AUSTIN - Dismiss romance writers as the drama queens of the supermarket set, perhaps, but call them pornographers at your own peril….[Fred] Head, the Democratic long shot in this year’s state comptroller race, is reaping the wrath of Texas romance writers for calling Republican rival Susan Combs a “pornographic book writer.” Since the Texas Democratic Convention in June, Head has repeatedly attacked a steamy romance novel Combs published in 1990, and even features excerpts from it on his campaign Web site. Head says it was hypocritical of her to write such a book and then support abstinence education as a Republican politician.
OK, so Head’s a Democrat…HE’S STILL A DUMB@$$. This is just about the single most pointless, craven, and just plain ludicrous campaign strategy I’ve heard in…well, I don’t know how long. Yep, rather than finding some actual, honest-to-God ISSUES to talk about, Mr. DUMB@$$ Head is focusing on a not-exactly-Pulitzer-Prize-winning romance novel written in 1990 by Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs. WTF? Yes, you read that correctly; Head’s campaign seems to be centered around a deservedly unknown book written by Combs SIXTEEN YEARS AGO. What’s worse is that Combs’ book is…wait for it…A ROMANCE NOVEL, code for thinly-disguised SMUT. Shameless, eh?
WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN???
What Head failed to realize, of course, is that romance novelists and aficionados of the genre have an unspoken and yet highly organized underground network. And these folks are serious; they brook no disrespect or ridicule, and if I were Fred Head, I’d be watching my back…because these folks are out for blood.
In Head’s defense, if had a campaign budget of $0.00, I might also be looking around for something sure to generate some cheap publicity and faux outrage. Even so, I think that Head may have overshot this one by just a wee bit.
Combs launched a $3.2 million political advertising blitz Tuesday. The TV spots, which end with the words “experience we need, values we trust,” stress Combs’ roles as a small-business owner, former state legislator, agriculture commissioner, wife and mother.
Head, with $0 in campaign money, remained defiant, repeatedly calling Combs’ book pornographic.
Uh, well…unless I’m missing something here, romance novels are supposed to be slightly salacious. It’s not as if people are reading them because they’ve run out of Proust and Chaucer.
And how, exactly, does writing a romance novel, even if “pornographic”, disqualify Combs from serving as Texas Agriculture Commisioner? I’ll be here waiting if any of y’all come up with a halfway decent answer.
“I think the romance novelists should endorse my opponent,” he said in response to their criticism of him. “That could probably get me elected. I just don’t agree with writing what I believe is pornographic and not good for the young people.”
Careful what you ask for, DUMB@$$….
Outraged romance writers first flooded Head’s campaign in-box with angry e-mail.
This week, they vowed revenge at the ballot box.
No doubt Head will get about as many votes as I did when I ran for Governor in 2002…12-15, tops. Frankly, that’s about 12-15 more than he deserves. I don’t care if Head is a Democrat. The last thing we need is a DUMB@$$ running for office under our banner. Memo to Fred Head: get a clue, WAKE UP AND SMELL THE CAT LITTER, and fade back into the obscurity you so richly deserve. Come back when you have something to add to the public debate.
Look, if you’re going to run for office as a Democrat, at least be willing and able to talk about something that matters. The last thing Texas Democrats need is a clueless DUMB@$$ running around spewing nonsense about an “issue” that doesn’t matter. Combs’ book is no more pornography than TPRS is a known haven for gay anarchists. Talk about something that matters, or just shut the hell up.
Uh, by the way…does Combs’ book come with any pictures???
