Larry Combest: “Last week, the Democratic candidate for Vice President made a brief stop in Odessa, Texas, in my district. He arrived…”

“Last week, the Democratic candidate for Vice President made a brief stop in Odessa, Texas, in my district. He arrived with an agenda to embarrass our hometown son, Governor George Bush. He tried to cast Odessa in a bad light by making false claims against one of our most ardent businesses, the Huntsman Corporation. The Huntsman plant is a business anchor to the Permian Basin, employing over 700 hard-working men and women. It is a good corporate citizen and an asset to our community. I am sorely disappointed that their campaign would exploit our town for political gain. The folks of Odessa and Midland were ready to accommodate their guests. However, the candidate snubbed officials from both cities, including the chambers of commerce, mayors, and even the chairman of the Democratic Party. Our local media was also kept at arms' length. Only the candidate's handpicked media could cover the story, with only biased facts. We in politics fully understand the staged media events and photo-ops, but the Senator's treatment of these kind folks, whom I am honored to represent, was truly uncalled for and out of line. His visit was a missed opportunity for him to meet the real success story in the Permian Basin, the people.”