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SCREEN CAPTURE / NBC Texas Congressional candiate Gina Ortiz Jones and her mother, Victorina Ortiz. |
ANALYSIS:
Actually, its a surprise that it took this long for the Republicans to attack Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones by focusing on her sexual orientation.
Filipino American Ortiz Jones, who has been campaigning since 2018, is an openly lesbian Democratic candidate for Congress in Texas.
The attack is a sign of desperation for Tony Gonzalez, Ortiz Jones' GOP opponent for Congressional District 23, a sprawling district that borders Mexico from the outskirts of El Paso to the suburbs of San Antonio. Republicans are notorious for their down and dirty tactics from the notorious racist Southern Strategy employed by Sen. Barry Goldwater and Richard Nixon, the latter's Watergate to seeking Russian assistance in 2016.But the GOP strategy has backfired. Within 72 hours after the National Republican Congressional Committee asked other GOP and conservative groups to attack Ortiz Jones for being a lesbian, her campaign raised $100,000.
“The outpouring of grassroots support our campaign received after Washington Republicans’ bigoted and homophobic attacks shows just how out of touch they are with Texans in this district,” Jones’ campaign manager Lacey Morrison, told HuffPost Tuesday (Sept. 1).
As first reported by HuffPost last week, the National Republican Congressional Committee asked other GOP and conservative groups to attack Ortiz Jones for being gay. It included an image of the candidate with her partner, as well as other talking points.
It should be pointed out that the same website did not include pictures of other Democratic candidates spouse or partners.
Some Republicans have suggested using same-sex marriage as an issue to turn conservative Hispanic Catholics against Democrats. The 23rd is nearly 70% Hispanic. But a 2019 Pew Research Center poll found 58% of Hispanics supported same-sex marriage.
“These personal, homophobic, and transphobic attacks shows how shameless and low Tony Gonzales and the NRCC are willing to go in the race for Texas’s 23rd Congressional District,” HuffPost quoted Rebecca Marques, the Texas state director at the Human Rights Campaign.
“NRCC is stuck using 2004-style scare tactics and just can’t seem to understand that this outdated playbook doesn’t work anymore,” said Marques. “If Tony Gonzales and national Republicans think anti-LGBTQ rhetoric is a winning issue, they’re messing with the wrong Texan.”
After HuffPost's report, Republicans took down the suggested talking points but the photo showing Ortiz Jones and her partner remains on the GOP website.
On Tuesday, Ortiz Jones tweeted: “I remember what it was like to serve under 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.' to hide who I am to serve our country ... To the bigots: take your best shot. To everyone else: donate here to join our fight.”
“The outpouring of grassroots support our campaign received after Washington Republicans’ bigoted and homophobic attacks shows just how out of touch they are with Texans in this district,” Jones’ campaign manager Lacey Morrison, told HuffPost Tuesday (Sept. 1).
As first reported by HuffPost last week, the National Republican Congressional Committee asked other GOP and conservative groups to attack Ortiz Jones for being gay. It included an image of the candidate with her partner, as well as other talking points.
It should be pointed out that the same website did not include pictures of other Democratic candidates spouse or partners.
Ortiz Jones, a former Air Force intelligence officer who served in Iraq, narrowly lost to incumbent Republican, Rep. Will Hurd, in 2018. Last year, Hurd retired last year widening the possibility for the Democrats to turn the district blue. The Republicans poured money into the District 23 race.
Some Republicans have suggested using same-sex marriage as an issue to turn conservative Hispanic Catholics against Democrats. The 23rd is nearly 70% Hispanic. But a 2019 Pew Research Center poll found 58% of Hispanics supported same-sex marriage.
“These personal, homophobic, and transphobic attacks shows how shameless and low Tony Gonzales and the NRCC are willing to go in the race for Texas’s 23rd Congressional District,” HuffPost quoted Rebecca Marques, the Texas state director at the Human Rights Campaign.
“NRCC is stuck using 2004-style scare tactics and just can’t seem to understand that this outdated playbook doesn’t work anymore,” said Marques. “If Tony Gonzales and national Republicans think anti-LGBTQ rhetoric is a winning issue, they’re messing with the wrong Texan.”
After HuffPost's report, Republicans took down the suggested talking points but the photo showing Ortiz Jones and her partner remains on the GOP website.
On Tuesday, Ortiz Jones tweeted: “I remember what it was like to serve under 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.' to hide who I am to serve our country ... To the bigots: take your best shot. To everyone else: donate here to join our fight.”
EDITOR'S NOTE: A word of caution, this is news sprinkled with opinion. Readers are encouraged to seek multiple news sources to formulate their own positions.
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