MS. BRADSHAW'S SPIN ON DEBATE SHOWS NAKED AMBITION

By Juan Montoya
For those of us who have been involved in political campaign before, it is not uncommon to see clearly creative and self-serving press releases from some candidates who seek to transform a seemingly innocent absence of one of their opponents to a debate and try to turn it into a conspiracy to keep them from the spotlight they so crave.

Such was the case when Texas Southmost College trustee Adela Garza didn't attend Ron Whitlock's televised Congressional District 34 Candidates' Forum held Thursday April 19, in Weslaco.

Issued for "immediate release," on the very same day even before the forum was held, the missive indicated that even though she was "uninvited" because her Republican opponents "refuse to attend," Bradshaw made out like she was being victimized by her opponents' absence.

(She spoke, mainly, about her female opponent for the Republican nomination Adela Garza.)

Nonetheless, poor Jess vowed to attend and crash the event and cited her interpretation of  Federal Elections Commission's rules that state that two candidates from a party must attend to be permissible and her Republican opponents were not attending. Yet, again, lamented Bradshaw, she "would be the only Republican willing to represent conservative values."

Whitlock, according to her spinmeisters' take, was "misinformed" and she vowed to attend Whitlock's interpretation notwithstanding.
"Earlier this afternoon, Jessica Puente Bradshaw announced, I will attend tonight's televised Candidates Forum because I am a candidate for CD 34. I hope to participate," the announcement said.

"It is a shame that this opportunity for my candidacy to be promoted on television is being held hostage by my Republican opponents who refuse to attend. I have a consistent history of standing up for conservative principles and that is what some are afraid of."

She, then, invited the rest of the conservative flock to unite behind her as one and show those corrupt Democrats that she is the true savior of conservative values.

Then, the very woman who only remembers her Hispanic surname when she runs for office, summoned her ethnic brothers and sisters to come and join her to  "attract Hispanic voters which are the dominate voter group in Congressional District 34. Working together with like minded conservatives and independents is our best hope for victory in November."

Nowhere in this public announcement does Bradshaw (or is it Robinson?), mention that that very night there was a meeting of the TSC board of trustees where important issues like the fate of the faculty and students after the separation of TSC and UTB would be decided. And nowhere does he mention that – never having been an elected officials or having served on a publicly-elected board – that politics must of necessity take a second seat to performing the public's work as their representative.

If anything, Bradshaw and her handlers are very good at spinning the truth and relaying that spin to the Republican precinct chairs that she hopes will put her over the top in the upcoming Republican primary.

We had seen ambitious people before, but the spright Ms. Bradshaw has to be one of the best spinners we have run across. Her vociferous supporters (and we know some of them personally) are vicious in their attacks of anyone they consider inimical to her interests. But where was she when Adela was fighting to save our community college?

Where was she when local business interests and renegade priests were threatening the professional and spiritual lives of the four trustees – Adela among them – for protecting the 75-year community iinstitution from destruction by the UT System?

For some reason, we can't remember her being anywhere near the battle. Now she criticizes Adela for attending to the people's business instead of giving her a forum to promote her candidacy to represent the very people who so badly needed her support to defend their community interests from the UT System.

Spin away, "Puente." The local people will never forget your absence at that forum.

More on:  http://jessicapuentebradshaw.com/