Wealthy dental clinic chain mogul David Alameel has deep pockets. For many Texas Democrats, that alone seems to be given as the reason to support him in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in the 2014 Texas race. Alameel is a prolific donor to political campaigns and he has spread his contributions generously to both major political parties. That has not deterred Texas Democrats from lining up to support him. Wendy Davis endorsed him in January. Why Democrats would endorse a man who has contributed thousands of dollars to help elect the likes of Rick Perry, Greg Abbott, and David Dewhurst remains a mystery. Well he has money, lots of money. I am sure a lot of Democrats think money wins elections.
However, what makes Democrats so sure David Alameel’s money will translate into votes? In 2012, he spent 4.5 million dollars to try to win a US House race in Texas. He spent more than any other House candidate in the state of Texas. For all his money spent, he managed to finish a distant fourth place in the Democratic primary, with 11 percent of the vote. He garnered just over 2000 votes total at a cost of about 2200 dollars of campaign expenditures per vote. That math does not exactly translate into an argument for his “electability”.
Democrats are on a big losing streak in Texas, and yet they seem to be headed down the same path that has lead to one resounding defeat after another. That path is choosing candidates who try to blur the distinctions between Democrats and Republicans in some bizarre hope that when conservatives are given the choice between a Republican and a squishy, over cautious, unprincipled Democrat that the conservative voters will be so confused that they will vote for the Democrat. The Texas Democratic Party has never actually seen any evidence that these easily confused voters exist, nor have they demonstrated that the strategy works, but no matter. Maybe this time at long last the strategy will miraculously succeed.
Alameel represents the very type of crony capitalism that Democrats should be fighting against. He has lavishly funded Republican candidates throughout Texas hoping to curry favor from them, perhaps in exchange for favorable legislation that will help enrich his dental practice. Alameel has also supported Republican candidates in other states, including Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Ironically, he has even donated to John Cornyn the Republican he seeks to unseat in the U.S. Senate. Alameel was a major partner in a company that tried to lobby the city of Dallas to pay 20 million dollars to help subsidize a racetrack that Alameel would profit from.
While Alameel tried to distance himself from his past support for Republicans, by saying he wanted a refund for his past contributions to Senator John Cornyn, the Senator rather successfully shot back by pointing out the obvious. John Cornyn has not changed much since 2004, but rather it is Alameel who has become a political chameleon, trying to change his colors as his fights off other Democrats in the primary. Cornyn’s rebuttal read as follows:
Dear Dr. Alameel,
Though my campaign has not received a formal request, I noticed media reports indicating you would like a refund of the political contributions you gave to my campaign committees in 2004 and 2005. I have always run as a conservative candidate in Texas, so it is unclear why such a refund would suddenly be warranted now. Just as I was then, I am proud to be a consistent voice for the life of the unborn, those who hold the 2nd amendment so dear, and finally all who believe the federal government has gotten too big. I presume you donated to Governor Rick Perry and Attorney General Greg Abbott for similar reasons.
Thanks in part to your support for Texas conservatives like myself, Gov. Perry, Attorney General Abbott, and others, Texas has implemented a successful pro-growth agenda, marked by prolific job creation thanks to lower government spending, less taxes, and limited regulations. Equally as important, Texas has cultivated a culture that respects life and the right to keep and bear arms.
As with all Texans who stand up and join the fight for conservatism, I thank you for your enthusiastic and generous support of these causes. Without your help, conservatives across Texas could not have fought back against the big-spending, big government, pro-choice agenda that Democrats in Washington, D.C. have tried for so long to impose on our state.
That fight continues, and, regrettably, it is one for which no dollar can be spared. Therefore, I must respectfully decline your request.
I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail.
For Texas,
John Cornyn
Cornyn has a point. His policies, though detrimental to the state of Texas, are the same policies he advocated in 2004 and 2005, when Alameel was bankrolling his campaign. Alameel’s ideological positions have changed since then, but has his penchant for trying to curry favor for projects that enrich him ceased as well? Democrats wanting a Senator who will fight for them should look to one of the other candidates in the race and take a pass on Alameel.
If we intend to fight the influence of corporate money in politics, supporting a very wealthy guy who throws cash across both sides of the aisle with reckless abandon is the wrong message. Independent minded Democrats should look to one of the other candidates in the race, rather than pin their hopes on a dental tycoon who has helped build the modern Republican Party.
