Horns Down: Davis' rags to riches story bends the truth
The Dallas Morning News reported Saturday that the story of Sen. Wendy Davis’ rags-to-riches rise to the top of Texas politics has a few fudged elements and omitted details, a potentially major problem for her current campaign for governor. The details in question include the amount of time Davis spent living in a trailer park and the extent of her second husband’s financial support for her education at Harvard Law School. The true(r) version of Davis’ background doesn’t give any impression that she had it easy, but that just makes the decision to sugarcoat her already-compelling backstory all the more confusing: Does she not think people who are smart enough to vote for her are smart enough to fact-check her? In any case, we’re disappointed that Davis let this misinformation hold for so long. As Davis’ second husband Jeff Davis told The Dallas Morning News, “She got a break. Good things happen, opportunities open up. You take them; you get lucky. That’s a better narrative than what they’re trying to paint.”
Horns Up: Venture capital in Austin on the rise
Venture capital funding in Austin for early-stage companies finished 2013 with renewed vigor, according to a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association. This past Saturday, the Austin American-Statesman reported that investment activity is up in several areas in which Austin has been a major player — software, chip design and medical devices — as well as newer areas, such as social media, cloud computing and data analytics. Startups often spend capital inflow quickly to capture market share and grow their businesses — which often translates to an increase in local employment. But we’re also happy because we know the entrepreneurial spirit runs deep with many Longhorns, and we’re encouraged that venture capital is responding.
Horns Down: MLK Jr. Day misued for agenda pushing
On Monday, Sarah Palin, former vice presidential candidate and Governor of Alaska, took to social media to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy — but with a twist. After quoting from King’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech, Palin went on to admonish President Barack Obama for “playing the race card” in a strangely caustic plea to end “the racial divide.” PETA also took advantage of the holiday to push its agenda, with a series of tweets claiming that the best way to honor Dr. King is to “seek justice for EVERYONE who is disadvantaged,” presumably also including animals. These comments are in poor taste on a day meant to celebrate Dr. King’s life and legacy, not one to use as cannon fodder for our own unrelated political goals.
