CD-07 Democrats start swinging at each other

[PDittie]

More primary intensification. I don't have a vote in this district nor a dog in this fight, but some here do, so I post this in the interest of creating some reasonable discussion (won't hold my breath, though).

From the David Murff campaign:

Setting the Record Straight

Dear Friends, Constituents and Supporters:

I find the need to write you today to address several issues of misconception and mischaracterization that have been made about me by my primary opponent, Mr. Jim Henley, in his bid to become the Democratic candidate for Congressional District 7. I also believe several points should be highlighted that will become serious issues in the general election and must be considered when choosing who best to challenge John Culberson.

While I do not believe negative campaigning benefits anyone, I refuse to idly sit back and let negative remarks cast about me or my staff go unanswered. The race for Congressional District 7 is not a "final lesson plan" that needs to be taught to any class. It is an opportunity to change the dynamic of our nation and it is an opportunity for rebirth that our country so desperately needs. For these reasons, certain things must be said.

A Closer Look

1) I have always viewed this race as winnable and have sought, and continue to seek out, the support of those organizations and individuals who can help us unseat John Culberson. Mr. Henley, even at his announcement party, stated that his bid for Congress was quixotic (dreamy, unrealistic).

2) I have never been indicted for a felony and my biggest supporter is not a convicted felon. The GOP will stop at nothing in its attacks against Democratic challengers. Mr. Henley, while not convicted, will face serious attacks from Culberson's people and the Republican Party regarding his indictment for bank fraud relating to the Whitewater scandal, and his sister's (Susan McDougal) resulting felony conviction for the same. Mr. Henley's indictment has already been reported by the Houston Chronicle
and his connections to Whitewater have also surfaced in several books about the subject.

3) I am the third generation in my family to have proudly severed my country as a member of the armed forces and received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Army in 1989. I am also a member of the Band of Brothers. We are 59 veterans running as Democrats for election to the 110th Congress. Recently, 40 of us spent 3 days in Washington, D.C. for a media event, and while there received commitments of support from The Honorable Max Cleland, The Honorable John Kerry, General Wesley Clark, and many, many other congressional leaders and retired military members. Senator Kerry and General Clark have both made personal commitments to the members of Band of Brothers to help in whatever form possible, from fundraising to being in each and every District whenever the need arises.

In several club meetings where Mr. Henley and I have spoken together, my military service has been questioned by him. I realize this form of "swift boat" attack is standard operating procedure for the GOP, however, I certainly did not expect it from a member of my own party. I find Mr. Henley's characterization of the Band of Brothers as just another special interest group insulting. Mr. Henley is attacking Democrats and Mr. Henley is attacking veterans. Democrats and members of our armed services both care about the same thing: defending the public interest. It's a shame Mr. Henley thinks otherwise. I have honorably served my country and this is more than can be said for Mr. Henley.

4) My campaign has been all inclusive and has attempted to reach out to all Democrats who share and promote strong Democratic values. Mr. Henley has relied on his current and former students and their parents in his effort to run a purely grassroots campaign. He continues to state that he will not take any PAC money or money from any organization and has refused to acknowledge the role that these fine organizations play.

I've never seen someone try to win a Democratic primary by wholesale attacks on Democrats. It's a bizarre strategy; by attacking Democrats and our values, he has effectively alienated many legitimate groups (teachers, unions, environmental groups, etc.) who feel they have no voice in Mr. Henley.

Congressional District 7 deserves leadership willing to reach out to all constituents in an effort to seek solutions to some of the most complex and difficult issues this nation has ever faced. True Democratic leadership must seek to unite rather than to divide and must be willing to acknowledge that even Republicans (which still remain the majority in Congressional District 7) should feel welcome to join hand in hand with us in our effort to restore confidence, integrity and democracy to our country.

I am honored to seek the Democratic nomination for Congressional District 7 and want to be the most effective and best damn Democratic congressman the District has ever seen. Thank you for your time and continued support.

David L. Murff
Democratic Candidate
U.S. House of Representative, Texas CD7

[johncoby2]

1. Can someone clear up some of this?

What was Henley indicted for?

And what service was he in?

Hey. PAC money from teachers is good PAC money. i woudnt throw it out.

[merci_me]

2. Why don't you ask David Murff.....if you trust him to tell the truth? n/t

[johncoby2]

3. It would be better to hear if from the horse mouth

Or one of his supporters.

What did he get indicted for? He obviously was not convicted.

[ktlh2]

12. Jim Henley and CD-07

Unfortunately when people throw out statements like "why do you beat your wife Mr. Coby" there tends to be no way to answer it...much like the "indicted for" statement. Jim was used as a pawn by Kenneth Star to get his sister to talk, insidious but true. It did not work. No conviction was rendered and Jim is not a felon.

Students and parents supporting Jim are doing so because no matter what their political history (and many are Republicans) they all respect him and know he will do what he says he is going to do and not what is politically expedient. He is a man of honor. He has taught his students to debate the issues and not be swayed by rhetoric thrown out in political campaigns.

You are correct, PAC money can be good. The problem is that once you accept the money you are expected to act and/or vote a certain way. Jim's decision to accept NO PAC money comes from his desire to make his office open to the interests that matter, those of his constituents, which would include Mr. Murff, if he lived in CD-07. All of us, in CD-07, have issues we believe passionately in. Jim just wants them to be weighted as evenly as possible and not overshadowed by the lobbying forces we have seen of late.

Everyone in CD-07 should be questioning these two candidates and listening to their answers, not depending on a "throw down" letter sent out to undermine an honest grassroots effort.

With Regards,
A supporter of the horse and his mouth and one of many parent supporters from Lanier Middle School.

[Pilgrim4Progress]

4. Just curious

How was this distributed?

I'm in CD7 and didn't receive it.

[PDittie]

5. It came in my in box

from the Murff campaign. I get the notices and press releases from both campaigns.

[porter]

6. Reply to Murff's letter

A reply to Murff’s letter

When you first came to our Democratic club and announced that you would be running in the seventh and after I first met Henley my spouse and I had differences on who to support. She liked Henley.

“final lesson plan”….. It is a plan, by a candidate who lives in the district of the people who he desires to serve the people of the district in which he lives and is not a carpetbagger from two (2) districts to the South (in Nick Lampson’s area).

I am sorry to see you are on the Republican side of Ken Star, the special prosecutor, who went after the Clintons. Star spent millions of dollars on a $40K item. Another item in your letter is very poor. That is belittling of students and their parents(who are voters) participation in the Democratic process. The Democratic party needs more young people and we do not need candidates for political offices looking on them as being ineffectual. Ask Bob Gammage about his first win in the District that is currently Tom DeLay’s and the “kids” that worked that win for him. Or did you miss that part of his speech at the Harris County Democrats Meeting last Saturday?

Your service to our country was very short and you have never given specific months and years. You told me that you served in 1987 and 1988 at Fort Hood Headquarters Company but in this letter you say you were discharged in 1989. What’s the real deal? By the way I see in this letter that you “severed your country as a member of the armed forces” Shame on you. I was the person who asked you about your service time at the West Houston Democrats meeting – not Henley.

At the Democratic Central Committee meeting you stated you were endorsed by several known Democrats (Chris Bell, Bob Gammage, Nick Lampson, and Scott Hochberg). I was also the person at the same Westside meeting who confronted you about the people who you said endorsed you. When I confronted you with the emails from those above saying that is not true you said “I misspoke” – damm right and you changed your website too. But then, at the same meeting, you said David Van Os had endorsed you. I have another email and you know that was also another “misspoken endorsement” by you. In the email Van Os said he was “pissed” (right Pditty?).

As for the Band of Brothers I can assure you Henley has never said anything bad against them, maybe you, but not the organization. I personally know two of Brothers and I have had sit down conversations with them. Both are decorated and battle tested. I am also a veteran. I have two honorable discharges and I only served 22 months. My tour was cut short because of an accident and 13 weeks in a military hospital. Because of my short time in service and because of the credentials of the Band of Brothers (even though I have been an active Democrat for over 30 years) I would not have the balls to lean on them as you have.

My question to you is how do you expect to be elected when you speak in innuendos, the people I see accompanying you in your campaign can not vote for you, your wife can’t vote for you and you can not even vote for yourself(none of you do not live in the district).

You have yet to realize that if someone supports you running for a Republican’s seat it is not an “endorsement” over another Democrat in the race for the same seat. I am sure some of the people you mentioned (Cleland, Kerry and Clark) are savvy people and would not support, nor endorse, one candidate over another for the same seat in their party’s primary. I know Wesley Clark is supporting several of the “Brothers” with money and appearances. Are you one he will come in before the primary and to speak for or to send money to? I was at a Clark-Gammage luncheon a couple of weeks ago, you did not show. After the luncheon we accompanied General Clark to meet with State Representative Hubert Vo, at the Viet Nam Veterans’ Memorial to honor them. You didn’t attend that event either. I was in Little Rock last summer for a Clark event and attended a fund raiser for Eric Masa, a Band of Brothers member, from New York. I met Captain David Harris Democratic candidate CD6, a Band of Brothers member, at the Clark Caucus at the Texas Democratic State Convention. You weren’t there either, so I’m not impressed that you were in the same room with him last week.

If I want to be “flim-flamed” I would rather it be by the Republicans.

You have done one thing for me. Because of your actions you make it easy for me to support Jim Henley.


Later,

Porter

[PDittie]

7. Welcome to DU, Jim

An auspicious first post.

I didn't receive any of the e-mail you reference (it was before my official role with the campaign) but I have heard about them. David sent an apology to both Henley and Murff regarding the one with the harsh tone you reference, but apparently Jim isn't using it.

Coupla questions:

-- Did you send this to Murff's campaign e-address (or are you just posting it here as an open letter), and ...

-- How much uglier is this going to get, do you think?

[porter]

8. Well, Perry I'll tell you

Did I send it to Murff? Why would I? He sent it to "friends, constituents and supporters". He did NOT send it to me. I am not a friend. I am not a supporter and as a resident of CD7, which he is not, I am not a constituent. He sent it as a media release. You, in your capacity as a media blogger, posted it here. If he, or you, want this in public, here it is. If he wanted to tell people in CD7, he might have tried sending it to people in CD7.

I have refrained from speaking of this publicly, except as an elected Party official at an official Democratic meeting and then I spoke directly to Murff. That doesn't seem to be the sandbox he wants to play in, so following his lead, he and you can read it here. You can also rest assured, I speak for myself, not Jim Henely. Henely, of all people, knows how to speak for himself. I hope someday he will represent me in DC with all of his honesty and class. If Murff would win I would support him in the general election just to gain a Democratic seat. Having been in CD7 for 23 years,I'm use to Culberson kind of congresspeople.

Further, thanks for the welcome, such as it is, but I'm not new, the name is. I have three ISPs I post from and the name porter isn't the computer I would normally use, but in this case, I wanted to be sure to use my personal name. I've been here for well over a year. I don't normally post in this forum.

Later,

porter

[PDittie]

9. Well, the welcome was genuine

but I think you just unwittingly explained why Bob Gammage always wins these online polls.

Best of luck to all your candidates.

[merci_me]

10. You are just so wrong, but keep jumping.

Nothing "unwitting" in it. Do you actually think, if we were voting multiple times, we'd tell you we have three ISPs? Jim told you, to let you know, he has posted here before and certainly not concerned about you knowing. Jim has one for business, which is NOT used for playing, ask the tax man. He has one that he uses for personal time, that's connected to some research firm, that tracks every hit he makes. One for the old computer our grandson uses, which still has the "porter" name on it. He doesn't spend his time blogging, so he certainly doesn't it need for that. In fact, you'll notice, "porter" has been registered for a year and until yesterday, had a total of NINE posts. So you see, between the tax man, the research firm and our grandson able to pull up history on the third one, Jim is obviously not the kind to play silly games with a computer.

If you'd like, ask Skinner to check it for you, if it will ease your mind. But I think you know Jim well enough to know, he's not a game player and he also doesn't care what you or I or bloggers across the world think....he's just interested in honest candidates and a pure vote and that's one reason, he has stuck it out and been a precinct committee person and worked his precinct since 1972. He's strong willed and he doesn't throw in the towel.

Although I didn't vote in your poll a few months ago, I did vote today, ONCE as always. (if you want to come over and pull up the history on MY computer). I did ask Jim right after he responded to you, if he voted the poll and he had not, because, frankly, he doesn't read the Texas forum or your blog or any blog, actually. As it turned out, he still had it up on his computer and I had to show him how to back out from answering your question and point to the poll for him (are you going to count that, as me voting twice?). He had just posted, so was still on the computer with "porter", so feel free to check that with Skinner, which I imagine you are able to do, since when you had a poll up on here, you told me you KNEW who was voting. I didn't realize you could check it, but if you say so, I believe you.

[PDittie]

11. This is more than a little touchy and over the top

Certainly reactionary, and far more explanation than any of us needed.

I don't know Skinner at all, and don't know where you got the idea I could tell who was voting in an online poll on DU. It sounds like a conclusion you have leapt to based on our conversation over lunch at the Arabian restaurant, but that wasn't at all what I said or even implied.

I really could not care any less about this.

Take a break offline, Mary.

[evelync]

17. unfair inuendo

PDittie,
I have never posted here
but I think your response to Mr. Porter is really unwarranted and unkind - attacking the intellectual honesty of a fellow poster who had just proved that honesty by standing tall to explain that he has indeed been a fellow member of DU for a year but feels so strongly about his concerns that it was important for him to post under his actual name instead of using his regular "handle".
I think all of us are super sensitive to being treated like mushrooms by some politicians - having had distortions and untruths shovelled over us while the country is being ravaged financially and constitutionally.
And so it is important that candidates be held to a standard of honesty.
I myself am concerned that Mr. Murff claimed endorsements on his web site that were apparently not given. Why? What does that mean? I had the opportunity to hear both candidates speak at the Oil Patch Democrats meeting which I attended to hear Bob Gammage.
I was concerned that Mr. Murff seemed to have a very shallow understanding of foreign policy - he talked about bringing countries in the Middle East "into the fold". What fold? Isn't imagining that there is a fold what got us into trouble in Iraq? Who's fold is it? Is It the fold of the large energy companies who apparently expect our government to spend massive tax dollars and the lives of men and women who serve, if necessary to guarantee their energy contracts?
I want two things from a candidate for Congress. Honesty and the intellectual/emotional capacity to understand complex issues and the repercussion of policy decisions.
So, it's important for us as voters to feel comfortable that we are being told the truth. Mr. Porter felt so strongly about his concerns - that I think are valid concerns - that he insisted on using his actual name. I think he should be applauded for that.

[DemLindsey]

13. A reply to Mr. Porter

Mr. Porter, where to start? I guess let’s go down each of your points:

1. You say “A final lesson plan….It is a plan, by a candidate who lives in the district of the people who he desires to serve the people of the district in which he lives and is not a carpetbagger from two (2) districts to the South (in Nick Lampson’s area).” So, does that mean that you are against Mr. Lampson and his plight to unseat Tom Delay? Let’s be real! Mr. Murff has lived much of his life in this district, he was baptized there as a child, he attended school, and works in the district. Does geography make someone the better candidate really? Let’s stick to the issues!
2. You have either twisted or misunderstood David when he spoke of Mr. Henley’s sister. It’s not about how we feel about what Mrs. McDougal did; it’s the fact that whom ever wins this primary election has got to appeal to republican voters. Because, don’t forget, that CD7 is still mostly republican. Mr. Henley will not be able to appeal to republicans with his sister or the fact that he himself was indicted for bank fraud. Also, Mr. Murff never belittled the fact that Mr. Henley had students working his campaign or that they were involved. That is a very honorable and wonderful thing. But, based solely on that, it will not win Culberson’s seat. Grassroots is a wonderful thing, but realistically you’re going to need more to win this race!
3. Mr. Murff was in the army, and yes, although his service was short, he was discharged honorably so that he could tend to an ailing member of his family. Regardless of his length of duty, he served his country, and is a veteran, which is more than Mr. Henley can say. Mr. Murff also comes from a long history of veterans. His grandfather, his father, and three cousins all have served, and went to war, might I add. Mr. Murff understands veteran issues, understands what veteran families go through, and understands their sacrifice.
4. Endorsements…ahhh, so here’s an issue that Mr. Henley loves to bring up. It’s the only thing he can really mudsling against Mr. Murff, since he’s the one that made the mud. Okay, so let’s get some truth in there shall we? Mr. Henley stated MANY times that he did not believe in endorsements and will never seek endorsements of ANY politician. So, Mr. Murff decided that he does believe in endorsements, and he began to seek support from politicians due to the fact that Mr. Henley certainly wouldn’t. He asked Bob Gammage, Chris Bell, David Van Os, but has never asked Scott Hochberg. Everyone that Mr. Murff asked gave their endorsement. Then, somebody from Henley’s campaign decided to call each endorsement and tell them that they were dividing up the party through these endorsements….even though Mr. Henley does not believe in endorsements, remember? So, Mr. Murff spoke with each gentleman and decided to take out the endorsements until after the primary.
5. Let’s not worry about who can vote for Mr. Murff and who can’t. Let’s look at the better candidate. Who is the one that ALWAYS sticks to the issues? Who’s the one who even talks about the issues? Mr. Murff is the only candidate that has spent time on each issue. Take education for example. Mr. Murff talks extensively about the “No Child Left Behind Act,” the TAKS tests, and how Texas is 50th in graduating its children, and he talks about change for Texas. Mr. Henley, on the other hand, is a teacher, and never have I heard him speak of these things. If he’s such a wonderful teacher, then why isn’t he speaking for the teachers he works with? Mr. Henley doesn’t even make education among his top three priorities. At a recent meeting somebody asked Mr. Henley about how he feels about these issues with education. He said that he teaches an elective class and does not have to deal with it, but his co-workers sure are getting the raw end of the deal. And, that’s all he said. I’m a teacher, and I have to witness first hand all of the things that our children have to endure, such as; the grossly under funded programs, and the lack of educational opportunities. They are taught test strategies, and they are not given the tools to think outside the box or to explore their world. Education HAS to change!!! It infuriates me that Mr. Henley is not and has not taken a stand for teachers. It also irritates me that Mr. Henley believes in incentive pay as a reward for teachers based on increased performance by their students. Teachers as a whole are against incentive pay based on performance for more reasons then I will get into right now.
6. Mr. Murff has gotten support from Senator Kerry, General Wesley Clark, Honorable Max Cleland, and many, many others due to the fact that he is in the Band of Brothers group. These are people that Mr. Henley would never seek support from. If Mr. Murff were elected to congress, CD7 would not be getting just a “freshman” congressman. They would be getting someone that can make legislation and get it passed, because he is in this group. They have made a promise, that when they are elected they will become a powerful caucus and will already have the respect of other congressmen. Important issues will finally get passed and integrity will finally be returned to this country!
7. Finally, I must add, Mr. Henley touts that he wants only a clean and positive campaign and he wants to be a good example to his students. It’s not a very positive campaign when one continues to lie about his opponent, who by the way, is in the same party as he is. Mr. Henley is now belittling Mr. Murff’s legal credentials. He must really be floundering in his own campaign if he’s starting to make things up. If there’s any question at all about Mr. Murff’s legal credentials, go to: www.texaslaw.com I have seen more class out of Mr. Henley’s students then by their teacher. I have seen, on many occasions, him blow his lid, storm out of a room, argue with constituents, and frankly loose his cool. We have got to remember that this fight is not supposed to be between two people in the same party. This is supposed to be about unseating Mr. Culberson, and we are starting to loose sight on that.

Those are my final thoughts and points. Now, let’s get back to the issues. By the way, Mr. Murff is the only one talking about them.

Lindsey

[johncoby2]

14. wow! That was a mouth full!

I've seen Henley at 2 events. He fishes too much and makes snide comments about his opponent. He doesnt look or act professional. I attempted to mention this to him, but got into a argument with his campaign manager, which by the way was way out of character for me, completely uncalled for, and I have since apologized for it.

But back to Henley. To take out Culberson, we have to appeal to those who have traditionally voted Republican, even though they are not republican. Appealing to the true republicans is a losing battle. Leave them alone, but work those who have voted R, but dont realize they problably not an R. Might not be a D, but they probably are not an R.

Henley doesn't seem to be able to appeal to many Democrats. Now I don't have a dog in this race either, but David Murff has the better chance of winning. IMHFO

[Akif]

18. Reply to Mrs. Murff

For the purposes of disclosure, I am a supporter of Jim Henley, a former Lanier Middle School parent, and a volunteer for the Henley campaign in terms of block walking, writing postcards, and making phone calls. Lindsey in this blog (and others) to whom I am replying is Mr. Murff’s spouse.

1. Mrs. Murff makes a good point about residence. In general I am a bit equivocal on this point; however, many others find this very important. When I have mentioned Mr. Henley’s campaign to several neighbors, curiously, almost everyone over 50 years of age asks whether Mr. Henley is a resident. I reply that he is but do not say anything about Mr. Murff unless asked, at which point I do mention that he was once a long time resident and plans to return. The South has always had an issue about that going back to Reconstruction; rational or not, it is there.

2. Indeed has Mr. Murff ever really uttered Mrs. McDougall’s name in public? Not at any of the four events I have attended. Instead, at three of these events I heard a veiled comment about skeletons or baggage that could be detrimental in a campaign against Culberson. I have already addressed this issue in a previous reply to Mr. Murff in this thread.

While it is probably accurate to say that Mr. Murff never overtly belittled Mr. Henley’s students, his tone about the fact that they represented a core set of workers was dismissive when I have heard him speak of them. In 1972 the Democratic power brokers dismissed McGovern’s army of college and high school volunteers and were stunned by his successes in the primaries. The commitment to do the hard work of block walking, writing postcards, delivering yard signs, and much more by these students, their friends, and their parents is impressive. As I said in my previous response to Mr. Murff, grassroots can work and can get a good man elected, if we work hard enough. Time will tell.

3. I already addressed this issue in my previous reply to Mr. Murff. However, he was asked once by someone in the audience (no one that I knew as a volunteer for Henley – Mr. Porter, I believe) for some specifics about Mr. Murff’s short length of service. It was a fair question, which Mr. Murff could have answered as elegantly as his spouse has at the beginning of this point in her posting. That would have ended discussion right then and there, and I can assure you that Mr. Henley would have responded warmly to Mr. Murff since Mr. Henley understands very well the ties that bind families in times of trouble.

4. This, too, could have also become a non-issue for Mr. Murff if he had better understood the nature of the support he was given early on. It has become clear that Mr. Murff was given generic encouragement by several local politicians, largely because he got in the game a bit earlier than Mr. Henley, and these individuals did not want to discourage anyone. I really do not know precisely the nature of Mr. Murff’s interactions with our local politicians but they were withdrawn by Mr. Murff in recognition that an official endorsement was not given, and he said as much at the meeting of the West Democrats. Endorsements mean something more serious than political neophyte Mr. Murff realized, and this is what got him in trouble.

5. Mr. Henley has spoken on the issues just as much as Mr. Murff. I have already pointed out some of the difficulties that arise from what Mr. Murff has discussed on the issues in my previous entry in this thread. In reality, I really don’t think there is any substantive difference between these two gentlemen on education, though I think Mr. Henley is better informed about science and science education based on what I have heard (especially at the Braeswood Democrats meeting), and my spouse and I will take a little bit of credit for that. As for the other issues you discuss, see my previous entry in this thread.


6. Perhaps this group will come together if a majority of them get elected but that is a big perhaps. Freshman congresspersons are freshman congresspersons and they will have to pay their dues no matter what credentials they bring. More importantly, this is a very heterogeneous group with varying opinions about the issues. Indeed, I have heard two Band of Brothers give starkly different views on the impeachment of President Bush and on withdrawal of American forces from Iraq (see my previous posting). Having watched our country get itself into three wars I am not that enamored of a military caucus in Congress be they Democrat or Republican. As for restoring integrity to this country, being an ex-soldier is not a prerequisite for accomplishing such a feat. Any man or woman of integrity can do that. All the rest is rhetorical rubbish.

7. Has Mr. Henley lied about his opponent? About what? Listening to these two gentlemen, I have not heard either make a statement that is an intentional lie. However, both have raised issues about each other, and this is politics. I have objected to the veiled commentary of Mr. Murff about Mr. Henley’s past early in the campaign; Mr. Murff’s followers have complained about being asked direct questions about Mr. Murff’s activities, though more often by bloggers and strangers in their audiences than by Mr. Henley himself or active Henley supporter.

As for a clean, positive campaign, this is certainly calmer that what either candidate will see in the Fall, so I would tell both candidates that if the mud is bothering them that get ready because hot lava is on the way.

As for credentials, thrice I have explored the texaslaw site Mrs. Murff sites in her blog response (www.texaslaw.com) and I cannot find any mention of Mr. Murff. What should be concluded from this? For now, I prefer to conclude that Mrs. Murff gave me the wrong url address.

Mrs. Murff writes, “I have seen, on many occasions, him blow his lid, storm out of a room, argue with constituents, and frankly loose his cool.” Many times, Mrs. Murff?! Is this an accurate statement? Is it an exaggeration? Or is it a lie? I doubt that you have come into contact with Mr. Henley enough to say that you have seen him many times, whatever many means to you. When you get into hyperbole like this, how can the rest of your criticism be taken seriously?

As for Mr. Henley’s students, you are correct in noting their class; though again how often have you really come in contact with them living and working so far away from central Houston? I have spent several days and nights with his debaters at tournaments and will just say that your impression is well founded. Their model is Mr. Henley; not by his words but by his deeds.

Finally, Mrs. Murff, your husband is not the only one talking about the issues. That has never been accurate. Both gentlemen have talked about the issues, and I have already pointed out some of my concerns about Mr. Murff’s in this thread.

Akif Uzman, Professor, Teacher, Henley Supporter, District 7 resident.

[Akif]

15. Mr. Henley's Honorable Service

Mr. Murff writes” I have honorably served my country and this is more than can be said for Mr. Henley.” Mr. Henley has served his country honorably for 19 years as a middle school teacher in central Houston. Must honorable service to one’s country come only from military service, Mr. Murff?

I have been at three different events that included both Mr. Henley and Mr. Murff wherein Mr. Murff has made a veiled comment about the dangers of having skeletons in the closet when running against Mr. Culberson. As reported elsewhere this skeleton is Mr. Ken Starr’s witch-hunt that dragged Mr. Henley’s family through the mud in a vicious, failed attempt to find a criminal offense against Bill and Hillary Clinton. Democrats and all Americans can look at the Henley family, most notably Ms. Susan McDougall, with pride and appreciate their heroism for upholding justice in the face of this McCarthy-like attack on the Clintons. This too, Mr. Murff is honorable service to one’s country. Let Mr. Culberson attack Jim on this. It will backfire since many Republicans, even in Texas, were put off by this shameful pseudolegal attack. Mr. Murff is young, and he perhaps does not appreciate the history of our country back in the early to mid 90’s or at other times wherein governmental political-legal pressure was used to destroy lives.

One of the key issues of our time is the war in Iraq, Mr. Henley’s thoughts about this have been clear and he has shown that he understands this issue better than Mr. Murff’s claim to deep historical understanding the other night on KPFT and elsewhere. Mr. Murff worried at a local Democratic group meeting that if the US leaves immediately a Hamas-like government might take over in Iraq. Does he not understand what he is reading in the newspapers? Hamas won its seats in the Palestinian parliamentary government fair and square, not only in spite of the US but because of the US. This, too, is a likely scenario for Iraq for all the same reasons that Hamas was successful. Mr. Murff’s approach to Iraq highlights a Western paternalistic view of this region that has fueled the politico-cultural division between the West and the Arab World for two centuries. How many more centuries must go by before a Western politician comes to grip with this? Interestingly, Mr. Ted Ankrum (another Texas Band of Brother) and Mr. Henley are on the same page about the urgency of American withdrawal from Iraq, which I fully support.

Elsewhere in this thread, Mr. Henley’s view of education is misrepresented. Mr. Henley is not a blind advocate of testing as the principal teacher performance measure (much less as the single student performance measure) as the comments provided by one of Mr. Murff’s supporters about Mr. Henley’s position might suggest. There are many ways to measure student performance and reward teachers for helping students achieve this performance, and Mr. Henley understands this. To my knowledge, at least four teachers are actively participating in Mr. Henley’s campaign. Mr. Henley is a teacher and he has avoided the typical political sound bite to discuss what is wrong with America’s educational system. As a teacher, I support Jim because he understands the multiple levels at which this problem must be attacked.

Mr. Murff loves to drop names. Recently, he mentioned at a local meeting of Democrats that he met with Dr. William Brinkley the “head of a stem cell research department” at Baylor. Dr. Brinkley is the dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Studies at Baylor and a faculty member in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology. However, he does not work on stem cells nor heads a stem cell department. Nonetheless, I am sure that Dr. Brinkley knows a lot about what is current in this field since he is a well informed and accomplished cell biologist. However, I am also certain that he did not say anything to Mr. Murff that would suggest that stem cell cures would come as quickly as Mr. Murff claimed that they would (Mr. Murff snapped his fingers). I teach cell & molecular biology at UH-Downtown and have kept myself technically informed on this issue and I can accurately state, as have other more renown experts, that stem cells offer unique promise for the future but there is no “stem cell cure” that can come as quickly as some irresponsible proponents of this research have claimed. I bring this issue up since it highlights to me two problems endemic to Mr. Murff’s campaign: (1) Mr. Murff loves to drop names in an attempt to show how well connected he is or how well-informed he is, and (2) Mr. Murff makes claims based on these superficial connections that are either erroneous or grossly inflated.

Recently, a Henley house party we hosted was attended by 26 scientists and professors from UH, UHD, and the Texas Medical Center. Donations are still coming in from these people because Jim was able to listen, discuss, and demonstrate that he understands clearly what needs to be done in order to improve American science and science education in the US. What is more valuable, Mr. Murff, a thousand dollars from one PAC or a thousand dollars collected from across 26 constituents? Of course, you would say both but it is not clear that you value and understand the significance of grassroots campaigning. Grassroots campaigning can win in a congressional district race even as large as District 7, especially in between Presidential elections.

Mr. Henley and Mr. Murff have been visiting with Democratic groups around the district giving their views, hoping for endorsements. Both gentlemen have obtained them from a variety of local political groups. Mr. Henley has posted his endorsements on his web page, while Mr. Murff has recently shied away from posting an endorsement from a progressive gay-lesbian group out of the Montrose area. Interesting. I wonder how they feel about this? I suspect the Henley campaign would have been proud to post this endorsement if they had received it. Mr. Murff has advocated several times that he would support and push for the impeachment of President Bush for his probable illegal actions of the last couple of years. This is laudable and I am sure some Democratic groups love hearing this. However, as Mr. Murff’s fellow Band of Brother, Ted Ankrum, and Jim have said, this is a waste of valuable energy and time with a current Republican majority that runs both branches of the US Congress and with only two years left in Bush’s term.

I support Jim Henley not just because I agree with his views but I admire his integrity. He has already shown in his past life that he can stand up to political pressures that Mr. Murff has yet to imagine.

Akif Uzman, Professor, Teacher, Henley Supporter, District 7 resident.

[johncoby2]

16. What skeletons are you talking about?

What skeletons besides being indicted for bank fraud (and acquitted) does Henley have that you are so concerned about?

And after a very long response, did you ever say if Henley served in the service?

Once again, if Henley would concentrate on what he would do and how he would work with the other members of Congress instead of bashing his opponent, I think he would do much better.

[DemLindsey]

19. A message to Mr. Uzman from Mr. Murff himself

Mr. Murff's response to Mr. Uzman...

Dear Mr. Uzman:

There are many issues to which Mr. Henley and I disagree, and I find this refreshing. The voters in the Democratic Primary have seen two very different candidates and will cast their votes for the candidate they believe will have the best opportunity to replace Representative Culberson in November.

While I have made several statements about honorably serving my country, these have all been in response to either Mr. Henley's supporters questioning my military service or similar attacks made directly by Mr. Henley. You assume incorrectly when you mischaracterize my responses as an attempt to belittle Mr. Henley and the contributions made in his effort to educate the youth of our city. I hold education and those who educate in the highest regard; after all, I am married to an educator. What I find, however, most puzzling about Mr. Henley is that education is NOT one of the main issues within his platform. It is not even in the top three. Recently at the Harris County Brown Bag lunch where Mr. Henley and I spoke, I raised the topic of the gross under funding of the No Child Left Behind Act and the ridiculous mandates placed upon the states to pursue testing requirements that do not properly measure the progress of our children. A constituent first had to ask which candidate was the teacher, as Mr. Henley had not once mentioned education throughout his previous 5 minute speech (except that he was a world famous debate coach). After it was revealed that Mr. Henley was the educator, his only comment on the No Child Left Behind Act was to say that he did not teach a core class, but rather an elective, so he did not have to deal with such issues. I am certain that Mr. Henley is a wonderful debate coach, but I do not believe he has a grasp on what ordinary teachers deal with on a daily basis. On his website he states that teachers should be rewarded based on performance. Ask most teachers in an ordinary classroom setting their opinion on this issue and they will run you out of the building for suggesting such a scheme.

You state: "Mr. Henley is a teacher and he has avoided the typical political sound bite to discuss what is wrong with America’s educational system." To me, this sounds like someone who does not have a position on education. We need to take every available chance to speak to this issue and let everyone know just how, on so many levels, we are failing our children and this Nation.

Now, a quick note about my 2 hour conversation with Dr. William Brinkley last year at the Baylor College of Medicine. I find it difficult for you to know what Dr. Brinkley and I discussed since you were not present, but I can assure you that nearly the entire topic of conversation was stem cell research and the advances that have been made and/or are forthcoming. Dr. Brinkley is extremely knowledgeable in this area and speaks often on this very topic. The following quote was taken from a press release by Representative Gene Green (http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/tx29_green/nr081705.html): "We are proud to have our stem cell center on the forefront of regenerative medicine research and are delighted to host Congressman Green for his visit to our BCM facility," said Dr. William Brinkley, senior vice president of graduate sciences and dean of biomedical sciences at BCM. "Part of our mission is to educate the public on the technology used in stem cell research and to explain the fundamental science behind it." I believe and have always believed that stem cell research will be the key to curing many ailments plagued by man. I simply mention his name and our conversation as evidence of my commitment to reach out early in the campaign and educate myself about this issue.

Regarding your endorsement issue, I am very proud that the GLBT Political Caucus has endorsed me as their candidate of choice. Their screening process was lengthy and covered a wide range of topics. I feel honored in the confidence they have placed in me to pursue issues of importance to their community. With that said, I will gladly pronounce my support for their cause at any forum and under any circumstance. Many times I have seen the love, compassion and unwavering support this community has shown for others, and I can only hope that I may instill these virtues in my own children.

And Finally, Mr. Henley's current and former students deserve and have my utmost admiration for their participation in his campaign. Yet, I cannot help but wonder if they are simply being used for Mr. Henley's own agenda. Mr. Henley has carried a heavy burden regarding his sister's battle with the criminal justice system and even his own, but this battle does not belong in the classroom and should not be a part of any curriculum. When the local newspaper reported on Mr. Henley's hatred towards Kenneth Starr for his criminal prosecution against his sister and his family, it highlighted Mr. Henley's inability to separate his personal life from his professional life. Bringing these issues to the classroom, the Houston Chronicle reported: "Henley said he and his students react one way to his cause and their parents react another way. Many of the children say that his sister should comply with Starr's requests for information to avoid a 12-year prison sentence - and to spare their teacher further anguish. "They feel the pain through me," Henley said. It's the parents and other adults who urge the Henley family to fight Starr, he explained, saying, "They are outraged."(http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1998_3054142)

Early in our campaigns, I felt that Mr. Henley and I were pursuing a position within the 110th Congress for the same reasons. Today, however, I have my doubts.

David Murff
Democratic Candidate, Texas CD7

[Czolgosz]

20. A certain level of primary fighting (especially between supporters rather

than between the candidates) is to be expected, but when the level of rancor rises to the point that it could have an effect on the general election, we need to scale it back.

In one local election we have here in South Texas, a candidate for office who has some key support from Republicans is running a vicious and unfair TV campaign. I met with the subject of the unfair attack ads. Another supporter had taken the liberty of making fact-based counter ads based on publicly available documents. Yet the target of the unfair attack ads is not going to run the counter ads because she recognizes that if she went down that path it would lead to weakening the Democratic ticket in November. I was impressed by that strength.

Let's try to have an open debate, a candid debate, a debate in which both sides can contrast their candidacies against their opponents', even a debate with passion on both sides, but let's not lose focus either on the real opponent (the Republicans) or on the fact that the real election is in November, not March.

[DemLindsey]

21. An Open Letter to Mr. Henley:

I agree that our fight as Democrats should be saved for the race against Republicans. I would love to have an actual debate about the issues. That is what I've been calling for all along. However, today is the big voting day, and Mr. Henley continues to play like a republican....down right dirty. So, I share this letter with all of you that I wrote to Mr. Henley.


Dear Mr. Henley, 3-7-06

I expected this out of a republican, but as a fellow democrat, I am very disappointed and disgusted to say the least. Last night, and into the wee hours of the morning, Mr. Murff and supporters tirelessly went to each polling place (approx. 80 polling places) and placed Murff for Congress signs. As voters well know, these campaign signs remind people who are running for office and allows voters to see their choices in candidates. It is evident to me that your campaign/supporters, took most, if not all, of Mr. Murff’s signs. Shame on you! You tout that you are running a strictly positive campaign and a campaign that would be a good example to your students. I have seen deceit, a lack of ethics, and a lack of integrity out of you and your campaign. Is this the lesson plan that you planned? We are supposed to be fellow democrats. Democrats stand for values and we stand for what is right. We do not silence our opponents and take away the people’s right to choose. We allow the voters to choose who they think would best represent THEM. You, Mr. Henley, do not get to choose that!
Mr. Murff continues to be the only candidate in this race that has carried integrity and honesty while you continue to run a campaign by bashing your fellow democratic opponent. Never once did Mr. Murff have to lie, cheat, or steal his way through his campaign. He stuck to the issues and offered the constituents answers to the issues. It is not expected that everyone agree with Mr. Murff. It is simply the fact that the constituents are at least given the foundation work for what lies ahead if they so choose to support Mr. Murff. Mr. Henley, for the most part, you and Mr. Murff agree on most issues. There are some differences in your solutions, and that is where the voters are supposed to make that choice.
I call for you to show a sign of true leadership and replace the Murff for Congress signs. Maybe then, I can hold some respect for you if you win this race.

Sincerely,
Lindsey Murff