GOP Chair Opens Old Wound About Haggerty
I say allegedly because the press release was really the GOP's excuse to go on the offensive against Carl Robinson, who just so happen to be having a fundraiser two hours after there press release was sent out.
Strategically it was a major mistake on the part of Chairman Telles. It gave the El Paso Democratic Party and Robinson's campaign the opportunity to comment once again on Commissioner Haggerty's vote in support of the Trump administration.
With friends like that, who needs enemies?
The GOP was trying to get the media to stick a mic in front of Robinson's face at his event last night and ask him about some filing errors on campaign finance reports. It was an obvious effort to frame a story and get in some quotes that are negative about Robinson, but it was poorly executed. In fact, it probably did more harm that good because the El Paso Democratic Party and Robinson's campaign seemed to respond within minutes of the press release.
They went on the offensive about the GOP's own problems with campaign financing, raising the issue of Trump's lawyer pleading guilty to campaign finance violations and Rick Seeberger's (the GOP's candidate for the 16th Congressional District) own financial woes.
But the biggest problem with the press release was the fact that it brought up Haggerty's alignment with Trump on immigration. That is the GOP's biggest weakness and probably not something Haggerty wanted the public reminded about. Although the local GOP is pretty tone deaf when it comes to immigration to begin with.
So take a look at the press release sent by Telles and the scalding responses from the El Paso Democratic Party Chair and from former City Rep and Haggerty opponent, Carl Robinson.
*******************************************
GOP Response to Democratic Party Chair Press Release on Commissioner Haggerty
For Release: Immediate
The United States is a country of laws. Attorneys and public officials put their right hand on a bible and promise in front of God and all of us to uphold the laws of this state and country. Ms. Iliana Holguin, Chair of the Democrat (sic) Party in El Paso County, is publicly criticizing Commissioner Haggerty for not supporting the County Commissioners’ motion to condemn the Tornillo Child Detention Camp. No one is happy with our current immigration laws. The Commissioners’ Court motion was to ignore the law because enforcement makes me feel bad.
While Ms. Holguin uses Haggerty’s vote to promote his Democrat (sic) challenger, Mr. Carl Robinson, she totally ignores Mr. Robinson’s continued violations of election law. Ms. Holguin, Mr. O’Rourke, and Ms. Escobar are all elected officials that took the oath to uphold the laws of this country. They are also choosing to ignore Mr. Robinson’s continued violations of the law.
Mr. Robinson has consistently filed his campaign finance reports late, a violation of law. Mr. Robinson has not disclosed the source of all his contributions, a violation of law. Mr. Robinson has not disclosed all campaign disbursements, a violation of law. Mr. Robinson used the excuse that he had no activity and therefore forgot to timely file, then includes reportable activity in his report. Is this acceptable behavior for any candidate?
Why do Ms. Holguin, Mr. O’Rourke, and Ms. Escobar think that our country and county should have more liberal rules for people from other countries breaking our laws than we have for United States Citizens? The immigration laws that separate families have been in place for a long time. Where was Ms. Holguin during the Obama administration when the same actions were being taken?
For more information, contact :
Adolpho R. Telles, Chairman
El Paso County Republican Party
Tel 915-5=842-8255
*********************************************That press release drew this response from the El Paso County Democratic Party Chairwoman Iliana Holguin, in which she whacks Haggerty, Trump, and the GOP all in one press release:
STATEMENT REGARDING GOP RESPONSE TO DEMOCRATIC CHAIR’S CRITISISM OF COMMISSIONER ANDREW HAGGERTY’S VOTE IN JUNE COMMISSIONER’S COURT MEETING
CONTACT:
Iliana Holguin, County Chair
El Paso County Democratic Party
(915)588-6244
I am disappointed to hear what was said by Chairman Telles, but not surprised. The press release sent by Chairman Telles underscores the fundamental difference between the local parties - the El Paso Democratic Party supports comprehensive immigration reform to address our broken immigration system, while the El Paso Republican Party wants to use the tragedy of children being taken away from their mothers as a way to try to score a cheap political hit on their Republican candidate’s opponent for the Commissioner’s Court seat for Precinct 4. It is highly ironic that Mr. Telles accuses Democrats of not upholding or respecting the rule of law when the head of his own Party has just publicly admitted to several major campaign finance violations and six of his most senior advisors and confidants have now plead or have been found guilty of various federal felony offenses.
In my statement of June 19, I criticized Commissioner Haggerty for voting against a resolution condemning the forceable separation of children from their mothers and fathers and the incarceration of immigrant children in tent camps erected by this administration in our own backyard. As everyone who heard the cries of young children as they begged to be reunited with their mothers and fathers knows, the values of this administration are not the values of our community. We believe in humane enforcement of our country’s immigration laws, which does not include causing irreparable, lifetime trauma to children fleeing death and unimaginable violence in their home countries.
But since Chairman Telles raised the issue, we are happy to discuss it. Importantly, Chairman Telles’ press release underscores Commissioner Haggerty’s unconditional support for President Trump’s agenda. We firmly believe that this is something that voters should remember in November. We believe that when voters hear the name Andrew Haggerty, they should immediately think of the name Donald Trump.
Republicans do not reflect El Paso values. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, former County Judge Veronica Escobar, and Rep. Carl Robinson, however, do reflect our values and understand the need for comprehensive immigration reform and for demanding humane enforcement of our immigration laws. Chairman Telles should be more concerned about his congressional candidate’s own financial record rather than trying to capitalize on minor filing errors. The Republican candidate for the 16th congressional district has filed for bankruptcy several times, and according to news reports, was involved in a scandal involving a parent/teacher association not receiving the funds that were due to them from Mr. Seeberger’s company.
We believe these issues are far more important to the voters of El Paso County.
*************************************
Representative Robinson's campaign made sure they got in on the fun as well. Robinson dropped this bomb on Telles and Haggerty:
Statement from Democratic Candidate for Precinct 4
Carl Robinson in Response to Attack from the GOP Chair
"I’ve made clerical errors in filing in the past. These were minor errors and I am hardly the only elected official or candidate who has erroneously filed a campaign finance report.
However, I am more concerned that Chairman Telles would use the plight of children being separated from their families as a way to pivot into a very obvious attack on my character. I think this shows that my Republican opponent lacks the character to attack me personally. It’s shameful that the GOP continues to politicize children. I think that is the greater concern for voters going forward in the November election. Our County is facing some serious issues relating to public safety, infrastructure, and economic development. I think they deserve a candidate with the maturity to deal with those issues head on, instead of using the separation of families for a cheap political hit. It is disappointing that instead of talking about how to support our public safety professionals, improving our failing infrastructure, or improving the lives of the people in his district through economic development, that Commissioner Haggerty through the GOP Chair, are more interested using tragedy to further Trump’s agenda.
Shame on Chairman Telles and shame on Commissioner Haggerty.
El Pasoan’s deserve better.”
Seriously, it makes no sense why Telles would want to pick at the scab a couple months later, but this is what happens when you try to get cute in a press release.
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