Aaron Peña Explains Decision to Join GOP Party
After serving eight years as a Democrat, Edinburg state Rep. Aaron Peña is joining the Republican Party, giving the GOP a 101-member supermajority in the Texas House.
In an interview with The Texas Tribune, Peña says the things he believes in "are no longer supported by the Democratic Party," which he says has taken the Hispanic community for granted and shunned moderate and conservative voices within the party.
Peña also says he has been disappointed by the Obama administration's approach to border issues, which he repeatedly refers to as a "failure."
Speculation has been swirling around ...
Comments (13)
Justin Mihalyi via Texas Tribune on Facebook
because he is a flip-flopper, and if his name were John Kerry it would be something that conservatives would roast him for.... just saying
Jo Ann Richmond via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Benedict Arnold....
Mark Paulson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Right on Justin. Worse, he thinks conservatives are doing better on the border? What an idiot. Obama has tripled the boots on the ground, doubled the investigators, added checks for every piece of train freight in and out, and wants to finish the fence, Bush never did.
Joel Stanford via Texas Tribune on Facebook
In other words he's hoping to suckle at the teat of the ruling party and try to grab both the spotlight and perhaps some sweet committee spot in turn for betraying his own party. Aaron Peña, enjoy showing your papers to your local police when they question your immigration status due to that inevitable Arizona copycat bill you voted for being signed into law by Rick Perry.
Betty Boomer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
One great idea but not feasible to actually create in America; first thing we could do as Americans is ascertain if there would be people willing to take public office for a smaller stipend. If we had people willing to do the hard and honest work for half the salary... that would be great! It may be feasible to elect local people that possess great affluence but money is not the primary object in the elected field of endeavor. If greed does not exist and thus the driving ambition is to truly create an America for the people, by the people and of the American people... we can BRAIN STORM through the common bureaucracy and eliminate all useless programs that do not benefit our fellow Americans. We start reducing our funds for foreigners abroad. We start reducing our military overseas and bring our troops HOME to American soil to defend our borders. We stop sending jobs overseas and keep jobs in America. We stop benefits to illegal aliens. We do not house terrorists but find a way to exterminate them after the CIA is done with their investigation. Felons on death row should be ready or prepared to die rather than waste our tax monies every year! We can reduce American government by 50% by 2013! We can continue to reduce the American government by 5% each and every year until the year 2017! We can operate on a small government and thus the deficit will be be reduced significantly by 2030! Just my opinions! It may not be feasible but on the other hand... we can make a plan!!!!
cakuffner
So he's expressing his displeasure with " the Obama administration's approach to border issues" by joining forces with Leo Berman and Debbie Riddle. Sure, that makes sense.
Betty Boomer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
TRY COMPOST SHEEPLE! You can take your aluminum/tin cans, glass, rubber and plastic to RECYCLE in your city/town in USA. Get a clue... start your own compost piles in the backyards of your homes today! GET BUSY! I cannot speak for the sheeple suffering from apartment dwellings and others forced to use dumpsters but I can speak to sheeple with backyards.
John Cobarruvias via Texas Tribune on Facebook
His donations came from REPUBLICAN organizations! Including $5000 from Bob Perry!
Tim Beto via Texas Tribune on Facebook
he's finished -- no way he survives a challenge from a bona-fide democrat in two years. I can only guess he's thinking about a run for US congress.
A Lerma Stickelbault via Texas Tribune on Facebook
alll politicians have a price......from minimum (??) to....well there is no maximum.
Bill Eubank via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What a great man!! I'm so proud of Texas. Its great to live in a state that overwhelmengly rejects democrats. 32 statewide elected officials, all Republicans, 23-9 in the Congressional delegation, 2/3 of the state House and almost 2/3 of the state senate. Dems are irrelevant!!
Connor Kilpatrick via Texas Tribune on Facebook
"Looks like a man that realized he was a representative of the People and not The Party. "
Gregory S Windham, this strikes me as a pretty...absurd thing to say, considering that:
"Peña's move is notable because he comes from a traditionally Democratic stronghold, Hidalgo County in south Texas. The Monitor reports that 71 percent of voters there voted a Democratic straight ticket in November. " [talkingpointsmemo.com]
But you're a right-winger. In the United States. In 2010. In Texas. Which means it's impossible to make you feel embarrassed for saying something that's wildly, 100% wrong. So I'll just go to bed now. Good night.
Justin Mihalyi via Texas Tribune on Facebook
@Gregory - then he should have ran as a REPUBLICAN to begin with. to win the seat as a DEMOCRAT and then just switch willy-nilly (yeah i said willy-nilly) is chicken shit. man up, be what you are. don't change just b/c you think it will be easier to stay in power, that is exactly what we DON'T need in our reps... a willingness to do whatever comes easiest.