Kinky Tells It Like It Is

Kinky Friedman tells journalists he'll offend if elected governor

04/09/2006

By PAM EASTON / Associated Press

Author and musician Kinky Friedman told a conference of media executives Sunday that he'll offend, throw career politicians out of office, open Indian casinos and consider a moratorium on the death penalty if elected governor.

Holding his ever present cigar and wearing a black cowboy hat, Friedman, an independent candidate for governor, was the final gubernatorial candidate to address The Texas Associated Press Managing Editors conference.

Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, and former congressman Chris Bell, the Democrats' nominee for governor, spoke to the group Friday.

Independent candidates for governor, such as Friedman, have to gather signatures from 45,540 registered voters who did not cast ballots in the Republican or Democratic primaries by May 11.

State comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn also is trying to make the November ballot as an independent. She spoke to the group Saturday.

All of the candidates spent a considerable amount of time discussing education reform and finance and securing the state's border with Mexico.

Friedman said Sunday that Perry has neglected the border. The governor has said securing the border is a federal issue.

"It seems to me the governor has just discovered we have a border," Friedman said, adding he believes Perry has avoided the issue because he doesn't want to offend Hispanic voters who are trending Republican.

"The good thing about me is I'm not afraid to offend anybody," he said. "We absolutely need a governor who is not afraid to offend people."

Friedman said Mexico is a rich country that doesn't share any of its wealth with its citizens. As a result, he said, many Mexicans head to America where they are taken care of.

"I want the Mexican government to step up and pay their fair share," he said.

The comedian said his sense of humor shouldn't overshadow how serious he is about becoming Texas' next governor. He says he envisions a new Texas government with non-career politicians leading the charge and inspiring people to make Texas better.

"One eye is laughing and one eye is crying," Friedman said. "And the eye that is crying is because this governor has been invisibly banning gay marriage for the past two or three years while the education has just veered into a meteor crater somewhere."

Friedman suggests opening Indian casinos to fund education.

"We invented Texas Hold 'Em here, and we can't even play it," he said.

Texans are gambling, Friedman said. They are just going to neighboring states to do it and Texas would be smart to keep that money here.

As governor, Friedman said he would take a close look at the state's criminal justice system. A moratorium on the death penalty may be in order, he said, explaining sentencing convicts to life without parole saves money and makes sense.

Perry spokesman, Robert Black, said Friedman's ideas will be hard pressed to get legislative approval.

"Until Kinky actually puts forward serious proposals that address the challenges that our state faces, his campaign is little more than a great way to sell books and bobble head dolls," he said.