Angry Dem blogger mocks 'tilde-less' Peña

[douglas9]

AUSTIN — When state Rep. Aaron Peña became the second Democrat in a week to switch to the GOP, the reaction from his former party went beyond disappointed.

One Hispanic colleague issued a statement saying that this "is not the Aaron Peña I know." Another said he didn't believe Peña was motivated by public service. A Twitter account was set up called, "Aaron Sellout Peña." The blogger known as Mean Rachel touted "Call Out Aaron Pena Day," which asked people to remove him as a Facebook friend, block him on Twitter and ask for their money back if they'd donated to him (and yes, that's the way she wrote his name, calling him "hereby tilde-less and using his cleansed, conservative Republican namesake").

Since Peña had just been elected as a Democrat, State Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie said, he should resign and run as a Republican to keep his seat. That was one of the few reactions that was similar with regard to Peña and Rep. Allan Ritter of Nederland, whom Peña followed in making the switch.

The reaction to Peña's move sounded tougher for at least a couple of reasons. Although Democrats didn't like Ritter's decision, the East Texan could point to a district that had become more Republican. Peña's is solidly Democratic, so his choice was "baffling," one Democrat said. In addition, and more significantly, there's Peña's Hispanic constituency.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7346921.html

[sonias]

1. There is a whole lot of "less" words to add to his name

"tilde-less" is the least of them.

But still a good call out. :kick:

[sonias]

2. Party begins response to Rep. Peña's GOP switch

And now the Hidalgo Democrats have begun the race to "unseat" Peña for 2012! :kick:

McAllen Monitor 1/4/2011
Party begins response to Rep. Peña's GOP switch
The Hidalgo County Democratic Party formed two fundraising arms this week to begin efforts to unseat state Rep. Aaron Peña following his switch to the Republican Party.

The two political action committees will give Hidalgo County Democrats upset over Peña’s party reversal a way to raise money in support of his Democratic opponent chosen in the March 2012 primary, said Hidalgo County Democratic Party chairwoman Dolly Elizondo-Garcia, who serves as the treasurer for the newly-formed PACs — the first official response from the county’s party to Peña.

Keeping Hidalgo Blue, a general purpose PAC, will raise money to ensure Hidalgo County remains a Democratic Party stronghold without Republicans in elected office, Elizondo-Garcia said. The Committee to Defeat Aaron Peña, a specific purpose PAC, will raise funds directly for the Democratic candidate selected by voters to oppose Peña in the November 2012 general election.

Michael Barnes, a Democratic Party activist who lives in Peña’s district, said Hidalgo County Democrats will take a strong stand against Peña’s defection to the GOP.

“He has a two-year window of unaccountability as a Republican because he wasn’t a Republican when it would have been a risk” during an election, said Barnes, adding that the five-term legislator hasn’t conducted a forum where voters in his district can voice opposition to his switch. “The truth is that Aaron Peña is not representing his dream district yet. He still represents the heavily democratic (House District 40).”

Go get'em Hidalgo Dems! :toast: Too bad we have to wait 2 years!