Campaign Turns Ugly and Personal In 18th Congressional District September 27, 2010

If   you have listened recently to local radio you have probably heard a political ad paid for by John Faulk, the republican candidate for the 18th Congressional District.

Faulk is trying to link incumbent  democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee to a scandal plaguing the Congressional Black Congress.   

U.S. Rep. Bernice Johnson of  Dallas has admitted that she awarded college scholarships worth thousands of  dollars to family members and family members of  friends.

There is no evidence that Congresswoman Jackson Lee has done anything wrong. 

However, in the radio spot you hear  a woman’s voice raising doubt about SJL’s  record and questioning if  she has any connection to the controversy.

The Congresswoman’s campaign released this statement: 

LOW DOWN DIRTY POLITICS @ PLAY BY REPUBLICAN OPPONENT 

(Houston, TX)…..As the upcoming November 2^nd General Election approaches, it appears to be business as usual for Republican candidate John Faulk who is attempting to smear the incumbent representative of the 18^th Congressional District, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, with his latest advertising tactic.  Faulk, a candidate with no record, is using “lies and misrepresentation” to smear his opponent who continues to run on her record of service and ability to bring millions of dollars back to the constituents within her district.

Faulk’s latest radio ad, which has a racist undertone and is attempting to confuse and mislead the voters with a commercial with an African American female voice, refers to the alleged actions of another congressional representative and attempts to smear Jackson Lee and question her credibility. This unfortunately is the usual “low down, dirty political tactics” of many Republicans.  The voters are astute enough to see beyond this type of negative campaigning.

Jackson Lee has continually represented and brought resources back to Texas and the 18^th Congressional District for 15 years including: she has brought $6 billion in stimulus money and 269,000 jobs to Houston and Texas as a part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act; she has brought $1.7 billion for improvement of school and schools and colleges; she has brought $374.5 million for transit improvements; she has brought $120.4 million for public housing projects; she has brought $147.2 million to enhance public safety within our communities; she has brought 1 million dollars to Riverside General Hospital for its TRICARE Participant designation to treat military personnel for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders; $15 million to the Houston Ship Channel; $300,000 to the Texas Southern University’s Mickey Leland Center for archival preservation; $1 million for Harris County Flood Control District; $500,000 for a minority cancer control program at the University of Texas; $200,000 for both the City of Houston and FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation along with funding for many other worthwhile projects. 

Jackson Lee, a lifelong Democrat, has a committed and demonstrated track record of service to her district, community and nation.  Republican John Faulk has no record within the district and as a result is attempting to use smear tactics instead of focusing on the issues that affect the constituents of the district.  What is Faulk planning to do for the constituents in addressing the issues of the 18^th Congressional District is the real question?

Congresswoman Jackson Lee Travels To Haiti February 12, 2010

Supporters of  Houston Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee held a campaign fundraiser for her Friday night, but she was too busy to make an appearance.

The Congresswoman was actually thousands of miles away getting a first hand look at the devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti.

Earlier in the week,  Jackson Lee announced that she was working with Houston pastor George Foreman to assist the Americans who were detained for allegedly trying to smuggle 33 Haitian children across the Dominican Republic border.

Below is a brief overview of Jackson Lee’s trip sent to 2 On The Beat by her political campaign spokeswoman Sue Davis: 

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee heads to Haiti

Houston Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee joined a 12-member congressional delegation for a whirlwind one-day visit to Haiti today for what House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described as an assessment of “ongoing reconstruction efforts ahead of the U.S. Congress considering long term assistance” to the earthquake damaged nation.

Jackson Lee, a veteran member of Congress elected in 1994, has visited Haiti in the past.

The delegation, led be Pelosi, included 11 Democrats – including Florida Sen. Bill Nelson – and one Republican – Florida Sen. George LeMieux.

The lawmakers were scheduled to meet with Haitian President René Préval and Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive as well as visit aid distribution sites and medical facilities.

Meetings with representatives from the U.S. military, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the United Nations and humanitarian organizations also were planned.

Pelosi said it was “crucial that the House and Senate — on a bipartisan basis — have the opportunity to examine” relief efforts that are underway.

The Obama administration has pledged assistance to help rebuild Haiti after the Jan. 12 earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people.

Jackson Lee, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and co-chair of the Congressional Children’s Caucus, said she wanted to “express my condolences to the people and leadership of Haiti as they work to rebuild their country and livelihoods in the wake of an immeasurable tragedy.”

The lawmaker said she was seeing “the remarkable job that our multiagency team is doing to assist the people of Haiti.”

Jackson Lee said it was important for Congress to “have the full picture of the challenges facing Haiti’s road to recovery,” adding that she regarded Congress’ response “an opportunity to help our neighbor and ally fulfill its potential as a stable and prosperous nation.”