Pastor Brown Inspires the DA and the Mayor

I had to laugh at the news reported in Saturday's El Paso Times about the District Attorney publicly declaring he's remitting a political favor to fellow democrat John Cook - MAYOR John Cook.  You can read the high hilarity HERE.  We'll get to Marty Schladen's obvious pandering here in a moment, but there are more important facets of the story to cover first.

I guess my biggest beef with the news that the DA has "launched an investigation" is that it takes a pastor passing around petitions in church to rile up Jaime Esparza (the DA for those of you living under a rock).  Rampant corruption at two of the three major local taxing entities seems to slip by him unnoticed.  He has yet to launch and investigation into a single one of his local political party members that have been wrapped in schemes to defraud taxpayers for the last decade.  Nope, he's now getting serious about a loony pastor participating in local politics. 

Let's not forget that Mr. Esparza couldn't get Rachel Quintana to trial for a forgery charge for four entire years - Casey Anthony was put on trial, tried and judged in less time and she was accused of murdering a child.  Let's not forget that Esparza's office couldn't get a conviction of Judge Regina Arditti even though they had multiple witnesses attesting under oath to the activities that went on in her court!  I'm sure we could all list a multitude of areas where Mr. Esparza's attention is actually needed. 

I just can't stand it when political party alliances inspire one elected official to use his office to protect another.  It's wrong.  And if you don't think that's what happening here - you're wrong, stupid and more than likely a democrat.  Esparza is not breaking the law at all - he can investigate just about anything, but this stinks if you take into comparison with his inaction on just about every other huge crime taking place in El Paso. 

If I were Pastor Brown I would be hiring Teresa Caballero and Stuart Leeds this week. They are plainly the most powerful attorneys in West Texas and have proven again and again that they can whip anybody the DA throws at them.  You may not like them (I don't), but you can't afford not to hire them if you are in the DA's sites.  Judges in El Paso are so scared of them that they'll let the duo do just about whatever they want to do short of giving the prosecuting attonery a wedgie in front of the jury.  And who knows, they might get away with that too!

And for just one second, let me use President Obama's favorite qualifying phrases in introduction to my personal point of view.  Let me be clear, I don't support Pastor Brown's recall.  However, that doesn't mean I think his efforts are "illegal" on their face.  I'm smart enough to know that people do things I don't agree with using a process that protects me as much as it protects them. 

Now to the Pastor and the Mayor and the war over God.

I can tell you from my vast experience with campaign, issues and politics in general that the Pastor isn't doing anything that is actionable from a legal standpoint.  I know the peanut gallery thinks they know the law and that the wrong thing shouted in unison makes it right, but they are flat ass wrong - as usual.  If we let people writing their opinions in the comments section of the paper run the country, we'd all be in jail for one reason or another. 

The threshhold for proving that a church is engaging in electioneering activities is tremendous and rarely met.  You little El Pasoans with your limited knowledge of the world around you stand to make asses out of yourselves by inventing the rules as you go and expecting people who actually know the law to follow you along down your path of stupidity. No court is going to agree with your opinion that "Pastor Brown sucks and therefore should be punished."  I'm sorry, the burden is much greater than your dislike of him. 

And that brings me to the Mayor - who is starting to look very desperate.

Marty Schladen admits in his piece that the mayor was whining about the media coverage of the recall and Pastor Brown's efforts to execute his plan.  Marty Schladen violated one of the top ten rules of journalism - you don't do pieces on people bitching about the media not covering their issue.  If it is news, it's news.  If it is not news, then it's just another politician whining about crap they wish they could change.  If the media ran out and covered every politician's bullshit claim that the opposition is "breaking the law," our daily paper would be 5,000 pages thick.  Just look at how embarrassed KVIA Channel 7 was when they were caught waving a worthless document in Representative Ann Lilly's face that was given to them by her opponent.  They learned a valuable lesson about covering politics - most of the crap you get from candidates, parties or special interests groups is 100 percent certified bullshit and you will end up looking like an ass if you try to use it to build a story. 

Also - itis rumored that Schladen has a personal connection to the entire issue which makes his writing about anyone involved unethical.  I hope this isn't the case, but you know Schladen's history as well as I do.

Anywho...

Mayor Cook must have figured out what I've known all along - he won't survive a recall.  It is perfectly normal for him to be fighting for his political life here.  He's made some mistakes in the past and he's too close to his unavoidable retirement from service to garner much support from the voters.  The masses are ready to leave the Cook era behind and embrace the new... whatever the new may be.  I suggest the new be Oscar Leeser, but that's just my opinion.  He is, after all, "such a good boy." 

The Mayor is frantic and understandably upset that the media isn’t bringing down the hot hammer of hell on Pastor Brown for his recall activities.  However, the mayor is lacking a little credibility in his sudden fervor for the separation of church and state (not mentioned in the constitution in any way shape or form, so don't embarrass yourself in the comments section below by pulling that long disproved card).  Maybe some of you have been to the Mayor's various prayer events where he attends in his official capacity as mayor.  There's nothing wrong with it, however, we all know his group prayer sessions are nothing more than an attempt to keep his political image polished and serves no function in his official duties as mayor.  It's a campaign event any way you slice it and the mayor can't all of sudden back away from it now that he's being attacked by the very institutions of popular religion he has sought to curry political favor with in the past. 

You know who else has official prayer sessions aimed at gaining political points?  Governor Rick "I hate gay people" Perry.  You can't separate what Mayor Cook has done in the past with what Perry and Brown are doing now. 

Let's also not forget that each city council meeting is opened with a prayer.  And until recently polling places were held in churches for years and the mayor never said a word (O'Rourke recently put an end to that in order to make sure all polling places are located in union run buildings in order to secure any advantage he can for democrats in the city).  The mayor often speaks of his faith and he does so in a very public and political sense.  For him to start crying foul now because he's being out-Godded by Pastor Brown is wrong.  He's got to play within the system he himself has used to his own benefit in the past.

Let's look at the Mayor's words here and how he’s not ready to be honest with you, or himself.  He's quoted as saying:

“Gathering signatures in churches also violates IRS rules that say tax-exempt organizations can't encourage people to vote for or against political candidates, Cook said.”

Wrong.  You can say whatever the hell you want in a church including “vote for John Smith.”  If you’re a Catholic, you’ve been told how to vote many times.  Then again, if you’re the Catholic I know you may have never heard anyone say that in church because they don’t usually talk politics on Christmas and Easter (my mom laughed at that one).  What the mayor is doing there is saying something he knows is wrong in order to get some press.  The church can’t make a political expenditure – spend money for direct advocacy of a candidate.  There are various rules and court cases pertaining to issue based elections and how far a church can go.  No matter what, the mayor made a false statement much to the detriment of his credibility with those people in El Paso who have some inkling of the law. 

Compounding Cook's image problems is that fact that he won't file a complaint again Pastor Brown.  He's giving the excuse that he "has a personal stake in this."  Really?  It affects YOU and YOU don't think it's YOUR responsibility to do something about it?  Would I not call the police on the guy robbing me because I have a "personal stake" in it?

Okay, I'm not that naive to really think the questions above are worth asking.  What the mayor is telling us is that he's pretty much not sure that his accusations will hold any water or he's not aware of any exact instance of law breaking.  Often what you hear is going on in a campaign is actually quite different from what is happening in reality.  The mayor knows he can't file a complaint based on what he thinks is going on and that's why he hasn't done so.  His public appeal is an attempt to create doubt in the public mind about the veracity of Pastor Brown's recall effort, but we all know that if he really felt a crime was being committed or ethics were being ignored, he would have filed a report.  It's sad that he's using the tactics of a recent  failed city council candidate to try and save himself instead of approaching the ordeal head on.

I think the mayor is looking back on his decision to break the tie on the issue in the direction he did and regretting it greatly.  He was trying to throw a bone to members of council and to voters so that he could get somebody to support him in changing the City Charter so that he could run for a third term.  Instead, he might not finish this term out.  It was a political move with very real risks that I think the Mayor underestimated.  Unfortunately for Cook, his comments on other issues and the general dissatisfaction with incumbent in general coupled with what was seen as overturning the voters' will has become the perfect storm.  He's flailing right now, but I fear it's too late. 

The mayor's best bet - along with others who oppose the recall - is not to fight the petition, but to start campaigning to keep his seat.  He's running against himself in the next step of this process and he needs to polish his image and run like he's never run before.  If that means breaking out the walking shoes and going door to doo again - so be it.  I will caution the mayor that his door stoop visits will not be as pleasant as they were when he first ran.  It's a different game when you've been in a position to do more than just make promises. 

That doesn't mean he can't go out there and turn on the charm and retain his seat.  What he can't afford to do is whine in the press about how the other side isn't playing fair.  He especially can't alienate the church going crowds by threatening their nonprofit status. That's a bad move.  Anybody who was on the fence at those churches have now been pushed to Pastor Brown's side.  You don't threaten the church people - they will win every time. After all, they have God on their side.

I'm tired and need to sleep, so I'll stop there.  Please put your rage filled comments below so we can see how you didn't read the whole the post before you decided that I hate gay people.

Comments

[Carl Starr]

I tend to agree one can shout vote for John Doe in church. No doubt Brown has a right to petition especially since the recall is not tied to a candidate election. As to gathering signers on church property and PAC question that part seems grayer, the DA most likely has enough PC to make a inquiry but like you said he has not on many issues he did not pursue, no doubt he could have left issue alone feeling IRS had jurisdiction. No doubt the God Far Right will rally behind Brown and find Brown a attorney. While there may be something to the PAC question, there is a scotus case that says one need not be a registar voter to gather petition signers, which seems to support idea that Brown can gather signers on church property. The case will turn on how a petition recall differs from a candidate election.

[Diana]

You are wrong on this, David (and no, I am not a Democrat). Yes, it is odd that Esparza is doing anything considering his record, but Brown has stepped over the line. Wish we could recall his snake oil salesman a%% out of El Paso.

[Diana]

And by the way, I AM Catholic and the Church has NEVER told me who to vote for.

[catholic too]

Diana - you must go to a different catholic church than me. I have heard political speech at Queen of Peace and St. Matthews catholic churches on the westside - St. Patrick's has skirted the edges of political speech during Mass. I have heard a priest say "don't vote for political candidates that believe in abortion" - even brought in a visiting priest to ask the parishoners to sign a card asking Congress to restrict abortions. I have heard a priest rail on Nancy Pelosi from the pulpit and he wasn't saying nice things about her (and I am not a Pelosi fan). EPISO is all catholic and all political hiding under a non profit that allows political speech - mark my words it is bought and paid for by the local El Paso Diocese. If there is one religion in this town that wears its politics on its sleeve it is the Catholic Church. Pastor Brown can't even compete with that group when it comes to pushing a political agenda. And no, I'm not a fan of Pastor Brown either.

[Madonna]

When I read the article about DA's investigation to Pastor Brown, I about keeled over with laughter...is this the same man who was located in the same building where obvious shenanigans has been occurring above and below his floor?? Is this the same man whose 80% of the Judiciary has family working at the courthouse and opted to go after Arditti and then dump the Barraza case when his ADA's lost the Arditti trial?

It would have nothing to do with the fact that Judge Moody and Mayor Cook are in-laws by way of their children, would it???

Either way Mr. Esparza' has nothing to lose...his career is done and Caballero may just be looking pretty the next time around.

Also, in all my years of being a voter and citizen of El Paso, I can't help but be impressed that the majority of letter writers still dont appreciate Cook's "override" of the vote, perhaps it is because his City Attorney may have benefited from this passage? I as a voter did not vote for it, but only because my live in partner of 7 years still cannot be insured and i am considering dumping him for another woman...these insurance claims are killing me..

[David K]

Diana,

I took part in a candidate forum in a catholic church when I ran for County Commissioner. That is much closer to the line than anything the pastor is doing.

[Old Fart]

Hey David K, thanks for your very interesting and enteraining comments.

Old Pastor Brown sure has these people scared. Guess that's way they are working so hard to discredit him.

So thanks again for the interesting your comments.

[Diana]

David, look at the law. A church can hold a candidate forum if ALL candidates are invited. Nothing wrong with that.

Old Fart, Tom Brown is scary but not for the reason you think. He is scary for his hatred that he masks with God.

[catholic too]

So all the conservatives that dislike Mormon candidates - are they in the same league as Brown's hatred he masks with God? Face it - many, many Protestants and Catholics cannot abide electing anyone to office that is a Mormon - especially for President. How is that different than Brown's push for "family values"?

[David K]

Diana,

Pastor Brown hasn't had a forum where invited one candidate and not the other. In fact, he can't have a forum because a petition can not speak. And in the run-off the Mayor has no opponent other than himself, so the fairness in time doesn't apply.

I do this for living Diana, I'm telling you he's doing nothing wrong. And the forum I went to nothing was done wrong by law. However, there were people passing out campaign literature that were members of the clergy and they weren't passing out everyone's.

[Diana]

catholic too, I do not know how you were brought up, but I have attended Catholic Churches in several cities where I lived and NEVER was another religion mocked or knocked down nor have we ever been told not to vote for Mormons or Protestants or anyone else.

DavidK, he allowed his wife to announce her candidacy from the pulpit. No one else was given the same opportunity. That is against the law.

If what you are saying is true, you should have filed a complaint. I have NEVER been to a Church that allowed this.

[catholic too]

Diana - I didn't say that the catholic church itself mocked or knocked down the Mormon religion - I am relating what I hear from "christians" when the subject of certain candidates comes up or for that matter-certain cable talk show people (Glen Beck). There is a dislike among so called Christians of Mormons. Been there for years and years. Just questioning where their "christian values" are when they are intolerant of a different belief system.

Does anyone have it on tape showing Pastor Brown's wife announcing her run for council at the pulpit? Was it a scheduled church service - or just a meeting held in the church. Big difference. Lots of churches allow public type meetings to be held in the church sanctuary and they are not tied to a regularly scheduled church service - so no harm no foul in that scenario.

[Diana]

Must be who you hang around because I have NEVER heard anyone knock a candidate based on religion. No tape needed. He admitted that she announced during their service. It was her "calling from God".

[Jazzo]

Hi David,
As interesting as this all seems,El Paso is not mad enough at Cook to enter into a recall election. Brown has a vocal group but small in numbers compared to those who will make the difference. You're right about Cook simply playing the other side by casting the deciding vote on restoring benefits. Deep down I don't think he approves of alternative lifestyles but at the same time he believes we are all God's children. Esparza is a thug with a suit and tie. He does what he wants and keeps it all in a tight circle. Once again there will be no recall, no third term and we are left with is a waste of time over a decision to help all of God's children.

[DavidK inspires Pastor Brown]

DavidK,
Apparently Pastor Brown took your advice and KVIA embarassed itself again by burying it under "HOTBUTTON"

http://www.kvia.com/hotbutton/28919734/detail.html
Places To Sign City Council Recall Petitions
Pastor Brown And Lawyers To Hold News Conference
POSTED: 3:21 pm MDT August 19, 2011

EL PASO, Texas -- Pastor Tom Brown's lawyers, Stuart Leeds and Teresa Caballero, said that the district attorney's investigation into Brown is politically motivated and is intended to intimidate the churches from participating in the efforts to recall Mayor John Cook and city representatives Susie Byrd and Steve Ortega. The group will have a news conference at 1 p.m. Saturday Memorial Park.

Registered voters will get an opportunity to sign the recall petition in multiple locations throughout the city from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Petitions to recall Cook and District 2 City Rep. Susie Byrd will be available at:
•Precinct 58: Park Elementary School, 3601 Edgar Park R
•Precinct 59: Nolan Richardson Recreation Center 4435 Maxwell
•Precinct 60: Magoffin Middle School 4931 Hercules Ave.
•Precinct 61: Stanton Elementary School 5414 Hondo Pass Dr.
•Precinct 62: Logan Elementary 3200 Ellerthorpe Ave.
•Precinct 63: Burnet Elementary 3700 Thomason Ave.
•Precinct 64: Travis Elementary School 5000 N. Stevens St.
•Precinct 65: Kathy White Housing Complex 2500 Mobile Ave.
•Precinct 66: Sacramento Senior Citizen Center 3134 Jefferson Ave.
•Precinct 67: Fire Station # 12 3801 Fort Blvd.
•Precinct 68: Paul C. Moreno Elementary School 2300 San Diego
•Precinct 69: Memorial Park Senior Citizen 1800 Byron St.
•Precinct 70: Austin High School 3500 Memphis Ave.
•Precinct 71: Coldwell Intermediate 4101 Altura Ave.
•Precinct 72: Fire Station #7. 3200 Pershing Dr.
•Precinct 73: Vista New Life Church 4700 Leeds St.
•Precincts 74 and 75: Fire Station #13 5415 Trowbridge Dr.
•Precinct 76: Chelsea Plaza Housing, 600 Chelsea St. Grandview Park, 3100 Jefferson Avenue Nations Tobin Park, 8831 Railroad Drive

Petitions to recall Cook and District 7 City Rep. Steve Ortega will be available at:
•Album Park, 3001 Parkwood Street
•Blackie Chesher Park, 9144 Escobar
•Caistrano Park, 8700 Padilla Dr
•E.L. Willams Park, 752 Lafayette Drive
•Lomaland Park, 715 Lomita Dr.
•Marian Manor Park, 8343 Clifford Ct.
•Marty Robbins Park, 11600 Vista Del Sol,
•Reese McCord Park, 1900 Trawood Dr.
•San Jacinto Plaza, 111 E Mills Ave
•Thomas Manor Park, 7901 Knights Dr.
•Travis White Park, 1700 Wedgewood Drive
•Yucca N 7975, Williamette Ave.

Sign petitions to recall Cook on the West Side from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at:
•Crestmont Park, 512 Chermont Dr. (Sunland Park Dr. & Ridgemont)

The following locations continue to provide an opportunity to sign the recall petition during their regularly scheduled hours of operation during the week:

•Word of Life Church, 11675 Pratt Ave, (915) 855-9673
•Roseanne Rodriguez, 5628 Rosa, (915) 219-9469
•Arves Automotive, 10105 Dyer, (915) 751-9171
•Nacho Padilla, 340 Alvarez Drive, (915) 309-1899
•The Blimp, 1301 Texas Street