Democracy for New Mexico

NM-02: Tinsley's 'Cut Your Throat' Remark - From One Post on DFNM to Olbermann in Less Than 24 Hours

Countdown and ACI forum clips

The effectiveness and speed of the pipes and tubes of the internets can still shock me at times. I posted a YouTube video clip and accompanying story last night at 7:22 PM. As far as I can tell, I was the first person to cover the story. After any number of stops on the information highway (as they used to call it), the story ended up as part of Keith Olbermann's Worst Person in the World segment on tonight's Countdown. Zoom. From the little DFNM blog in out of the way New Mexico to the nation's TV screens in less than 24 hours. There really is nowhere to hide in this election cycle.

The clip from YouTube shows NM-02 GOP Congressional candidate Ed Tinsley and Dem candidate Harry Teague at an ACI candidate forum held last week in Las Cruces. The candidates are discussing Iraq, and Tinsley, without an iota of evident shame, brings up his nephews who are serving in the military in the Gulf and says this:

"How am I supposed to call my two nephews over there right now ... and tell them I'm running against a guy who will cut your throat!"

This low-life personal attack on Teague -- and blatant politicization of his own nephews' service -- is what earned Tinsley tonight's Worst Person in the World slot. Not Worse, Not Worser -- WORST. That's saying something.

Unfortunately, Olbermann didn't mention Teague by name in the segment. You know, Harry Teague, who's going to be the next Congressman from New Mexico's Second District. But it sure helped the cause to get Tinsley's words out there -- nakedly obscene to the world. CUT YOUR THROAT. Right.

It's also too bad that Olbermann didn't play Teague's measured and right-on-target come back to Tinsley's personal attack. If you haven't see it yet, it's right here in my original post and in the combo clip up top. Tinsley's self-serving and over-the-top words were met with robust boos. Teague's with spirited clapping and cheering. Now the 3,590 people who have so far viewed the video on YouTube, plus the nationwide audience for the TV show, plus all those who watch the video on the MSNBC site will know the truth about Tinsley and why no thinking, feeling person with a conscience should vote for him.

Voters in New Mexico's Second District -- what do you think? Should a guy like Tinsley -- who will  use his own nephews' military service as political fodder and use the term "cut your throat" in the same breath -- really be anywhere near the U.S. House representing you? I guess we'll see on November 4th.

To learn more about Harry Teague, visit his website. I also recommend taking a look at one of our previous posts that describes our recent visit with Harry in Hobbs on our way back from Netroots Nation.

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NM-02: Teague Cheered, Tinsley Booed for 'Cut Your Throat' Remark at ACI Forum

Note: Also see my later post reporting that Tinsley's awful remark earned him Keith Olbermann's Worst Person in the World award on Wednesday night.
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Last week the Association of Commerce and Industry hosted Democrat Harry Teague and Republican Ed Tinsley at a NM-02 Congressional candidate forum in Las Cruces. One of the issues discussed by the two was the Iraq war. Now the ACI membership, similar to that of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is generally moderate-to-conservative and business-oriented. And yet they broke out in boos and cries of "shame on you" when Tinsley said his piece. And they clapped and cheered as Teague explained his position on Iraq. Watch the video above to see why.

By all accounts, the vast majority of Americans are fed up with sending $3 BILLION a week to a country that is now operating with a $79 BILLION surplus. They're fed up with undue sacrifices being required of our troops. And they're wary of the increasing violence and unrest at the Pakistani border in Afghanistan while we're mired in Iraq. In other words, most Americans agree with the Iraqi government that our troops need to begin to withraw as soon as possible.

Harry Teague understands these views, agrees with them and is clearly ready to bring them to Washington on behalf of the people in the Second District.

Tinsley, on the other hand, seems intent on using inflammatory rhetoric to personally insult his opponent and avoid talking about what's really going on. He mentions his two nephews who are serving in the miliary overseas and says, "How am I supposed to call my two nephews over there right now ... and tell them I'm running against a guy who will cut your throat!" That's not a misprint. Tinsley uses that exact language to characterize Teague and his position on Iraq.

What kind of person would use that kind of language about someone like Harry Teague who has been well known and well respected in the District for decades?

Forum audience members were justifiably appalled at Tinsley's loose-cannon language. Evidently, they don't think we need more cheap shots and over the top rhetoric in Congress. To solve the complex challenges we face, we need more people in Washington willing to roll up their sleeves and work together to solve the complex challenges we face. People like Harry Teague.

Watch the video and see who you think is talking sense and who's relying on vicious and unfair personal attacks to try and make political points in the most cynical way -- while failing to offer any honest answers.

Then do what you can to make sure Harry Teague gets elected to Congress.

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(Updated) NM-02: Teague Announces Debate-Forum Schedule

Update: Steve Pearce, Tom Udall, Harry Teague and Ed Tinsley will be participating in the forum. here for info on when and where it will be broadcast.

Harry Teague, the Democratic nominee for NM-02, announced his schedule of debates and forums. Harry is running to fill the seat left open by Rep. Steve Pearce. The schedule, which includes events across Southern New Mexico, will give voters the opportunity to contrast the Republican and Democratic candidates' positions on issues, including minimum wage and health care, according to the Teague campaign.

Dates and Sponsors: The televised debates will be sponsored by The Municipal League on August 15th, KRWG on October 9th, and by KOAT and the Albuquerque Journal on October 19th. In addition, Harry will be at the Mining Association Annual Convention Forum on September 4th in Grants, and the AAUW forum in October in Carlsbad.

"We want the people of the 2nd Congressional District to see the differences between Harry and his opponent," said Campaign Manager Frank Costanzo. "Harry Teague supports the minimum wage, but as a Washington lobbyist Ed Tinsley fought against it. Harry Teague provides his employees good wages, Ed Tinsley refuses to open a restaurant in cities where a descent minimum wage is the law."

Harry and his opponent have already participated in two public forums, one sponsored by the Farm Bureau and one by the Association of Commerce and Industry. With this schedule of public appearances, Harry Teague has now agreed to participate in more forums and debates than the presidential candidates and anticipates participating in other forums as well.

Harry Teague is a True Blue New Mexico candidate. Please do whatever you can afford in terms of time and money to help him get elected.

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Thursday: Rahm Emanuel in NM to Raise Funds for Congressional Candidates

Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel will be in New Mexico tomorrow, Thursday, August 7th, to help all three of our Dem Congressional candidates raise funds. Rep. Emanuel formerly chaired the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and is the current Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. He'll be at fundraisers on Thursday for NM-01 candidate Martin Heinrich, NM-02 candidate Harry Teague and NM-03 candidate Ben Ray Luján.

In addition, Martin Heinrich will host a press conference in Albuquerque with Emanuel -- the fourth-highest ranking member of the House Democratic Leadership -- as well as members of New Mexico's law enforcement and first responders. Sheriff Greg Solano will be attending as well as representatives of Sheriffs John Paul Trujillo and Rene Rivera. The event will be held at 3:30 PM at Highland Park, located at Silver SE and Elm SE. Emanual and law enforcement will stand side-bys-side to support Heinrich.

In Santa Fe, Emanuel will host a fundraiser for Ben Ray Lujan at Gabriel's Restaurant on U.S. 84/285 north of town. Emanuel will also appear with Harry Teague on Thursday. Details are still pending on these.

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NM-02: Teague Announces Strong and Deep Support from Hispanics

Harry Teague, the Dems' NM-02 Congressional candidate, released the names of more than 50 prominent Hispanic leaders from across Southern New Mexico and the nation who have publicly endorsed his candidacy. The campaign reports that Congressman Joe Baca, who's a native of Belen, NM and serves as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, visited Las Cruces on Sunday to formally endorse Teague.

"I am flattered to receive the support of so many representatives of the Hispanic community," said Teague. "I am running for Congress to change Washington so that it works for working families in New Mexico, including the hundreds of thousands of hard working Hispanics in Southern New Mexico."

The list of endorsers includes notable Hispanic leaders from almost every county in the 2nd District -– from Governor Richardson, to county commissioners, to state senators and representatives, to school board members.

"Harry Teague understands the needs of Hispanics in Southern New Mexico," said Congressman Joe Baca. "Education and immigration are especially important issues to many Hispanics and I know Harry will fight hard to improve education and establish a workable immigration policy."

Partial list of Hispanic leaders who have endorsed Harry Teague for Congress:

• New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson
• New Mexico Speaker of the House of Representatives Ben Lujan, Sr.
• Congressman Joe Baca, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
• Congressman Xavier Becerra, California
• Congressman Silvestre Reyes, El Paso, Texas, Chair of the Intelligence Committee
• Congressman Solomo Ortiz, Corpus Christ, Texas
• Congressman Ciro Rodriguez, San Antonio, Texas
• Congressman Henry Cuellar, Laredo, Texas
• State Senator Howie Morales
• State Senator Mary Jane Garcia
• State Senator David Ulibarri
• State Representative Andy Nunez
• State Representative Antonio Lujan
• State Representative Joseph Cervantes
• State Representative Ken Martinez
• State Representative Rodolpho "Rudy" Martinez
• State Representative Mary Helen Garcia
• State Representative Elias Barela
• Dona Ana County Commissioner Oscar Vasquez-Butler
• Santa Fe County Commissioner Mike Anaya, President of the New Mexico Association of Counties
• Chaves County Commissioner Michael Trujillo
• Luna County Tax Assessor Patsy Leyba
• Luna County Treasurer-Elect Dora Madrid
• Deming City Councilor Joe "Butter" Milo
• Grant County Assessor Randy Villa
• Grant County Commissioner Henry Torres
• Grant County Commissioner & Bayard City Mayor Pro-tem Jovita Gonzales
• Grant County Clerk Robert Zamarripa
• Bayard City Councilman Armando Arzola
• Loving City Mayor Pete Estrada
• Santa Clara Mayor Imelda M. Lopez
• Socorro County Commission Chairman Jay Santillanes
• Socorro County Commissioner Charles Gallegos
• Socorro County Commissioner Phillip Anaya
• Socorro ISD Vice Chair Tommy Gonzales
• DeBaca County Commissioner Tommy Roybal
• Socorro City Councilor Mary Ann Chavez-Lopez
• Socorro County Clerk Audrey Jaramillo
• Socorro County Treasurer Genevie Baca
• Valencia County Democratic Party Chairman Moises Griego
• Valencia County Commission Chairman Pedro G. Rael
• Eddy County Commissioner Tony Hernandez
• Carlsbad ISD School Board Member Martin Dorado
• Belen City Mayor Ronnie Torres
• Former Cobre CISD School Board Member Gabriel Ramos
• Former Guadalupe County Magistrate Judge Arcenio Sanchez
• Dona Ana County Precinct Chair Mario Luna
• Luna County Democratic Party Treasurer Ed Apodaca
• City of Sunland Park Mayor Martin Resendiz
• City of Sunland Park Council Member Jessica Avila
• City of Sunland Park Council Member Daniel Salinas
• Former Socorro County Commissioner Laurel Armijo
• Former Socorro City Council Member Dan Armijo
• Hobbs Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Treasurer Monica Boyle
• Lea County Commissioner Hector Ramirez
• City of Hobbs Councilman Joe Calderon
• Grant County Treasurer Alfred Sedillo
• Hobbs "KLMA" Radio Owner/Community Leader Hermilo Ojeda
• Lordsburg City Councilor Manuel D.V. Saucedo
• Lordsburg City Councilor Art Talavera
• Vaughn City Mayor Paul Madrid
• Guadalupe County Commissioner James G. "Bozo" Cordova
• Guadalupe County Commissioner Glenn G. Gonzales

As an employer, Harry Teague has a strong record of offering good wages and benefits to his largely Hispanic workforce. About 80% of his company's employees are Hispanic and 8 of the 11 management positions are held by either Hispanics or women. Teague provides health care benefits and full college tuition to his employees and their dependents.

Harry Teague is a True Blue New Mexico candidate. Let's help Harry take the Second Congressional District seat for Democrats everywhere.

NM-02: Sign Petition to Tell Tinsley to Support NM Families

Harry Teague, our Congressional candidate in NM-02, wants you to sign a petition urging his Republican opponent to wise up on what's important to New Mexico's hardworking families. Tinsley, hanging out at his high-priced digs in Santa Fe's exclusive Las Companas development or his prime real estate in Capitan, is clearly out of touch with the pressing needs of ordinary working people in Central and Southern New Mexico. Ed Tinsley doesn't get it. Harry Teague gets it.

From a campaign email: Recently the minimum wage increased to $6.55 an hour. But Santa Fe's own Ed Tinsley, our opponent and a Washington, DC lobbyist for the National Restaurant Association, thinks that workers deserve less than the minimum wage. In his words: "The people who want to raise the minimum wage must have never written a check to cover labor." [Testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, 9/14/2000]

Harry Teague disagrees. Harry provides his employees with good wages, health care and free college tuition for their children. Southern New Mexico needs a Congressman who will stand up for working families, not look down on them. Will you stand with us and tell Ed Tinsley to support working families? Sign our petition here!

As gas and food prices are spiraling upward, not only does Ed Tinsley think that hard working families in New Mexico don't deserve a raise, he thinks that they don't know how to spend their own money.  In his words:  "I feel that teaching them how to create a savings plan ... is very important... Understand that the educational level of a lot of our workforce is on the lower side." [New Mexico FBIHOP, 6/27/2008]

Tell Ed Tinsley to treat our working families right.

Harry wants to change Washington so that it fights for our working families. You don’t have to wait until November to tell Ed Tinsley that workers deserve respect.  Go to our new website today and stand up with Harry for Southern New Mexico. Together, we can make sure that our Southern New Mexico values are represented in Congress. 

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ACI Hosts Series of Congressional Candidate Forums

The Association of Commerce and Industry, along with a number of other organizations, is hosting a series of Congressional candidate forums in August in Santa Fe, Clovis, Las Cruces and Albuquerque. The forums will address the candidates' positions on business issues such as immigration, health care and other hot topics. Details are listed below the break. Space is limited. To register, visit the ACI website.

Monday, August 4, Santa Fe: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Forum Building at the College of Santa Fe, 1600 St. Michael's Drive. Invited: NM-03 candidates Daniel East (R); Ben Ray Lujan Jr. (D); and Carol Miller (I); U.S. Senate candidates Steve Pearce (R-NM 2nd) and Tom Udall (D-NM 3rd).

Wednesday, August 6, Clovis: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Clovis Civic Center, 801 Schepps Blvd. Invited: NM-03 candidates Daniel East (R); Ben Ray Lujan Jr. (D); and Carol Miller (I); U.S. Senate candidates Steve Pearce (R-NM 2nd) and Tom Udall (D-NM 3rd).

Thursday, August 7, Las Cruces: 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Good Samaritan Society Las Cruces Village, 3011 Buena Vida Cr. Invited: NM-02 candidates Harry Teague (D) and Edward Tinsley (R); U.S. Senate candidates Steve Pearce (R-NM 2nd) and Tom Udall (D-NM 3rd).

Friday, August 22, Albuquerque: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, Marriott Pyramid North, 5151 San Francisco Road NE. Invited: NM-01 candidates Martin Heinrich (D) and Darren White (R); U.S. Senate candidates Steve Pearce (R-NM 2nd) and Tom Udall (D-NM 3rd).

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NM-02: Teague Launches Revamped Campaign Website

NM-02's Democratic Congressional candidate Harry Teague just launched a redesigned campaign website for the general election at https://harryforcongress.com. I like the rustic style and the photos from Harry's past -- like the one below with his sister, brothers and cousins. Harry is the baby on the far right. I couldn't resist:

I'm also impressed with Teague's position on ending the Iraq war, among others. Check it out, see what you think and be sure to sign up with the campaign to help elect a Democrat in New Mexico's Second District. If you missed it, also see our previous post about our recent visit with Teague in Hobbs.

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NM-02: A Visit with Harry Teague in Hobbs

Teague tells us why he's running for Congress

This is a bit long, but bear with me. There's a reason I have a lot to say about Harry Teague.

A week ago Sunday we drove back in a meandering fashion from Netroots Nation in Austin. We stopped overnight in the Hobbs area so we could visit with NM-02's Dem candidate for Congress. Last Monday, Harry Teague and staffer Michael Huerta graciously welcomed us and offered up several hours of their time to talk life experience and politics.

There was lots of lively conversation, funny anecdotes, a tour of Harry's haunts in Hobbs -- old and new, personal and business -- lunch at Dan's Mexican restaurant and a visit to Teague's well organized campaign office in Hobbs. (There's another one in Las Cruces.) Oh, and we learned that the entire state of Pennsylvania could fit into New Mexico's huge Second District with room to spare. I wonder if the pundits and strategists back East understand that fact. It's a hard one to grasp.

Harry Teague at his Hobbs campaign office

I had never met Harry Teague before and I have to say it was a real pleasure. I'm like most progressives I know. I supported Bill McCamley in the Dem primary down South. But now that I've spent some time with Mr. Teague I can honestly say I can support him with enthusiasm in the general election. Perhaps even more important -- I genuinely believe he can win. Imagine New Mexico with Democrats representing all three Congressional Districts. It can happen, but only if we vigorously support all three of our Dem Congresional candidates. All three.

My take on the Dem Red to Blue candidate in the Second District?  He's smart, modest, well informed, down to earth, hard-working, friendly and nuanced in his positions. It's clear that he relishes coming together with others and solving problems, not preaching or being preached to. I came away with the impression that he's one tough cookie of a candidate -- a practical pragmatist with a big dose of common sense and a streak that's decidedly progressive. He came across to me as somebody who genuinely cares about human beings regardless of their stations in life, ethnicity or background. I don't think you can fake that and be believable.

Teague shows off campaign photos of friends, family, supporters

Harry's into the common good -- its shows in so much of what he says and so much of what he's done over many years in his community. And he's careful to point out just how much he's gotten from his community in return, even when he lived in very modest circumstances. Teague says he's had fun his whole life, when he was poor and now that he's the opposite, and I believe him. He's not a guy who's comfortable spinning. He looks you in the eye when he talks. He doesn't wobble.

Teague's campaign office in Hobbs. He also has one in Las Cruces.

Watch out Ed Tinsley -- Harry Teague is in it to win and he's determined to do it by reaching out to people from all walks of life in the District -- plainly saying what he believes in, and why. And he clearly believes in the kind of all-American family and community values that Dems have long supported, and to which too many Republicans have paid only cynical lip service while pretending they have the high ground.

What came up most often in our conversations? How we can get the country back on the right track and rebuild our middle class, our working class, the opportunities available to ordinary people. We certainly need more of that in Washington. Much more.

Lunch at Dan's restaurant, where the locals love the food (and so did we)

Harry drove us around the humble neighborhoods in Hobbs where he grew up, and which prompted many warm memories on his part. Born on a small farm in Oklahoma, Harry, his three siblings and his parents moved to Hobbs in 1959 and lived in tiny trailers, small buildings behind gas stations where he father worked and in very modest houses, moving often. He was raised in Anglo neighborhoods, Hispanic neighborhods, African-American neighborhoods -- and he has many friends from those places to this day. In fact, Teague still lives in a modest neighborhood, in a modest home. Pretentious he's not. Things don't seem to motivate him. People do.

Staffer Michael Huerta, who grew up in Las Cruces, at the office

Teague also showed us the oil services companies he built from scratch, explaining how he started in the oil fields doing physical labor at a young age. He had to drop out of high school to help support his family when his dad became ill. He's come a long way on hard work, good planning and an honest reputation, and he's proud of it. He's also proud of treating his 250+ employees right -- paying them a generous wage, providing them with good health care coverage and helping their children go to college.

He had nothing good to say about his GOP rival's continual bad-mouthing of a decent minimum wage. Ed Tinsley owns restaurants, represented the National Restaurant Association for years and sees the minimum wage as his enemy. It's evident that, unlike Teague, he has no interest in anything called the common good or economic fairness. Tinsley's a grabber, through and through. Period. He's got his and he's gonna keep it that way. And he spends almost all of his time out of the district, up in Santa Fe and beyond. Tinsely and the interests of the people in the Second District are miles and miles apart.

The NAACP Silver Lifetime Membership awards Harry and his wife, Nancy, received last year

Besides a keen passion for economic justice, Teague is very excited about bringing his experience in the energy field into play in Washington. A firm believer in the need for an Apollo-like project to develop renewable energy, Harry spoke a lot about his interest in being a sort of bridge in Congress -- between our present energy system and the one we'll be transitioning to in the coming years. He says he understands the energy business and can be a conduit for knowlege that can help us change to new methods and fuels without destroying the lucrative jobs we have now from energy development.

"We have to find a way to switch to alternative energy, but we also have to find an alternative tax base," says Harry.

He sees wonderful opportunities for wind and solar energy in the Western part of the huge 2nd District, near Lordsburg and Zuni Pueblo, for instance. He knows the oil business, but he also knows a lot about what we need to do to craft a new way of powering our communities. I found that very impressive. And valuable when he goes to Washington.

Harry in front of what used to be Will Rogers Elementary where he had a crush, along with everyone else, on Diane Daniels, now Denish

Teague also pointed out his top-notch track record of bringing jobs to the area while he served eight years on the Lea County Commission. He ended up chairing the Commission even though most members were Republicans. Teague is definitely a person who takes reaching out across the aisle seriously so important things can get done. Helping communities and workers is his number one priority and he's had a lot of experience doing just that.

Teague said, "It's a heady feeling thinking about how this next Congress may get to do more than any Congress since 1932, and I’ll get to be a part of it. That’s humbling. We can do more good for the people of the U.S. in the next few years than anyone since the early '30s. We'll have a chance to set our course on the right track in terms of energy, immigration, ending the war, heath care, education, jobs and more. I want to be a part of that if I can."

I hope he is -- representing New Mexico's Second Congressional District with honesty and care. I don't agree with Harry Teague on every issue, but I do agree with him on where we need to go on all the important issues, and how to get there quick. I'd like to urge all of McCamley's former supporters to give Teague a chance and help NM-02 gain Democratic representation for the first time since 1981. We need all of New Mexico's members of Congress supporting the change and renewal that an Obama presidency can bring to the forefront. We need Harry Teague, along with Martin Heinrich, Ben Ray Lujan, Tom Udall and Jeff Bingaman. How about it?

Two of Teague's companies, the Hobbs sign, Teague for Congress

Harry Teague is a True Blue New Mexico candidate. Please do what you can to help him get elected in November.

Click on photos for larger versions. All photos and video by M.E. Broderick.

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NM-Sen, NM-02: Candidate Forums Set for Mescalero

According to the AP, Senate candidates Tom Udall and Steve Pearce will both appear at a candidate forum on July 26th at the Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero, but they'll be appearing one at a time. The campaigns could not reach agreement about a format for a joint appearance at the forum, part of a two-day gathering of thr New Mexico Farm Bureau. Instead, each candidate in turn will speak for 30 minutes, then take questions.

"Both candidates have a great opportunity to address the group, to present and share ideas as well as take questions," Udall spokeswoman Marissa Padilla said. "It's a very important venue. We look forward to talking and comparing ideas."

Also during the Farm Bureau meeting, Dem Harry Teague and Repub Ed Tinsley, Congressional candidates in NM- 02, will participate in a forum together after agreeing to a format that includes opening statements, questions from the audience and brief rebuttals if one candidate mentions the other.

"It's kind of a debate. I would call it a debate," because House candidates can respond to each other's remarks, Teague spokesman Alex Cole said

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