definitely has some work to do on the homefront.

She's doing great in many respects, gaining the coveted endorsement of the Texas Farm Bureau, which supported Perry last election. She has the most visible presence at my university of any gubernatorial candidate, with her student group Longhorns for Kay already hosting supportive networking events and passing out bumper stickers. But apparently, though her supporters are pulling their weight, she seems to talk more about Washington than Texas when she visits.

In Embry's blog, he claims that Hutchison "seems to be doing little herself to forcefully drive a message about the governor’s race" and "is not using many of those days [in Texas] to take the fight right to Gov. Rick Perry." That may all be true, but I believe that's because she has her priorities in order, not because she doesn't care about the governor's race or because she's a Washington insider. She's doing a noble thing by still performing her responsibilities as a U.S. Senator to the best of her abilities, putting current obligations ahead of her own ambitions to be governor. Plus, it's not as though national issues aren't relevant to Texans. We're just as concerned about healthcare as the next American, and any national issue as big as healthcare reform would affect the state even more than specifically "state issues."

Even if she can't come to Texas in person much, she still effectively uses TV to get her messages out. Here is an interview with her about the tragic Fort Hood shootings.



The interview was conducted just 24 hours after the shootings had occurred, and her extensive knowledge on the subject shows that she is a competent advocate for Texas, even if her responsibilities dictate that she often must be present in Washington both physically and mentally. Hutchison's commitment to the governor's race and to Texas shouldn't be questioned simply because she also has national responsibilities. Let's just hope voters will feel the same way.

...You gotta be a bit less Kinky

I can't help but like Kinky Friedman.

He's toned down his image a bit in this campaign so people will take him more seriously than in 2006, but he's still a rebellious cigar-smoking cowboy. Kinky is a brand, not merely a person. Just look at the picture, from Pat Dollard's blog. If that isn't cool, I don't know what is. To support Kinky means you're a real Texan, not afraid to tell the truth, and you're the type who "sticks it" to the man. Most of his supporters I've met hate politics, so they want someone in the governor's seat who hates politics just as much and will produce results rather than rhetoric.

Of course, he has little chance of winning in a politically correct climate unless he continues to "tone it down." His current campaign Web site is a lot less rebellious than his old one from the last governor's race, a portion of which conveniently still shows up on Google. It claims at the top, "Kinky is running [as an independent] with the people and for the people. You can't do that with the two current political parties, which are built and ruled by special interests." However, he is running as a Democrat this year. I'm certainly not bashing him for changing his mind, as some would. I think he's just realized that he may have to compromise some of his less realistic ideals in order to win.

Most of his platforms are still the same. His top issue is still education and teachers' pay, which I greatly appreciate as a university student who wants to see her tuition decrease. I hated seeing my brilliant high school teachers getting paid so little, wondering if these men and women who bettered my life and believed in my abilities would get to retire at a decent age. Unlike last campaign, Kinky doesn't even mention his views on abortion and gay marriage on his current issues page, reflecting the changed political climate. Everyone cares more about the economy and healthcare now. My favorite old quote of his regarding gay marriage is this: "I believe love is bigger than government. And besides, they have a right to be as miserable as the rest of us." Hahaha. Seriously, what other politician would say that?

Kinky has a tricky balance to maintain. He needs to keep his rebel image while still seeming serious enough about the election for people to believe he's a legitimate candidate. He didn't achieve that last time, garnering only 12% of the vote and finishing last out of the four major candidates (Rick Perry, Chris Bell, and Carol Strayhorn, another education advocate, were the other three). The fact is, people are more likely to take a candidate seriously who wears a coat and tie and uses fancy rhetoric rather than "talking straight." While he is refreshing, are we ready for someone who seems so much like one of us, so unlike a politician? It's almost a bit unnerving. I don't think we want to see our politicians as human.

Even if he does succeed in creating a respectable public image (a long shot), his stances on certain issues may still hurt him. The Houston Chronicle mentions his controversial views on oil and gas: "Friedman also suggests putting a one-half percent 'surcharge' on big oil and gas companies and giving the money to teachers." While I agree with giving more money to teachers, this idea certainly won't help him get elected in the state of Texas. He has an interesting argument though: “Not only will it be the best PR that they've ever had, but we don't buy that oil here anyways. It goes up to the Yankees."

Kinky is certainly likable enough, but likability alone isn't enough to win an election. He may have to de-Kinkify himself just a bit more for Texans to believe in him.