Charles W. Stenholm: “I want to add my voice of explanation to what is happening in Texas and Oklahoma this week. It seems to be high drama.…”

“I want to add my voice of explanation to what is happening in Texas and Oklahoma this week. It seems to be high drama. We Texans pride ourselves on a good old-fashioned, blood-racing, heart-pumping showdown at the OK Corral. It is no wonder the Nation's media has joined the audience for the show. But if anybody thinks this week's actions are nothing more than a real-life alternative to the afternoon TV soaps, they need to look a little closer and understand just what principles are motivating both sides in this showdown. From the Republican side, it is the principle that says to the winner go the spoils. I am willing to go with this idea to a point, as my colleague the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton) mentioned a moment ago. We Democrats certainly enjoyed our spoils for decades when Texas was already a one-party State. It just happened the one party was Democrats rather than Republicans. Acting within the rules and dedicated to the best outcome for its citizens, the majority party would be foolish not to maximize its power to accomplish its goals. The key phrase of what I just said was 'acting within the rules and dedicated to the best outcome for its citizens.' That is where I believe the Republicans' principle has become unprincipled.”