"The Queen Lives"

["Tony Abdo" <gojack10@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Republican Party attacks on longstanding norms of US capitalist election
standards are not just a phenomena pertaining to the buying of a reversal of
the California gubernatorial election, but also are part of the Texas scene.
      Here, the Republican attack has centered on rewriting Congressional
Districts to their advantage.      The reference to Black Congresswoman
Sheila Lee as "The Queen" is the prototype of racism and elitism that runs
in Texas Republican circles.
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Texas Aide's E-Mail Ridicules Democrats
Sat Oct 11
By SUZANNE GAMBOA, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - An e-mail written by an aide to Texas Rep. Joe Barton ridiculed
Democrats and gloated over the Republicans' expected victory in a battle
over congressional redistricting.
Barton's legislative counsel, Joby Fortson, sent the e-mail from his
personal computer, Barton's office said Friday. It was forwarded to
Democrats in the state Capitol in Austin and in Washington and to members of
the news media.

Texas lawmakers read the e-mail aloud in the state House and Senate during
debate on the congressional redistricting map Friday.

"As much as we despise her, she cannot be drawn out ... the Queen lives!!!!"
Fortson wrote about Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, whose Houston district remains
Democratic.    He mocked Reps. Martin Frost and Lloyd Doggett, repeating
"ha, ha, ha" numerous times.     He even took a poke at fellow Republican
Rep. Ron Paul, saying winning his redrawn district could be "a lot trickier
than thought given Paul's unusual behavior." Paul's votes often reflect his
libertarian views on government.

Barton spokeswoman Samantha Jordan said the e-mail "certainly in no way is
reflective" of the congressman's thinking. She said Barton was "very
disappointed to see what could be perceived as derogatory comments" on his
Texas colleagues.     Jordan said Barton has not decided whether to take any
disciplinary action.      An office receptionist said Fortson was out of the
office Friday.   He did not respond to requests for comment sent to his work
and personal e-mail addresses.

Democrats said the e-mail demonstrates the mean-spiritedness of the Texas
redistricting saga.
"Republican staffers may find minority voter disenfranchisement a funny
topic, but I can guarantee that the courts don't," said Greg Speed,
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesman.

Nkenge Harmon, Jackson Lee's spokeswoman said the e-mail sums up Democrat'
views on the Republican redistricting efforts. "We've been saying all along
Republicans aren't redistricting for any reason, but a power grab," Harmon
said. "It's ugly, not for the good of Texas and for (House Majority Leader)
Tom DeLay and other Republicans."

The redistricting fight gained national attention when Democratic lawmakers
boycotted the Texas Legislature in effort to thwart Republicans. House
Democrats spent about four days in Oklahoma and Senate Democrats stayed more
than six weeks in Albuquerque, N.M.     Texas Republicans have redrawn the
state's congressional map to give the party up to seven more seats. They say
the current, drawn by a federal court in 2001, does not reflect voting
trends. Democrats call it a power grab.

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