Posted by Tina
His campaign was a long shot; the incumbent had served for 24 years and he was a white Republican in a mostly black, Democrat district. But he was fed up and decided on an unorthodox campaign method figuring he’d never win anyway. His victory does beg the question: Do people vote based on skin color? It happened in the state of Texas:
HOUSTON — Dave Wilson chuckles as he talks about his unorthodox political campaign.
“I’d always said it was a long shot,” Wilson says. “No, I didn’t expect to win.”Still, he figured he’d have fun running, because he was fed up with what he called “all the shenanigans” at the Houston Community College System. As a conservative white Republican running in a district whose voters are overwhelmingly black Democrats, the odds seemed overwhelmingly against him.
Then he came up with an idea, an advertising strategy that his opponent found “disgusting.” If a white guy didn’t have a chance in a mostly African-American district, Wilson would lead voters to think he’s black.
And it apparently worked. In one of the biggest political upsets in Houston politics this election season, Wilson — an anti-gay activist and former fringe candidate for mayor — emerged as the surprise winner over 24-year incumbent Bruce Austin. His razor thin margin of victory, only 26 votes, was almost certainly influenced by his racially tinged campaign.
“Every time a politician talks, he’s out there deceiving voters,” he says.
Wilson, a gleeful political troublemaker, printed direct mail pieces strongly implying that he’s black. His fliers were decorated with photographs of smiling African-American faces — which he readily admits he just lifted off websites — and captioned with the words “Please vote for our friend and neighbor Dave Wilson.”
One of his mailers said he was “Endorsed by Ron Wilson,” which longtime Houston voters might easily interpret as a statement of support from a former state representative of the same name who’s also African-American. Fine print beneath the headline says “Ron Wilson and Dave Wilson are cousins,” a reference to one of Wilson’s relatives living in Iowa.
I’ve always held that cheaters never prosper but sometimes it takes a long time for the reckoning to take place. In this case I imagine old Dave is going to have a rocky ride as mayor after deceiving the citizenry. But…he’ll have six years to prove himself.
Was skin color the deciding factor? It’s tempting to say it did. What do you think?
Interesting strategy. But then, voters may have been tired of the 24-year incumbent.
And being an incumbent these days no longer is an advantage, given the mood of the country and the behavior of incumbents . . . .
I am glad to see you holding conservative cheaters accountable as well as liberal cheaters, Tina. This kind of behavior is pretty repugnant, but what’s also disturbing is that it seems to have worked.
J, there are a number of factors to consider including something to do with the local college but I hadn’t considered the overall mood of the country. You may have a point there…throw them all out seems to be the new catch phrase.
Chris it did work, even if just barely.
I can believe the man when he said he didn’t think he had a prayer of winning but I have to say I don’t appreciate it when people take running for office lightly.
How did he cheat? No way can this story be true, no way in hell! Are you going to tell me his opponent didn’t know he was white? Are you going to tell me the media didn’t know he was white?
If this “story” is true and a white conservative was elected mayor in a largely democrat city is it possible the people are sick and tired of what they have had and want change? Could it be the media is going all out to paint this as cheating because of what the alternative means for the 2014 elections?
I have not researched this story and I am not going to. I am going on the face value and the track record of the media.
People vote on the basis of “affinity” Look at Doug LaMalfa’s signs “He’s one of us”
“Was skin color the deciding factor? It’s tempting to say it did. What do you think?”
I didn’t read the others comments before writing this because I didn’t want to be influenced by them. However, my answer to the above is yes. When it comes to minority voters (black, hispanic or other) they do vote along racial lines. It’s human nature to trust someone who looks like you! I don’t think they are necessarily casting a racist ballot, although technically one could say that. Moreover, I think they are voting for someone they think understands them better and they relate too because of their skin color.
Now when it was Obama, he lucked out. He picked up a lot of white liberal votes, 99% of the black vote and a tonne of white guilt votes (which tend to be almost the same liberal vote, but not always).
People on both sides were facinated by the idea of a black president. Even though Obama had the least qualifications of almost anyone ever elected to the presidency, it didn’t matter. This was history in the making and that did matter with many voters. Many people left and right felt it was time for a black president and Obama happened to be there, standing in the right place at the right time and he was swept into office, mostly because he black and he didn’t do anything stupid and he could give a good speech.
His track record in politics was so limited no voter could make an informed call on his politics, so it had to be because he was black more than any other reason. Now I will go back and see what others said.
Toby: “How did he cheat? No way can this story be true…”
Not everyone who votes in a local election sees the candidates. Maybe they heard him on the radio or just read about him in the paper without identifying the name with a picture, if there was one.
The guy is captured on video for this story…and he does look to be a bit of a character.
But you are in good company speculating that the people were tired of their incumbent mayor. Apparently there are several issues that may have contributed to his surprising win.
“Now when it was Obama, he lucked out. He picked up a lot of white liberal votes, 99% of the black vote and a tonne of white guilt votes …”
People were ready for a change after 8 years of Bush. Obama was the opposite of Bush in most ways. It wasn’t about skin color, it was about someone new to national politics. John McCain realized that people wanted someone new as well, which is why he choose Sarah Palin as his running mate.
Jim, I’m sure you are right and I am sure I am right, but to what degree who can say, if you know what I mean? We have a number of democratic friends that were beside themselves with delight only because they finally got to vote for the black candidate. It’s their choice, I didn’t care. Besides, I’ve heard a lot worse reasons and I am sure you have too.
Toby: “I have not researched this story and I am not going to.”
Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have our comment of the year.
Jack, I have no doubt that some people voted for Obama because he was black. However I think those people were just a small percentage of the voters. I feel that most people were tired of the Washington insiders, and the old boys network that Bush represented.
In the last election, I noticed how Obama played the ‘One of us’ tactic himself, buying beer at the state fair, eating in diners and so forth.
It’s the way politics works.
I voted for Obama because he was half white.
Even when people know who and what they’re voting for the liberals will take their choice away from them.
“City Elects First Republican Mayor Since 1997 – Democratic-Dominated Council to Vote on Measure Stripping Him of Power:”
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/11/11/maryland-city-elects-first-republican-mayor-since-1997-one-democrats-plot-to-strip-him-of-power/
Have you seen the latest on ObamaCare funded voter fraud and the goal of turning Texas into a Blue state?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUsUWFANPS8
Thank you turdtosser/Chris for making my point about you. Anyway, also notice how this story works hard to paint this unknown as a conservative and anti-gay. What do gay issues have to do with this story? Nothing, not a thing, just another turd tossed in. They give us no info on either of these issues but state it as if it is fact.
The MSM is always painting Kripy Kreme as a conservative and we all know he is a RINO at best and most likely a closet democrat but they keep saying it as if that makes it a fact.
Guys, this was an election for a spot on the Houston Community College Board of Trustees.
Apparently, the college has been pissing money away and getting a lot of bad press for it. I know it’s terribly cynical of me, but I don’t think that any of the people who voted for him knew anything about him, except that he was not the incumbent.
But the flyers were pretty cute.