Lt. Gov Debate: Judge Got It Wrong

By Bill Zeeble, KERA NEWS

DALLAS –  The four Republicans running for Texas lieutenant governor say the judge got it wrong by allowing a brain-dead, pregnant woman in Fort Worth to be removed from life support.

It seems that each candidate in last night’s live KERA debate tried to out-conservative the others.  The family said Marlise Munoz was brain-dead, and the fetus was “distinctly abnormal.”  They wanted her removed from life support and a judge agreed.  Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and his three competitors did not.  “We should always err on the side of life,” Patterson said, “and in this case there was an unborn child which was past the 20 week statutory limit on abortions. So I’m not sure who was the right case here but I would always err on the side of life.”

State Senator Dan Patrick agreed that the court made the wrong decision.  Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples took it a step further.  “Unfortunately,” Staples added, “I do believe the court erred in this situation. I think the next legislative session, we’re going to have to go in and clarify what the meaning of the statute is in order to remove the ambiguity.”

Incumbent Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst made the opinion unanimous.  But they didn’t all agree on every issue.  Patrick, Staples and Dewhurst said no to legalizing medicinal marijuana.  But Patterson broke ranks.  “If there is medical efficacy for the use of tetrahydrocannabinol, and the doctor prescribes it, I see nothing wrong with that,” argued Patterson.  “We’re talking about medicine, we’re not talking about recreational use.”

The candidates agreed there should be term limits for state offices.  There aren’t now.  Staples had the laugh line.   “I think politicians are a lot like socks and they need to be changed on a regular basis,” said Staples. “We need to instill new blood and new energy and new ideas on ways to solve problems.”  But again, Patterson offered a different answer.  He said let the voters decide.

The candidates were also asked about education and creationism.  All agreed Texas children should be taught evolution, and creationism, and  “intelligent design.”  That’s not the case now.  Both Patrick and Dewhurst went out of their way to say that they’re Christians, and believe in creationism.  Again, Patterson put an additional spin on the topic.  He emphasized teaching comparative religions.  “I think kids growing up in Texas,” said Patterson, “ought to learn about other religions as well. In part so they feel comfortable with their own. In part because they see some of the things that would give them pause.”

Immigration reform was another hot issue Monday night.  Without offering details, each candidate favored a of guest worker program for the many undocumented immigrants already living and working here.  But not, they said, before securing the border.   Patrick was adamant.   “As long as Texas does not secure the border, then the federal government is going to sit back and do nothing,” Patrick said. “They’re not going to pass real immigration reform.  Stop the invasion and then we’ll address those questions.”

Which GOP candidate gets to address the questions depends on the March 4th primary.  Even then, observers expect a runoff in one of the state’s hottest primary elections.  The victor faces the presumed Democratic candidate, State Senator Leticia Van de Putte in November.