In an early move in the race for the Republican nomination for the 19th Congressional District of Texas, potential candidate Jodey Arrington repackaged an invitation to a Lubbock fundraiser for Governor Greg Abbott to show himself as co-host of the event and removed one already published name from the official event sponsor list – Lubbock Mayor Glen Robertson (and wife) who has announced a strong interest in running for the same Congressional seat.
The original invitation from the Governor Abbott political operation, above, lists the same sponsor list as that on Arrington’s repackaged email version but without the name of his potential opponent in the TX19 race.
Note that in the image taken from the Jodey Arrington and Grace Clinic email invitation, below, that all Abbott event sponsors are listed in the order they appear on the Governor’s original invitation except for “Karen & Glen Robertson”.
Pratt on Texas contacted the Governor Abbott camp for comment on the change made to the sponsor list for their Lubbock fundraiser event and received this official reply from John Wittman:
Robert,
I received your email regarding Governor Abbott’s fundraiser at Dr. Hickle’s home.
You have the original invite from the Abbott campaign which lists the hosts of this event. The email sent by Jodey Arrington and the Grace Clinic was not condoned by Governor Abbott or his campaign. [emphasis added]
Thanks,
John
But wait, there is more.
Jodey Arrington is not listed as the host or sponsor on the invitation from the Governor Abbott campaign and yet, Arrington introduces his reworked email invitation with a letter which clearly claims that he is a co-host with Dr. Hickle.
The letter (see the full email and letter here as a pdf) begins with “I am excited to inform you that Dr. Hickle and I are hosting Governor Abbott at the Hickle’s home next Thursday.” He also writes “… we would like you to be our special guests…”
Was Arrington’s decision to remove official sponsor Glen Robertson motivated by the fact that Robertson is likely to be a competitor of Arrington in the upcoming primary?
While there is nothing wrong with Dr. Hickle and Mr. Arrington hosting and event and listing sponsors as they see fit, this is not their event, it is an event of the Governor Abbott campaign and it is the Governor’s sponsors Mr. Arrington chose to adulterate.
Mr. Arrington sent out the reworked email invitation omitting an official event sponsor who is likely to be an opponent in the upcoming Congressional race the night of the day in which he filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run for the TX19 seat.
Jodey Arrington
Was Arrington’s decision to remove official sponsor Glen Robertson motivated by the fact that Robertson is likely to be a competitor of Arrington in the upcoming primary? Is Arrington’s reshaping of the event in his email missive an attempt to use the status of Governor Abbott to boost his upcoming campaign with local Republicans?
Does Arrington think he would lose the Congressional race because Roberston’s name was on a fundraiser invitation and his wasn’t?
In my opinion it is inarguable that the answer to both question is “yes”. The entire effort by Arrington shows him to be small (does he think he would lose the Congressional race because Roberston’s name was on a fundraiser invitation and his wasn’t?) and is an example of the pettiness that is so prevalent among the political insider class.
More than ever, Americans are looking for people of character and maturity who put the good of the country above their petty political ambitions. Is it any wonder that of all possible TX19 GOP candidates known to-date, that Jodey Arrington is the one with the insider D.C. political resume?
If a man cheats (as has been alleged), that person has already broken trust, and should be held accountable. Leadership demands accountability, trustworthiness, honesty, and humility.
Mr. Pratt is so full of assumptions here it is laughable to me. Thanks to the AJ for checking some facts. Is Mr Pratt just trying to stir interest in his opinions? Is Mr. Pratt really too lazy to make some phone calls to check this out? This is the kind of thing that is turning so many away from politics. I think it is inarguable that Mr. Pratt owes a public apology on this one, but I’m not holding my breath.
What facts? Exactly what is factually wrong in my story? The factual things are laid out at the top, the bottom is expressly opinion. Oh, and what “facts” did the AJ discover and print which differ? The answer is none. Just claims by those caught in the action. You seem to accept the opinions and claims of your buddies as “facts” but discount the opinions of others a non-facts. Seriously, what matter of fact in the AJ story is counter to what I published above. Please point it out so I can address such.
And to your other charge. Yes, of course I’m working to bring readers to the site and listeners to the show. I cover the news, which this was, and provide commentary about such. That’s my business just as it is for all other media. Are you really unclear on this? Do you actually believe doing such is a negative? Odd.