A Pro-Trade Party No Longer (Cont'd)
After CAFTA, Cuellar on his party's hit list (Todd J. Gillman, Dallas Morning News)
Henry Cuellar must like close calls. He got elected last year by 58 votes. And just before Congress went on its August recess, he gave President Bush a crucial vote on the Central American Free Trade Agreement, which passed 217-215.
For fellow Democrats still grumbling over Mr. Cuellar's ouster of Ciro Rodriguez –a four-term San Antonio Democrat who was chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus – the CAFTA vote was the final straw, proof of his disloyalty and fresh impetus to repay him for beating their friend Ciro.
Mr. Cuellar shrugs it off.
"Born a Democrat, die as a Democrat," said the Laredo freshman. "I will always stay as a Democrat. But I will always vote for my congressional district."
It nearly wasn't his. He trailed narrowly on primary night. Recounts uncovered 300 ballots in Zapata County, and he won the court fight.
Mr. Rodriguez, who challenged the primary results, still wants the seat back. "He won this election once, and he'll win it again," said campaign manager Oscar Sanchez.
State Rep. Richard Raymond of Laredo is also running next year. The former land commissioner nominee earned considerable affection as a House leader in the 2003 redistricting fight. And former Dallas congressman Martin Frost, longtime dean of Texas Democrats and former head of the party's House campaign arm, is rounding up support – a sign of his standing among the party establishment.
Mr. Cuellar's image with Democrats is more checkered.
As a state House member in 2000, he stumped for George W. Bush's presidential effort. Afterward, he agreed to serve the new GOP governor, Rick Perry, as secretary of state. He lost narrowly in 2002 to GOP Rep. Henry Bonilla of San Antonio, then turned his sights on Mr. Rodriguez's seat.
Since taking office, he's voted with Republicans on one of every three votes, breaking ranks on bills to shield gun makers from lawsuits, limit damage awards in court and tighten consumer bankruptcy rules.
Then came CAFTA.
Only 14 other Democrats, including Reps. Rubén Hinojosa of Mercedes, Texas, and Solomon Ortiz of Corpus Christi, backed the president. All argued that free trade means jobs in South Texas, but Mr. Cuellar actively tried to round up votes.
That outraged unions.
Trade was fine when President Clinton held the White House and was strong enough occasionally to buck some of the Dem interest groups. The minority party no longer has that luxury, so an incumbent will apparently be targeted for supporting trade.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 08/07/05 21:45 | American Politics | Technorati
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Comments
Cuellar won't suffer because of the CAFTA vote, but he is now generally perceived as a Republican pawn. Raymond is popular and has been handing out the favors lately so he can cash in his chips come election time. I find it hard to believe that he would not have voted for CAFTA, as Laredo is very pro free trade (especially the businessmen who finance elections). Still this is going to be a Laredo v. San Antonio race, with Ciro Rodriguez guaranteed to take San Antonio. If Raymond and Cuellar run, it could split the Laredo vote and hand the seat to Ciro.
It will be interesting to see what Cuellar gets in return for all his Republican votes. If there is not some quid pro quo, it will hurt the Republicans in Laredo and South Texas, where they have made some gains.
Posted by el_longhorn @ 11:35 on 08/09/05
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