corrente

Robert T. Garrett of the Dallas Morning News writes:

On Tuesday, MoveOn.org began airing radio ads on Texas stations that reach Hispanic and African-American audiences.

"Hispanic Texans would lose representation under the immoral, Perry-Dewhurst congressional redistricting plan," the Spanish-language spot says.

One aimed at black listeners urges them to call Mr. Perry and "tell him no more special sessions. Tell him to be a man and stand up to Tom DeLay," the U.S. House's GOP leader from Sugar Land who has lobbied hard for a new Texas map.

[Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio] said the boycotting senators must take their case to a national audience to persuade President Bush to stop his party's push for redistricting.

"He's trying to play both hands," Ms. Van de Putte said of Mr. Bush. "He's reaching out to Latinos and yet [Bush political strategist] Karl Rove is trying to disenfranchise millions of Latino voters. Does ... [Mr. Bush] think we're stupid?"

Yes.

Meanwhile, Scott "Sucker MC" McClellan tries to maintain plausible deniability.

Bush press secretary Scott McClellan declined to answer questions about whether the president would object if GOP congressional leaders tried to expel Texas Democrats from the U.S. House to pressure state Democratic lawmakers to end their boycott.

"Very nice try to try to draw us into a Texas state legislative matter," Mr. McClellan said. While Mr. Bush "is always concerned about Texas," redistricting "is a matter for the state of Texas," Mr. McClellan said.

Right. Except when Tom DéLay gets the Department of Homeland Security involved....