Lone Star Project

Lone Star Project on Facebook

Making an Impact

“The Lone Star Project … hammers Republicans whenever it gets a chance, promoting strong local Democratic candidates and even bringing lawsuits.”
(Roll Call, Stuart Rothenberg,
March 12, 2009)

“Anyone who questions whether [The Lone Star Project] can make life difficult for a Republican legislator should talk to former Sen. Kim Brimer.”
(Austin American Statesman, February 17, 2009)

“[The Lone Star Project] is responsible for the aggressive stance the party has taken toward DeLay and other Lone Star State Republicans since the 2004 election.”
(The Washington Post, March 6, 2006)

"David Dewhurst has said most Texans don't have much sympathy "for someone who that can't fill out a two page [health insurance] application every six months".

The Democrat-supported Lone Star Project in Washington reported this week that Dewhurst failed to file necessary forms at least six times in recent years.
(San Antonio Expres News,, 4/12/2007)

"The Justice staff memo was obtained by the Lone Star Project ...The story broke the same day the U.S. Supreme Court was considering legal challenges to the plan brought by Democrats and minority groups."
(Houston Chronicle, 12/3/2005)

"The Texas chapter of the NAACP, along with the Lone Star Project, have analyzed the amicus brief filed by the Justice Department and have concluded, justifiably, that the Voting Rights section of the Justice Department is now controlled by partisan political appointees."
(Roll Call - Donna Brazile, 2/28/2006)

Father-in-law Sends Rush to Rescue Mike McCaul
Deep-pockets Dad steps in to save shaky son-in-law

Rush Limbaugh Mike McCaul

Republican Michael McCaul (CD10 - Austin) is not the first back-bench politician to count on his wife’s family to finance an attempt to stay in public office. He’s likely the only one, though, whose father-in-law can deliver the self-described "Most Dangerous Man in America," Rush Limbaugh. (Source: RushLimbaugh.com)

An announcement is circulating in Texas Congressional District 10 informing Texas “ditto-heads” that Limbaugh will make a special appearance at a fundraising event for McCaul. Limbaugh is employed by Clear Channel Communications, which was founded by McCaul's father-in-law, Lowry Mays. Mays pays Limbaugh a reported $38 million per year and gave him a $100 million signing bonus in 2008. (Source: The Wall Street Journal, July 3, 2008)

Lowry'$ Dowry
This isn't the first time Lowry Mays used his cash and connections to rescue his son-in-law, Mike McCaul. In fact, Mays’ company is, by far, the largest donor to McCaul's campaigns.

McCaul's Top Contributors:
1) Clear Channel - $140,450
2) Dell Inc - $52,696
3) Zachry Construction - $45,100
4) AT&T Inc - $37,000
5) Loeffler Group - $33,800
(As of May 26, 2009, Source: OpenSecrets.org)

Mike McCaul is a junior Member of Congress who remains relatively unknown in the sprawling 10th Congressional District which stretches from Austin through six rural counties all the way to Houston. While the district remains marginally Republican, a steadily changing demographic makeup and the emergence of a very impressive centrist businessman, Jack McDonald, as the expected Democratic nominee, make Mike McCaul the most vulnerable Texas Republican incumbent. Apparently, McCaul is feeling the heat and is ready to use his family connections to call in the big bucks and even bigger blow-hards.

Click for invite

The Ditto-Head Dodge
Oddly, the McCaul campaign is refusing to disclose the location of the event to anyone until they reserve a spot to attend. Mike McCaul is willing to bring Limbaugh into the 10th District to raise money, but he’s not willing to inform the press or the general public where the event will take place.

Will McCaul choke on Rush’s red meat rhetoric?
So far in his congressional career, Mike McCaul has sat quietly on the back bench, dutifully voted with the House Republican leadership and kept an overall low-key demeanor. Rush Limbaugh, however, is anything but low-key, and his appearance throws a harsh spotlight on Mike McCaul. Now McCaul is forced to either embrace or publicly distance himself from the controversial, typically extreme and often offensive remarks made and views held by Rush Limbaugh. Here is just a sample of Rush Limbaugh’s view of the world:

On women…
“The life expectancy of men is drawing closer to that of women. Women still live longer than men because their lives are easier.” (Source: Media Matters, March 3, 2005)
On moderates…
“We only win when we are conservatives ... Dick Cheney knows that people in the middle of the road get run over.” (Source: Time.com, May 11, 2009)
On service members who push for withdrawal from Iraq…
“The phony soldiers.” (Source: The Rush Limbaugh Show, September 26, 2007)
On American history...
“You know who deserves a posthumous Medal of Honor? James Earl Ray. We miss you, James. Godspeed.” (Source: 101 People Who Are Really Screwing America)
On Michael J. Fox...
"He is exaggerating the effects of the disease. … He's moving all around and shaking and it's purely an act. . . . This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn't take his medication or he's acting." (Source: The Washington Post, October 25, 2006)
On John McCain...
"He's just playing the American card or the patriot card, the prisoner of war story or whatever, and that happens to appeal to some people. … Senator McCain successfully targeted the weak, the mushy, the squishy, the Jell-Os, some of the left, the Drive-By Media.” (Source: The Rush Limbaugh Show, February 4, 2008)
On President Obama…
“I disagree fervently with the people on our side of the aisle who have caved and who say, ‘Well, I hope [President Obama] succeeds. We've got to give him a chance.’ … I hope he fails." (Source: The Rush Limbaugh Show, January 16, 2009)

Permalink

The Lone Star Project is an activity of the Lone Star Fund.

Contributions to this committee are not tax deductible. Federal law requires political committees to use our best efforts to report the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer for each individual whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year. The Lone Star Fund accepts federal contributions from individuals, partnerships, and other federal political committee of up to $5,000 per calendar year.

Disclaimer