# Wendy Davis for Governor of Texas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [July 5, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685 "2013-07-05T02:59:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/121 "2014-01-30T04:47:17Z")
> [@LonghornDave](#): > > A mother not having joint custody means she either didn’t want it or wasn’t fit. Or she and her ex-husband decided, for whatever reason, it would be in the best interest of the child. If it were an issue because of the reasons being implied I would expect Jeff Davis or one of the daughters would be talking about it, but they aren’t. In fact they are taking her side and supporting her. The folks who are trying to make this an issue seem to think they can smear Davis because she dared to pursue a career path at odds with what they think is proper for a woman and mother. I suspect it won’t work like they expect. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/122 "2014-01-30T07:09:14Z")
And none of these ghastly facts emerged before? About how she was an unfit mother and abandoned her children to be raised by wolves while she went to lollygag at Harvard Law. How come none of this came out when she ran for office before? She went straight downhill from a drug addled trailer trash slut to a lawyer and finally a Republican, before turning her life around. Inspiring story. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/123 "2014-01-30T14:12:58Z")
Brings a tear to the eye… :: dabs with hankie :: ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/124 "2014-01-30T14:18:18Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > She went straight downhill from a drug addled trailer trash slut to a lawyer and finally a Republican, before turning her life around. Inspiring story. I smell a _Lifetime movieeeeeee_! ---
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/125 "2014-01-30T14:48:42Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > And none of these ghastly facts emerged before? About how she was an unfit mother and abandoned her children to be raised by wolves while she went to lollygag at Harvard Law. How come none of this came out when she ran for office before? > > She went straight downhill from a drug addled trailer trash slut to a lawyer and finally a Republican, before turning her life around. Inspiring story. A master’s degree is not a job requirement to be the head football coach at Notre Dame; however, when you put it on your resume, and it turns out not to be true, it is [a fireable offense.](http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/15/sports/notre-dame-coach-resigns-after-5-days-and-a-few-lies.html) None of the true facts of Wendy Davis’s life are negative. However, when you go around the country raising money exclusively on a filibuster and a false narrative about your life, it’s a big deal when that life story turns out not to have been true. She’s effectively being busted for lying on her resume. It’s really not that hard of a concept. ---
**Author:** ![Karrius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@Karrius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karrius)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/126 "2014-01-30T14:50:50Z")
> [@LonghornDave](#): > > I don’t think it’s too controversial to say that courts are generally biased in favor of mothers. For a mother to not be awarded at least joint custody, I think most people would say that would typically involve them having an issue (drugs or something) or that they voluntarily gave up custody. > > However, all we can do is speculate. Absolutely, all you can do is speculate about her having drug problems, apparently. The attacks on this woman just for being a woman are really ridiculous. Don’t worry, you’ll keep those women out of politics, just keep screaming about how they’re drug-addled whores. ---
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/127 "2014-01-30T15:04:15Z")
> [@Karrius](#): > > Absolutely, all you can do is speculate about her having drug problems, apparently. You’re misreading me. I’m saying the opposite. I’m saying since it appears that she doesn’t have any issues (such as drugs or something) that would cause a court to not grant custodial rights to a mother then the most reasonable conclusion is that she voluntarily did not seek custody of her child. I understand that other people say drug use was a contributing factor to her divorce, etc. I believe the basis for that is that in the [temporary restraining order](http://www.scribd.com/doc/201176359/Wendy-Davis-Temporary-Restraining-Order) that the judge placed on her during her divorce proceedings she was directed to not use illegal drugs. My understanding is that clause in the TRO is a boilerplate usual item that has nothing to do with any allegations by her husband. Therefore, anyone that is saying she had drug problems is making that up out of thin air to slander her. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/128 "2014-01-30T16:16:11Z")
> [@LonghornDave](#): > > …the most reasonable conclusion is that she voluntarily did not seek custody of her child. **So what?** For all we know she felt it was in the best interest of the child at that time to follow that route. Her ex-husband agrees. The child in question doesn’t appear to have any problem with what the legalities of the situation were and in fact talks glowingly in her statement about how her mother was very much involved in her daily life. The only reason this appears to be an issue is to smear Davis for being a woman who has chosen to follow a professional career rather than stay home and raise children. It also makes the Texas Republicans look like they are scared by what she might be able to accomplish in this race. I doubt she will win but I don’t think these type of attacks will work out the way they are intended. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/129 "2014-01-30T16:23:21Z")
Because a marriage ends does not mean it fails. Her ex sounds like my kind of man and I would not be much surprised if the level of trust between them was high enough that technical questions of divorce law and custody were moot. Her kids don’t say anything to suggest otherwise, nor does her ex, and they would be the people who know. As far as question of drugs go, we got nothin’. As far as knuckle walking right wing Texans are concerned, anyone to the left of Calvin Coolidge is a drug addled hippy. Which kind of cheapens the experience for those of us Texans who actually \*are \*drug addled hippies. Nonetheless, Texas is a wonderful place to be from. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/130 "2014-01-30T16:40:43Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Nonetheless, Texas is a wonderful place to be from. Agreed. It just makes me sad how completely the right-wing nuts have taken over and are able to get away with smears and lies in their efforts to shutdown anyone who disagrees with them. ---
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/131 "2014-01-30T17:18:46Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > **So what?** > > For all we know she felt it was in the best interest of the child at that time to follow that route. Her ex-husband agrees. The child in question doesn’t appear to have any problem with what the legalities of the situation were and in fact talks glowingly in her statement about how her mother was very much involved in her daily life. > > The only reason this appears to be an issue is to smear Davis for being a woman who has chosen to follow a professional career rather than stay home and raise children. It also makes the Texas Republicans look like they are scared by what she might be able to accomplish in this race. I doubt she will win but I don’t think these type of attacks will work out the way they are intended. I’ve already answered the “so what” part. It’s that this runs contrary to the story of her life that she’s been telling around the country. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/132 "2014-01-30T17:21:42Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Agreed. It just makes me sad how completely the right-wing nuts have taken over and are able to get away with smears and lies in their efforts to shutdown anyone who disagrees with them. And yet, Texas **does** have its liberal/progressive tradition. This is the state that produced LBJ, after all. See [_Made in Texas,_](http://www.amazon.com/Made-Texas-Southern-Takeover-American/dp/0465041213) by Michael Lind. ---
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/133 "2014-01-30T17:23:38Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Because a marriage ends does not mean it fails. > > Her ex sounds like my kind of man and I would not be much surprised if the level of trust between them was high enough that technical questions of divorce law and custody were moot. Her kids don’t say anything to suggest otherwise, nor does her ex, and they would be the people who know. I like and agree with this quote from her ex-husband. [QUOTE=Jeff Davis] “She got a break,” Jeff Davis said. “Good things happen, opportunities open up. You take them; you get lucky. That’s a better narrative than what they’re trying to paint.” [/QUOTE] She’s got a good narrative that would appeal to most people. She instead tried to turn it into a fairy tale. She should have stuck to the truth. > [@elucidator](#): > > As far as question of drugs go, we got nothin’. As far as knuckle walking right wing Texans are concerned, anyone to the left of Calvin Coolidge is a drug addled hippy. Which kind of cheapens the experience for those of us Texans who actually \*are \*drug addled hippies. I hate to scare you, but … [QUOTE=Rick Perry] “After 40 years of the war on drugs, I can’t change what happened in the past. What I can do as the governor of the second largest state in the nation is to implement policies that start us toward a decriminalization and keeps people from going to prison and destroying their lives, and that’s what we’ve done over the last decade,” Perry said, according to the Austin American-Statesman. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/134 "2014-01-30T18:11:39Z")
I posted a link to Ms Davis’s education policy. And to her opponent’s eagerness to continue slashing education funding. But our “concerned” friend is only worried about how rumors will affect the Suburban Moms he’s attuned to. Hey, **LonghornDave** , tell us what you think about the issues affecting Texans, not gossip. [Back to Kincannon, LD’s pa](http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/14738/tea-party-republican-todd-kincannon-wendy-davis-is-a-looker-hooker-and-a-whore)l: > [@](#): > > Even if Kincannon posted all of these tweets to rile up the twitterverse, the overt sexism blasting from his twitter account is one and the same as the misogynist focus on Davis’ personal past over the last week - despite her daughters speaking out and refuting claims from Republicans about the quality of their relationship with their mother. As Jessica Luther pointed out in her article for _The Guardian_, the attacks on Davis are “political sexism at its worst.” > > Though the explicit sexism and downright meanness of Kincannon’s tweets are certainly upsetting, his criticisms at least make the prejudice easy to spot. More insidious are those who claim not to be policing Davis based on gender, but on the “facts” about her personal story, because the sexism is a little harder to see. As a strong woman running for the highest political office in Texas, Davis’ mere existence is enough to get those who aren’t ready to see another woman in the governor’s seat riled up. One thing is clear: this isn’t the first or the last time Davis will face sexist attacks against her candidacy. Perry’s statement? He’s not running. For Governor, at least. We may get to see him embarrass himself again in the debates for the Republican Presidential Nomination. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/135 "2014-01-30T18:35:05Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > And yet, Texas **does** have its liberal/progressive tradition. This is the state that produced LBJ, after all. > > See [_Made in Texas,_](http://www.amazon.com/Made-Texas-Southern-Takeover-American/dp/0465041213) by Michael Lind. Thanks BG, but having been raised in Texas I’m fully aware of its liberal tradition. I know about LBJ among many others who were cut from the same cloth. I also know who Jim Hightower is and fondly remember Ann Richards, Molly Ivins, Sam Rayburn and Ralph Yarborough. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/136 "2014-01-30T18:55:58Z")
And don’t forget, Texas had the first female governor. Very progressive! ---
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/137 "2014-01-30T18:58:03Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > I posted a link to Ms Davis’s education policy. And to her opponent’s eagerness to continue slashing education funding. But our “concerned” friend is only worried about how rumors will affect the Suburban Moms he’s attuned to. Hey, **LonghornDave** , tell us what you think about the issues affecting Texans, not gossip. No offense, but you posted a link from a rumor mongering blog that describes itself as the strongest ally of the Democratic Party. The last time I saw someone link to there it was a story about how Rick Perry was secretly gay. If you’re saying I’m the concerned friend who is worried about how the rumors (which aren’t rumors but error corrections) will affect her then you’ve got me all wrong. I’m more the guy who likes to see people that build up these celebrity rookie phenoms into something they’re not struggle under the inevitable reality check. I’m also the guy who’s happy Rick Perry won’t be governor any more and that he’s going to be replaced by someone who is a significant improvement in Greg Abbott (who is not someone I align myself with politically). Regardless, Wendy Davis seems to be doing well in her year long interview to be Al Sharpton’s co-host. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/138 "2014-01-30T19:05:01Z")
> [@](#): > > No offense, but you posted a link from a rumor mongering blog that describes itself as the strongest ally of the Democratic Party. The last time I saw someone link to there it was a story about how Rick Perry was secretly gay… Review for us, if you will, the rock solid sources for your various insinuations. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/139 "2014-01-30T19:05:07Z")
Are there any projections this far out about how Davis will do against possible contenders? I would love for her to win but given that its still a red state that went for Romney by over a million, I have to keep my enthusiasm grounded. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2014, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685/140 "2014-01-30T19:10:00Z")
> [@LonghornDave](#): > > …I hate to scare you, but … So _that’s_ why he couldn’t remember which parts of the government he was going to shut down! “Now, Rick, I know you don’t hold with this sort of thing, but you take a couple quick puffs of this here roofer I got, gonna sharpen up your debate skills like all git out! Does wonders for your memory, too!..” Aggies on drugs. Just \*not \*a good idea! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wendy-davis-for-governor-of-texas/662685.md?page=8)