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Spanish language, and “about what makes Hispanics tick.” “I resent the fact we have done such a poor job with the average Hispanic,” Strake said. “That guy who crosses the Rio Grande believes in work, in the family, in God, and in fighting and dying for his country and that’s exactly what I believe in.” Mexican-Americans have become “hung-up,” he said, on the belief Republicans want government to do as little as possible. That’s probably the fault of the Republicans, he conceded, because Republicans have done little to fight that stereotype. Strake also conceded Gov. Clements’ “aggressive” style of campaigning could antagonize voters rather than attract them to the GOP ticket. “I won’t try to change his style,” he said, “but we won’t be running in tandem.” Hobby is saying the basic issue is experience. Obviously, having been lieutenant governor since 1973, he has that. Strake has charged Hobby has been there too long. “He doesn’t think John Tower has been there too long,” Hobby jousted Tower has been in the Senate since 1961. Hobby said he has raised $500,000 toward his goal of $2 million for his campaign. tor Kaye Northcott, the former Observer editor who worked as press secretary in the campaign of Sen. Peyton McKnight for governor until he dropped out, now holds the same post in the Ann Richards campaign. “I am going to be a U.S. senator. It’s as plain as that,” former Ambassadorat-large Bob Krueger told Blair Corning of the San Antonio Express. Krueger lost narrowly to U.S. Sen. John Tower in 1978. “I’ve been asked why I don’t run for governor,” he told Corning. “Everyone gets the same answer: because I want to run for senator.” Money and Votes Public Citizen’s Congress Watch founded by Ralph Nader, has published a voting/money index analyzing how senators and representatives voted on important consumer issues and how much money they received from corporate interest groups in their most recent election campaigns. CW reports that during the 1980 election campaign, business political action by individual corporations, groups of business people, and trade or professional associations to make campaign contributions gave more than $28 million to successful congressional and sen atorial candidates. This is twice the amount contributed to those candidates by all other organizations combined, including unions, ideological organizations, and even the political parties themselves. In general, CW points out, the more anti-consumer a legislator voted the more money he or she got from business PACs; the more pro-consumer a legislator voted the fess he or she got from business PACs. “There is no necessary cause and effect relationship,” compilers of the index note, “between business PAC money and anti-consumer votes: a legislator is also influenced by his personal beliefs, the make-up of his constituency, the prevailing political climate, and whether he faces a hotly-contested election.” Still, those who do the voting and those who give the money seem to believe that business PAC money makes a difference. The index quotes Cong. Milrefuses to accept PAC money “In my mind there is no question that there is a connection between these contributions and votes. I have sought votes, and members have told me they received such-and-such an amount of money from one of these groups and could not vote with me.” The leading business PAC money recipient in the Senate in 1980 was Charles Grassley, the Iowa Republican who defeated John Culver. Grassley received $617,000 in business PAC money, 83% of his total PAC contributions. His consumer-legislation score, as tabulated by CW, was 23. \(The average score among the 23 leading business PAC reciwas seventh on the list with $383,000 in business PAC contributions, 92% of his total. Tower’s consumer-legislation score was a dismal 8. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen was not listed among the top 23 in the Senate. In the House, Jim Wright was the leading business PAC recipient with $258,000 in ‘contributions, 75% of his total. Wright’s score was 27. Jack Fields of Houston was second with $247,000, which was 84% of his total. His score was 17. Phil Gramm was eighth with $163,000 in contributions from business PACs, 98% of his total. His consumerlegislation score was 10. Peace Uprising A nuclear disarmament coalition has been formed in Fort Worth, aiming for “an active campaign of public infomation on the dangers of nuclear war.” A story by John Paul Newport, Jr., in the Star-Telegram quotes James Suggs, executive director of the Texas Conference of Churches, that peace education programs are becoming widespread in Texas, but Newport’s check in Tarrant County turned up only six to eight churches, mostly Presbyterian, with active nuclear or peace study groups. WI A group of a dozen or so activist leaders from the European anti-nuclear peace movement will tour the U.S. March 21-April 4 and will visit Amarillo and San Antonio. Leaders from Great Britain, West Germany, the Netherlands, and other countries will be traveling in the U.S. under the joint sponsorship of Clergy and Laity Concerned \(a Quakers. An Austin Vietnam veteran, Dan Jordan, president of the Brotherhood of Vietnam Veterans, Inc., has been chosen national commander of the new United Vietnam Veterans, a merger of more than a hundred Vietnam veterans’ groups. The consolidated organizations will offer health and life insurance, legal defense, a “hotline,” a “find-yourbuddy” program, and representation before the Veterans’ Administration. Citing personal reasons, Rep. Bill Keese of Somerville has decided not to seek re-election. That leaves the race open for Dan Kubiak of Rockdale who was pared with Keese during redistricting. Kubiak had been considering a race for agriculture commissioner. Carl Leubsdorf, Dallas News bureau chief in Washington, reports that former Democratic national chairman Robert Strauss is considering running for President. Leubsdorf quotes Felix Rohatyn, “It’s time we had a Jewish president from Texas.” On the record, Strauss is quoted that it’s not doable and “I don’t have the thirst for it.” Concerning the Libyan scandal that has dogged ex-Democratic national chairman John White, the Dallas News said that its review of the case “indicates that while White might have involved himself unknowingly in the plot \(to reevidence links him to any conspiracy to free the airplanes or to any payoffs.” Alan Erwin, former Public Utility Commission member discussed as a candidate for land commissioner, has joined a public relations firm and won’t run. Garry Mauro has announced for this post. Asked about a report that Rep. Tommy Adkisson will oppose him for renomination, State Sen. Glenn Kothmann of San Antonio replied, ” ‘s what I hear. He hasn’t announced yet, but he’s running.” THE TEXAS OBSERVER 13