By: Dave McNeely
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the Republican presiding officer of the Texas Senate, has been ducking, ignoring or dismissing debate challenges from his Democratic challenger, Houston businessman Mike Collier.
But Patrick said a week ago he’s ready to debate — with Fox News personality Geraldo Rivera.
“Wait,” said Collier, who has already accepted the Houston Fox station’s invitation to debate fellow Houstonian Patrick. “So Dan Patrick has agreed to a debate on Fox, but with Geraldo Rivera?
“Texans see right past this clown,” Collier added in a statement. “Dan is so scared of facing Texas voters, he refuses to debate the issues in the state where he holds office and against his actual opponent, me.”
Patrick is responding to remarks Rivera made about the murder of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts, 20, by an alleged undocumented immigrant.
Rivera had tweeted that the student’s death was being used “to promote proven false notion that undocumented immigrants are disproportionately committing violent crimes.”
Several criminology studies show the crime rate among undocumented immigrants is about 25 percent lower than for people born in America.
Patrick, on Fox last week, blamed “The CNNs, the MSNBCs, most of the print media in this country and the Democrats — they are all accomplices in the death of this young girl and the death of everyone else.”
Patrick said he’s never met Rivera, and tends to like him.
“I saw him on Fox saying, ‘I feel badly about this, but … ‘ “ Patrick said. “There is no ‘but,’ and I’ll be happy to debate Geraldo Rivera any time, any place, anywhere on this issue. We have to secure this border and protect the lives of American citizens.”
Thursday afternoon, Patrick tweeted Rivera.
“I am ready to debate @GeraldoRivera,” Patrick tweeted. “We immediately called @seanhannity but they haven’t put this together yet.”
“Let me be clear. A 7 minute segment is not a debate. I will fly to NYC for 30 minutes, face to face, Sept 4 or 5. Hope @seanhannity will graciously host. #txlege”
Rivera accepted.
“I agree to these terms,” Rivera responded. “Let’s see and hear who has the moral and legal high ground.”
A Dallas Morning News editorial said Patrick should debate Collier.
“Debates aren’t for you, Mr. Patrick, they’re for the public, which deserves to hear from candidates,” the editorial said. “So when you turn down a debate for the office of lieutenant governor, who sets the legislative agenda in the state Senate, it amounts to a snubbing of voters.”
Collier again: “There’s no need to get Sean Hannity to book anything. We have an open offer from Fox on the table right now, and neither of us has to travel.
“Agreeing to debate a TV personality instead of his opponent shows a blatant disregard for the people he serves,” Collier said. “Quit the stunts Dan, and stand up for yourself right here. Or are you not Texan enough?”
Patrick is unlikely to debate Collier; he probably considers it a lose-lose proposition.
Someone other than Patrick got 12 percent more votes in the spring party primaries. Collier and Democratic opponent Michael Cooper, plus Patrick’s GOP opponent, Scott Milder, outpolled Patrick by 158,789 votes. Milder is campaigning for Collier.