Fierro Sells Out to GOP - Again

In every campaign there is a certain level of hypocrisy if you look hard enough. You don't have to look that hard in Art Fierro's campaign - his hypocrisy is lit up like a casino the strip in Vegas at midnight on New Years Eve. Somehow Eddie Holguin and Lily Limón's consulting firm finds a way to talk their candidates into sending out mailers that end up hurting their clients more than helping. 

On the very day that Art Fierro's mailer alleging his opponent Claudia Ordaz Perez is supported by Republicans hits mailboxes - Fierro's finance report shows he's taken more money from Republican PAC's than the PACs spent on Republican candidates. 

And make no mistake about this political truth - no contribution of the amount given to Fierro, at the time its given - comes without an expectation from who is making the contribution. I can't think of a more clear example of Art Fierro being bought and paid for by Texas Republicans than these last-minute contributions. 

So not only has El Paso lost a member of our delegation in the legislature - it appears the Republicans have gained one. 

Fierro, who sold out to the GOP during the fight against bills that would implement harsh restrictions for mail-in ballots - something that has led to record number of mail-in ballot requests denials, somehow found a way to further sell his party up the river. 

Fierro's mailer against Ordaz features a picture of Donald Trump, Greg Abbot, Ted Cruz, and Ken Paxton asking voters what she has in common with them. The mailer alleges the answer is "Republican Special Interests."

Ironically on the very same day Fierro's campaign finance report shows two contributions of $10,000 each from a PAC started by the former Republican Speaker of the House in the Texas House and another ultra conservative PAC run by the former Speaker's Chief of Staff. 

For context - this is a Republican PAC made by a Republican Speaker, with the expressed intent of saving Republican seats against Democrats. Oh, don't take my word for it - check out this article from The Texas Tribune about this special little fund. 

Trump, Abbot, Cruz, nor Paxton ever contributed to her - nor ever would - but the Holguin / Fierro faction don't care about the truth - they just believe in the win-at-all costs tactics. 

Which honestly - if Art would've had the same philosophy in the legislature as he has to keep his seat, we might have beaten the legislation that is now negatively impacting voters in El Paso. 

The point is, Fierro wants to lie to voters and give them the impression that COP is somehow associated with Republicans. Meanwhile, Fierro is working with the former Republican Speaker of the House to fundraise. 

Here's a truth Arti Fierro and Eddie Holguin don't want you to know - the Republican PAC that contributed to Art Fierro - that's the largest contribution the've ever made to ANY candidate - Democrat or Republican. 

You think they are doing that with no expectation from the recipient (Art Fierro) to deliver on basically whatever the GOP wants?

But seriously - has there ever been a more clear example of selling out than Art Fierro? And if he were making a conscience effort to be even more of a sell-out - he points the finger about accepting Republican money - after enabling Republican efforts at redistricting, voter suppression, and attacks on the LGBTQ and women...

Art Fierro needs to make up his mind - is he against Republicans - or is he their pool boy? 

Because it is the most tired old politician move ever to drop a mailer criticizing your opponent for doing something that you are doing hundreds of times worse. It is the absolute caricature of the politician stereotype. 

He has actually sent out two mailers criticizing COP for Republican donations that are dwarfed by the contributions Fierro has accepted from Republicans - after he received those contributions. That goes to character. When you know you are doing something far worse - but you criticize your opponent for doing it to a far lesser degree - is a shockingly disturbing lapse in ethics. 

I'm trying to find out exactly when it was that Art Fierro became so against Republican money. It clearly wasn't during his entire tenure on the El Paso Community College Board. It clearly wasn't when he developed a deep friendship with El Paso Republicans. It clearly wasn't when he was running for State Representative the first time. It clearly wasn't over the summer when the very same people he criticized COP for taking money from where hosting a fundraiser for him last summer. 

It appears he became against it when they stopped raising money for him. 

Just kidding, he still took Republican money. I've previously written the Republicans that were on his last couple of campaign finance reports. 

How does he look Democrats within the El Paso County Democratic Party with a straight face anymore and say he's a Democrat after taking money from the very people that have enacted such terrible laws this last legislature? How can anyone who says the support a progressive agenda not be completely mortified by the actions of Fierro. 

Also - how do all the alleged hardcore Democrats that went to bat for Fierro support him after this latest development. I'm looking at you Annello, and Iliana Holguin...Just kidding - not really looking at Holguin - she did that because it financially benefits her and her husband - like when $10,000 was funneled to Eddie Holguin's firm while she was chair of the Democratic Party. 

I mean how comical is it that the immediate past chair of the El Paso County Democratic Party is on a negative mailer attacking a candidate about Republican contributions when the candidate she is supporting   gets a ton of money from the the GOP?

At this point, how can anyone in the Democratic Party take Art Fierro seriously? How could anyone in the delegation take him seriously? If he wins - he's completely indebted to the GOP. And progressives...is this your boy? 

Oh, but I noticed something I think gets lost in the shuffle. Art Fierro pulled a Norma Chavez. Norma, in the death throws of her political career took contributions from the Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo - who backed her because she was fighting for gaming - in the very same session that she took money from an Oklahoma Tribe that wanted to prevent Texas gaming from becoming a reality because people from North Texas and the panhandle go up to Oklahoma for gaming. 

Guess who else took money from an Oklahoma Tribe against Texas Gaming for the YDSP? 

That's right, Art Fierro. 

They've opposed gaming in Texas since 2006 - probably because they have 22 casinos in Oklahoma. They've got a lot of money tied up into lobbyists that used to work with - wait for it - Greg Abbott, that are hell-bent on making sure gaming doesn't happen in Texas. 

But lets end this with a real conversation about personal integrity. Truth is - Art doesn't rally care about Republican money because he took way more. That clearly shows its not really an issue to him - only when he's not getting it. 

The people that have come out in support of Art Fierro - I wonder how they think about the fact that Art Fierro has taken so much GOP money - to support his GOP stances? Progressives, is this your boy?

He sent out not one - but two - negative mailers about COP taking Republican money knowing full well that he had taken more money from Republicans than anyone else.

And that ladies and gentlemen, explains where we are politically in this community. Facts and the truth don't matter to some. Party values don't matter to some. Taking a stand for principles doesn't matter to some. 

Only winning - no matter the cost.