Tom DeLay Created Latino Democratic Party In Texas

Tom DeLay was sentenced to three years in prison by a federal judge for his illegal fundraising activities this week. In one of his last posts for NewsTaco, Carlos Guerra wrote about the repercussion of Tom DeLay’s activities:

The strategy was clear enough: To transform the Texas Democrats into a party of minority members, and drive white Democrats to the GOP.

The problem was, however, that during the early 1900s, Texas became the first state to ban the use of corporate — and labor — money in political campaigns. And that ban has been all but obviated by the current U.S. Supreme Court which ruled that while corporations can’t contribute directly to campaigns, they can give to shadowy “independent” groups whose ads are indistinguishable from the candidates.’

DeLay’s strategy of racially polarizing the legislature by parties is also alive and well. When the next Legislature convenes in January, to consider, among other things, redistricting and the state’s biggest budget shortfall, the Texas House will include only six white Democrats.

I think Carlos’ words still ring true, obviously, and although the likelihood that DeLay will serve all three years is slim, the impact he had on Texas is indelible. And as this state is set for catastrophic budget cuts, it will be the mostly-white GOP that holds the purse strings while the largely minority Democratic party stands by practically helpless to stop it.

And for good measure, here’s Carlos in his own words: