Republican Gerrymandering Favors Obama In Texas

If Barack Obama secures the Democratic presidential nomination, he will owe a small piece of his victory to Ronald Reagan. Could there be a more delicious irony in an election season chock-full of them? In 1992, a panel of three Reagan-appointed federal judges in Texas approved a state senate redistricting map that gave Republicans control of the Texas state senate for the first time since Reconstruction. This scheme provided the foundation for Tom Delay's subsequent gerrymandering of congressional districts - and ultimately will prevent Hillary Clinton from winning a significant majority of the 126 delegates up for grabs in the Texas primary on March 4th. (Another 67 delegates are chosen in a Texas caucus in June; the way the Texas caucus works, the division of these delegates will not be known until then.)

Of course, the Texas Republicans' original intention had been all about themselves. While drawing district lines in such a way that ensured victory for a Republican state senator, the Republicans also made sure that the Democrats in each new district were divided between moderate whites and/or African-American Hispanic minorities. The thinking was that these competing Democratic constituencies would cancel each other out--and that is exactly what is likely to happen come March 4th, because by putting a bit of black in as many state senate districts as possible, the Republicans have blunted the chances for Hillary Clinton to take a majority in districts that have 4 delegates to offer. Most of the 31 state senate districts that will determine the Texas primary deliver 4 delegates. Therefore, Hillary Clinton will be hard-pressed to find a way to a clear-cut victory in Texas.

This gerrymandering of Houston/Harris County must be seen to be believed. (There is no direct link, but a click on the map icon at the bottom of each state senator's page brings up the map. See districts 6, 7, 11, 13, 15 and 17.) At the time the new districting took effect, then governor Ann Richards said, "They have carved up this state like a nonunion meat cutter working on a one-legged turkey." Another less-colorful way to see the map is a piece of paper scribbled on by a toddler. Because the state Republicans back in '92 knew that they couldn't get away with completely disenfranchising minorities, District 13 was drawn to be largely African-American and therefore produce an African-American state senator--currently Rodney Ellis, who has endorsed Obama. In 2006, District 13, the second largest in the state, held well over half of Houston/Harris County Democrats and therefore has 7 delegates to award on March 4th. Not surprisingly, District 13 is base camp for Obama forces here in Houston.

Comments

[Quinagin]

"Putting a bit of black in?" Who vets these articles? Disgusting.

[mmerose]

I'm not a supporter of Mrs Clinton, for a long list of things she has done, but she didn't have anything to do with this Texas Republican skulduggery, so I think this is just bad luck for her.

[dostephen]

Hillary is going to lose Texas because she isn't organized to get out the vote. In my county I have yet to see a Hillary bumper sticker, yard sign or hear from an organizer from her camp. Meantime, Obama's people are here organizing and training people at the block by block level. It doesn't make sense unless Hill thinks she can win with behind the scenes favor trading at the state convention despite the will of the people.

[pas504]

Perhaps one reason you don't see Hillary bumper stickers is that the conservatives despise her so much a person is likely to have their car keyed should they display one. (That's another difference between liberals and conservatives... I have never heard of someone with a conservative sticker having their car vandalized for it, or having had obscenities shouted to them at red lights.)

[TheRealMacDaddy]

Like the old saying goes...WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND?

If it were up to Tom Delay and the rest of those "All Hat and No Cattle" Texans, there would have been only one district..­.Crawford.

I'm so glad their scheming ways may just come back and bite them in their sorry asses.

[tbone99]

Texans put racism on their cereal in the morning.The nation might shocked by the incident in Jasper, in which a local A.A. male was dragged to his death by young white men,but the only shock in Texas was that it was of national interest.Small towns in Texas are very much like that one in Jena, La. Ever heard of Tulia ?-if not, look it up- it explains racial politics in Texas to a tee.

The MLK statue at UT Austin is so routinely vandalized they've had to put surveillence cameras on it.And it was probably done by students, as it's been set in about as hidden a grove of trees as you could find on campus.Meanwhile the statues of two prominent Confederates flank the entry to the administrative offices.

It's not uncommon to name 99% minority schools after the Confederacy, just to remind them, I s'pose where they're at.I wouldn't be surprised if Huckabee wins the primary here for the Repugs.

[BoulderSue]

It's called Karma!

[hmmmmm]

yes. or "Obamakarma"

[bushlies]

While this gerrymandering will help Obama take the Democratic primary, we should all remember that there is no way in HELL any Democrat can carry Texas in November.

[westseattle]

That's fine. We don't need to carry Texas. Or Ohio. The republicans are done. Well done. Why are so many republicans retiring? Because they would be forced to run on Bush's illegal policies to win. Now that so much of the cat is out of the bag, people know it's not a dog. They can see it for what it is. Why did McCain get the nomination? Who better to throw under the bus than a candidate so many republicans hate and who has already lost so many presidential elections? Nice platform, McCain: Illegal war, Illegal wiretapping, Illegal torture, Illegal renditions, Illegal outing of an undercover CIA operative and not to mention a great and strong economy. This should be fun. Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to introduce to you the next president of the United States.... Barack Obama (thunderous applause).

[Snoman]

I thought Texas counted because it is one of the ones we need to win in November.

Half kidding. I think it is really self defeatist to think that any state is impossible to win. Republicans certainly don't seem to think so. No matter how "blue" Washington state gets, the State Republican party always try put up real contenders for major contests. The don't cede ground, why should we?

[Anne1776]

You'd be surprised. Even us Republicans in Texas are fed up with "status quo" politics and politicians. I'm voting for Obama, and so is everyone I know.

[qwr]

Wow. I clicked on some of those maps. Crazy. Ann Richards was too conservative for my taste, but she had a way with words.

[incontempt]

It's just dandy that they did this to themselves, I love a bully with a black eye, it is righteous somehow.

[lynnn]

I told you this is a vast papal right-wing conspiracy started by Alan Keyes.


I'm telling you McCain will get sick 2 weeks b4 the election, the Republicans will put in Alan Keyes, and Obama will win....but Keyes will really be the power behind the scenes.-

Obama/Keyes 2009 to infinity and beyond
Bought to you by shady Jesuits for change.

P.S. Notice Obama is making people more ripe for religion- yea it's all apart of the papal plan.

[ErnestineBass]

It will be interesting to see how many Lone Star Repukes cast their vote for Obama.

[jacknab]

If I am not mistaken I believe the redistricting that you mentioned happened in 2002 when the Republicans finallywgained control of both the State House and Senate for the first time. The Travis county District Attorney then filed charges against Tom Delay for illegeal campaign contributions which led to the Republican take over of the Texas government. This played a part in his not seeking re-election in 2006. Delay has yet to go to trial.

[tgood]

The really odd part of the redistricting was that it was done in long after the last census and long before the next one. Most courts would have thrown out the redistricting based on that, it was first believed but lo, and behold, the Republican plan was approved. Imagine that. They could just redistrict without any reason except gerrymandering.

[Bushgirlsgonewild]

.

Thanks, Tom Delay!

Payback's a bitch, ain't it?
.

[justagirl]

I was an election judge in Texas in 2004. When a person votes in the primary their voter registration card is stamped with in which primary they voted so they can not visit both polling places. I don't think many Texas republicans could stand to have democratic stamped on their card.

[Shannon2008]

Republicans can vote in the Democratic primary and still vote for whomever they choose in the general. The only way this would matter is if there was a runoff election. You cannot vote in a runoff election if you voted in the other party's primary. I can see a lot of the anti-Clinton Republicans voting for Obama especially given the fact that so many John McCain has alienated so many conservative voters. They'd love to cast a vote against Hilary to derail her chances of getting the nomination at this point. Texas hasn't loved the Clintons in a long time.

Whatever!

[jmundstuk]

Lord, wouldn't Molly Ivins be having the best time this year, and especially right about now??

[lynnn]

OMG you are right.

[redtorm]

Yeah, I bow my head and pray that she's sitting up there in heaven right now and laughing her butt off.

We all cry and whine about how this primary season is tearing apart the Democratic party. But it's better to see a fight for the soul of the party than to see it sold for the chance at holding the White House. Win or lose at least this time around the Dems are having a debate instead of the fraidy-cat positions they took in 2004. States that the party has ignored for years simply because they vote Reb in presidential elections finally have say and Molly would have *LOVED* that!