IT'S OFFICIAL PRESIDENT CLINTON IN EL PASO FOR CONGRESSMAN REYES!!

(updated 5:30pmish)

LET THE POLITICAL PING PONG BEGIN!!

Next week, former President Bill Clinton will make a CAMPAIGN STOP for Congressman Silvestre Reyes.  This is not a drive by scenario where they make a pit stop while doing other "official business" and "squeeze in" a visit, THIS IS AN ENDORSEMENT STOP FOR THE CONGRESSMAN.

And it is a big deal for the Congressman, because the Clintons (Bill and Secretary of State Hillary, as well as Chelsea) are the most popular Democratic political figures in El Paso. And the El Paso Clinton base is die hard loyal.

Four years ago, when the El Paso Democratic Party Convention was being held at UTEP, a thousand plus Clintonites took verbal orders, made phone calls, and read on line directions on "how to become a Clinton Delegate" and help Hillary make it to the White House.  It was a county convention like I have never witnessed before.  I being an Obama supporter, and the first elected official in Texas to support Obama, was on the receiving end (with the 29% Obama Delegates in El Paso County) of a political beating by the disciplined delegates and party officials who were hard core Clintonites, taking order from the Clinton Machine.  And machine it was!  At Democratic County and State Conventions across America, the Clinton Machine dictated a calculated strategy to Clinton generals and lieutenants who organized the troops including denying credentials to Obama delegates, bullying tactics at precinct conventions, and altering or ignoring the rules in order to put Obama Delegates at a disadvantage. The denying of the appropriate number of El Paso Obama Delegates to the state convention resulted in a challenge at the state level where Obama Delegates had to fight to get their 28% allotment.  We eventually won the challenge due to the legal work of John Padalino, Mike Torres and Don Williams (in that order). Don would claim to be the victor of this challenge, but it was Padalino and Torres who wrote the challenge, Don in his forced way of "getting his way" presented the well written challenge.

Because of the terse energy prior to the convention, I PAID an independent film videographer to have the entire convention video recorded.  In fact, I hold the only tapes of that convention.  The tapes were used to win the challenge at the state level to seat the El Paso Delegates and are pretty telling on some local Democrats and the lengths they would go to for the Clintons and for personal political gain.  Although the Obama Delegates were equally disciplined, it was hard ball on the convention floor, and the raving committed Clinton Delegates out numbered the Obama Delegates with 70% of the convention hall for Clinton and only 28% for Obama.

I have been to every El Paso County Democratic Convention since 1992 and to this date, there has never been a convention like 2008.  I bring this up, because this a Democratic National Convention year and it will be held on September 3rd, in Charlotte, North Carolina.  In fact the El Paso County Democratic Convention will be held this Saturday, April 21st at Jefferson High School, and trust me the topic of conversation is going to be "President Bill Clinton is coming to endorse Congressman Silvestre Reyes".

So, my political assessment of the Robert "Beto" O'Rourke response to Clinton coming is "it doesn't matter what you say" EL PASO IS A CLINTON TOWN!.  It didn't matter what we Obama Delegates said about the rules, about being fair, about apportionment based on election returns, the Clinton Machine does what the Clinton Machine asks.  And the Clinton Machine is asking people in El Paso to VOTE FOR CONGRESSMAN SILVESTRE REYES.  It is a big deal.

And this blog post is not to marginalize in any way  President Barack Obama's endorsement today of Congressman Silvestre Reyes.  It is a one-two punch to the O'Rourke Campaign and a message - - - two former political adversaries, the most accomplished and popular to date - President Clinton, and the most powerful man in the world - President Obama, are supporting our Congressman.  What more can a sitting Congressman ask for!!

Sorry, but two presidents don't throw their support to a Congressman that has corruption looming in the background.  Just doesn't happen.  Plus the most powerful man in the world went on RECORD in Cartagena, Columbia and stated his clear position that he is not for the legalization of drugs!!

The race is on!  But the Congressman pulled two HUGE endorsements and it is a statement.  Two Americans bestowed with the power to lead our nation, trust and support Silvestre Reyes for another term in Congress.  (It is unfortunate that an elected official in El Paso tried to steer Clinton off course. But that is for another blog!)

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