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Why I’d Pick Michael Williams Over Ted Cruz

Making The NAACP Cry

By: Martin Knight (Diary)  |  January 20th, 2011 at 08:40 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

First of all, both Ted Cruz and Michael Williams would make wonderful Senators and I’ll just as enthusiastically back either one if he wins the nod when the (Primary) votes are counted.

That said, and maybe my reasoning for this is not “Conservatively Correct” but I would recommend Michael Williams for everyone’s consideration before Ted Cruz – who is still young enough to go for the seat Rick Perry is vacating in 2015.

My logic is this; since both Cruz and Williams are equally conservative and electable (especially Williams who has been elected three times statewide), we need to look at other factors – and the most salient is race, and what it would symbolize when a Republican stronghold, a Southern Republican stronghold at that – the state of George W. Bush, sends an African American to the Senate.

The truth is that the election of any minority as a Republican is an utterly painful event for the Left. But the GOP having a black man as a member of the US Senate caucus, sent there by conservative voters from a conservative state, would be nothing short of excruciating.

Let’s be clear, electing Williams to the Senate serves two purposes – getting a great conservative to the Senate and shooting a below-the-waterline hole into the “Republicans are Racists!” meme in a way electing Ted Cruz simply would not. The fact of the matter is that racism in America is inextricably tied to the African American community by history itself in a way that matches no other group, including Hispanics.

That said, this may not win the GOP any major inroads into the black community – in fact, the likelihood is that he would become the target of a full blown hate-campaign of character-assassination and calumny by the entire plethora of “civil rights” organizations. But for those who are persuadable in and out of the black community it will help us win votes. It’s an undeniable symbol that the GOP truly practices what it preaches about being color-blind … and I need not tell anyone here that symbols are important in politics.

So I ask you to imagine having the only African American member of the Senate being a Republican. From Texas.

Better yet, imagine Jennifer Carroll in Florida throwing her hat into the ring against Bill Nelson in 2012. Now imagine again the absolute nightmare it would be for the Left if the only *two* African American members of the Senate, and both from the South, are Republicans.

What’s not to like about that?

PS: Just to remind everyone, both Ted Cruz and Michael Williams are good guys. Let’s not allow what happened with the primaries in NV last year happen here. The fact that you prefer one over the other should not in any way be taken as license to launch a campaign of destruction on the other just to get your guy to win. This is what happened with Nevada last year – some people took their preference for Sharron Angle as a reason to attack the integrity and commitment to principle of Sue Lowden and Danny Tarkanian. That was unnecessary.

Here, especially when we have such an embarrassment of riches in these two guys, we should be future-oriented – the fact that at least one of them is not going to be the next United States Senator from Texas does not mean that same guy is not going to be the next Governor of Texas. Let’s do our best to keep this particular contest civil in preparation for the next fight after it’s done.

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  • http://ruminationsaspirations.blogspot.com jonbingham

    …to primary Cornyn in 2014?

    I want one to run in 2012 and the other to wait for the other seat in 2014. In 2012, the worst thing that could happen is for two strong conservatives to split the vote and let a weak R through instead (see Corker in TN).

    So, who is better to primary Cornyn in 2014, Cruz or Williams?
    I lean toward Cruz in ’12 and Williams in ’14.

    Thoughts?

    • itrytobenice

      Williams has some statewide recognition, having won statewide in the past. Plus, he’s got a war-chest (can I still use that term, or is in the crosshairs as well?) from his false start in the primary for what was to be a vacated KBH seat.

      If he wins in 2012, he would be a marvelous statewide voice for Cruz in 2014 for either Perry’s seat or for Cornyn’s seat.

      • AceInTX

        I think the party bosses in Austin told her she needed to step aside to make room so they could run the milk toast Dewhurst.

        I agree as well…there is a big danger here of Williams and Cruz splitting the conservative vote and clearing the way for Dewhurst.

        I’d like to see Cruz take on Cornyn in 2014

        Let Williams have it…he’s paid the toll…he’s been on the turnpike…and he’s earned this…

    • Martin Knight

      … not that I would be too bothered if there is one – after all, no one is entitled to the seat and it might do Cornyn some good to have to fight for the nomination.

      Either way, I believe that whoever among Cruz or Williams who loses the Primary in 2012 (and like I said, I support Williams) would be better to succeed Rick Perry.

  • AceInTX

    Williams has been in this for two years now making Cruz a Johnny come lately.

    Williams already has the organization and boots on the ground…he’s got tons of money saved up since he started raising money to run when Kay promised she’s be bowing out last year…He’s won state wide election 3 times already. His expertise is oil and gas and energy of all kinds…something that is increasingly going to dominate the news this year as Gasoline prices and home heating oil prices because crude is likely to exceed $100 a barrel soon. and his personal bio is endearing…if you haven’t read it on his campaign site…you need to. His personal narrative is awesome

    Besides…if you look through the lens of racial desirability all else being equal…Cr8uz would be a much better choice because there is such high representation of Latinos in Texas.

    I’d prefer to sell Williams on all he has to offer…and leave his skin color out of it all together because to acknowledge it…gives the other side an opening to claim we’re being opportunists and cynical.

    • Martin Knight

      Thanks, man … was going to do a short resume blurb on each one of them but my computer suddenly rebooted and I lost it all.

      Here’s Jay Nordlinger’s take on his own guy; Ted Cruz.

      Either way, Williams certainly has the raw pedigree to be a great candidate no matter his race. That’s why he’s my top choice. The fact that he already has a record of winning elections statewide and that he’s been at the starting gate for a while means that, objectively, he’s the better choice, to me at least.

      PS: The other side will always claim that we’re being opportunists and cynical any time the GOP runs an African American in an election – it’s SOP.

      • AceInTX

        PS: The other side will always claim that we?re being opportunists and cynical any time the GOP runs an African American in an election – it?s SOP.

        They wouldn’t be Dems if they didn’t…They’ll wield the stick….because that’s what they do…but I’d prefer to not be the one giving them the stick to hit us with if you get my drift.

  • Finrod

    I did however see Michael Williams speak at the first RedState gathering in July 2009, and he was the most impressive dynamic speaker I saw there– which is no mean feat considering he had Liz Cheney and Nikki Haley as competition, no slouches either of them.

    It would be completely amazing to have Michael Williams as a Senator from Texas in the next Congress.

  • chbroussard

    While I don’t support a candidate because of race, it is imperative that the Republican Party make inroads into the Black community. If we can elect more and more Conservative Blacks (a al Williams, West, Scott) we just might be able to convince more Black voters that the likes of Sharpten and Jackson are not serving their community well. I have a very good Black friend who has told me she’s a “closet” Republican. She said to state that in front of other Blacks would not be well received. We need to change that.

    There were I think more than 10 conservative Black Republicans running for Congress last year, and it’s a real shame that only two were elected. We need to step up our support for these Conservative Blacks who risk shun by their own by stepping up to the plate and without apology profess their conservative credentials. The more Black conservatives we elect, the stronger the conservative Republican Party will become.

    While I am also a Cruz fan, I’d like to see Republicans in Texas lead the way by getting behind Michael Williams in the next election.

  • http://ruminationsaspirations.blogspot.com jonbingham

    Seeing these other posts, I can go with Williams in 2012 and look for Cruz against Cornyn in 2014. Just making sure we can get them both in – and soon!

  • Dan McLaughlin

    I mean, look, (1) I like both guys and (2) admittedly I’m a little biased because I know Ted from law school, albeit not that well. But if you are looking strictly at race, there is no question on earth that the GOP can get a lot more mileage out of promoting Latino candidates than African-American ones, because one group is persuadable and one is not.

    • Martin Knight

      To quote myself; “… but for those who are persuadable in and out of the black community it will help us win votes. It?s an undeniable symbol that the GOP truly practices what it preaches about being color-blind ? and I need not tell anyone here that symbols are important in politics.”

      In other words, our target is not blacks – at least not in the short term,

      Ace (in Spades) made a similar point in a post today.

      … George W. Bush made his play — weakly — for the black vote by saying (paraphrased) “not enough Republicans have stood up and asked, “Can I have your vote?’ Well I’m asking you — can I have your vote?’”

      Did that work? No, not really, not with blacks; but importantly it worked with persuadable whites who liked the idea of a Republican president asking for the black votes.

      I think an African American Senator from Texas gets us a lot more whites, more Hispanics than a Republican usually gets (though maybe less than if it were Ted Cruz – who is rather more Anglo-looking), and hammers another long term crack into the Democrats’ lock on the black vote.

      In fact, I’m not sure race makes much of a difference with TX Hispanics – they’ve been quite willing to vote for white Republicans in significant numbers before; the current 101-49 TX state House is evidence of that.