So Kuff, I'm wondering what you think Bob Perry's motives are for contributing so much money to Rep. Noriega and his wife?

Is it just to derail his primary opponent? Will the support contine should he face off against Cornyn?

Inquiring liberal minds want to know.....

Bess,

As that question has come up before, let me answer in Rick Noriega's own words:

"I had never met Bob Perry until he walked into the George R. Brown Convention Center. Like many other Houstonians, he was moved by the images he'd seen on TV, and decided to lend a helping hand. You don't have to be from the same political persuasion, or the same political party, to come together in times like these. He was impressed with the operation we ran, and became a financial supporter of both Melissa and myself. He knew how I had voted ... and how I've continued to vote is a matter of public record. I was a vocal opponent of tort reform measures, and as predicted, we've seen no decline in medical costs, much less medical liability insurance. While you probably couldn't find two people who differed more in politics, that hasn't stopped us from looking for common ground, including the $20,000
contribution I solicited from Bob Perry for the Houston Area Women's Center. Attribute it to my military training if you like, but I believe in coalitions that can accomplish achievable objectives over go-it-alone
efforts for ideology's sake alone. We've seen where that's gotten us."

Now here's a few words of my own. Yes, I believe it is allies of Mikal Watts who like to bring up the Bob Perry donations. It's certainly a valid question, but the frequency of it being raised, and the similarity of the language that we see in so many disparate locations makes it hard to see as anything coincidental.

From my perspective, it's about how you vote. I don't mind people who take Bob Perry's money if they vote the way I like. Texas politics is full of odd alliances and friendships. I find it best to focus on whether or not the money affects the outcome. As such, I'm comfortable with this.