It is interesting to note the 17 Democrats who are supporting Speaker Craddick. Many of them are of course, Committee Chairs and feel they owe the Speaker something. And the Gossips notice a large number of these good Democrats are either African-Americans or Hispanics. A third are Black and another third are Hispanic. Now why would these 17 Democrats continue to support the most right wing Speaker in the history of the Texas House? After all there are at least two Republicans now in this race who are more moderate members of the House. Is being a Committee Chair or the Speaker Pro Tem so important that you put your personal interests ahead of the interest of the State of Texas? What has this Speaker done for those voters who live in these member's districts and who are the poorest of our citizens? The Gossips think it is time to put the State of Texas interest at the ahead of the line.

The Democrats who have said in public that they are supporting Craddick are:

1. Kevin Bailey 2. Norma Chavez 3. Joe D. Deshotel 4. Dawnna Dukes 5. Harold Dutton 6. Ismael "Kino" Flores 7. Helen Gidding 8. Ryan Guillen 9. Chuck Hopson 10. Tracy O. King 11. Armando "Mando" Martinez 12. Ruth McClendon 13. Aaron Pena 14. Robert Puente 15. Richard Raymond 16. Patrick M. Rose 17. Sylvester Turner

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