17th Congressional District: Tucker Anderson deserves GOP nomination

Dallas Morning News | Editorials:

“Tucker Anderson's personal knowledge of Congress and deep connections to Central Texas should earn the former congressional staffer the GOP congressional nomination for District 17. The Texas A&M graduate spent the last four years working for GOP Rep. Pete Sessions. The experience showed him how sausage gets made in Washington, which would be valuable should he win this seat in November from veteran Democrat Chet Edwards.”

Ed Cognoski responds:

Well, that didn't take long. Just two days ago, the DMN editorial board opined that the culture of corruption in Washington won't end until the "public is sick of the town's cozy game of money and favors [and] sacks the city, whether through voting out lawmakers or drying up dues to our own particular trade groups." I predicted that this resolve would melt away come November when the DMN editorial board has to endorse individual candidates. It turns out it took only two days. Mr Anderson is recommended exactly because of his ties to Washington, his intimate knowledge of "sausage making". Hint to DMN: that metaphor is meant to convey that politics is corrupt, that the horse trading of legislation is disgusting and not suitable fare for upright citizens to watch.

With the extent of the Abramoff scandals only beginning to be exposed, why would the DMN be so quick not only to endorse a Republican insider for the open seat, but cite his ties to the Washington political rackets as a reason for doing so? Why isn't the DMN asking voters to clean house, not only Congressmen but the staffers, too, who are the masters of "sausage making"? It boggles the mind. But I can't say it's really a surprise. You heard it here first.