Rick Perry Aide: Don't Open Up GOP Like A "Whorehouse"

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A comment by a strategist for Gov. Rick Perry that the Republican Party shouldn't open itself "like a whorehouse" to new voters has infuriated prominent GOP women in Texas and given Perry's primary rival, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, fuel for the re-election fight.

Perry is trying to distance himself from the remark, published in the Dallas Morning News, by consultant David Carney, but as Texas Republicans split into the governor's social conservative camp and Hutchison's more moderate one before the March 2010 primary, the damage was done.

Carney said he agreed the Republican Party needed to attract new voters. But, he added, "that doesn't mean you take your principles and throw them out the door and become a whorehouse and let anybody in who wants to come in, regardless."

That caused a stir. Former Republican National Committee member Denise McNamara of Dallas led a group of GOP women from Dallas, Houston and elsewhere demanding that Perry apologize for and repudiate the comment.

"As businesswomen, community leaders and mothers, it is always concerning and disheartening when we see people resort to behavior aimed at belittling women. Therefore, you cannot imagine how appalling it was to see your campaign's chief strategist liken our Senior Senator's primary campaign to 'opening the doors of a whorehouse,'" they wrote in a letter to Perry on Tuesday.

Perry spokesman Mark Miner said Carney was not speaking for the governor.

"Dave Carney, a national political consultant and former White House Political Director, was commenting on a story concerning the state of the national Republican Party. He was not commenting on the 2010 Texas Governor's race and does not speak for the Governor," Miner said in a written statement.

Hutchison's campaign didn't buy it.

"Unfortunately for Texas Republicans, Rick Perry and his spokesman are utilizing the same divisive, non-substantive rhetoric that fueled huge losses in 2006 and 2008 for Republicans in Texas and nationally," said Hutchison spokesman Hans Klingler.

McNamara's letter accused Perry of engaging in "slash and burn rhetoric." And she said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press that it's not the first time Perry's campaign has resorted to name-calling.

"It just shows, to me, a lack of class," said McNamara. "This kind of remark should ostracize social conservatives and people who appreciate civility in politics."

McNamara, a former national party committeewoman, said Hutchison has tried to refrain from attacking Perry because of his role as Texas' leader during the five-month legislative session that began in January.

"That's about to wrap up," McNamara said, predicting Hutchison will soon move into full campaign mode. McNamara signed the letter with six other well-known GOP women: Kris Anne Vogelpohl of Galveston, Lisa Nowlin of Lubbock, Rosalind Redfern Grover of Midland, Jacque Allen of Wichita Falls and Betsy Lake and Penny Butler, both of Houston.

Hutchison twice before considered running for governor against Perry, but bowed out. She has raised money for a state campaign account, unveiled a long list of well-known supporters and made campaign appearances, without fully announcing her candidacy.

The state Republican primary is dominated by social conservatives who disagree with Hutchison on abortion and embryonic stem cell research. So Hutchison will have to attract middle-of-the-road Republican voters to the primary. Meanwhile, Perry, already backed by social conservatives, has skewed even further to the right in his remarks to keep that base on his side.

The primary winner is the heavy favorite to win the general election in this state where, despite some Democratic gains, Republicans hold all statewide elected offices.