Does Rick Perry Even Have A Moral Compass ?

After this latest entry in ethically-challenged politics, I really believe that when it comes to his political career, Rick Perry simply does not see any right or wrong. Anything is OK as long as it results in dollars being funneled into his campaign coffers. How else could this story be explained?

Governor Rick Perry told a group of San Antonio realtors that he saw nothing wrong with the chairman of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), Jose Cuevas, Jr. (pictured), soliciting campaign donations for Perry's reelection. After all Perry said, the people donated the money "for no other reason than they think I'm the best person for the job."

If Cuevas had just been soliciting donations from his friends and neighbors, I would have to agree with Perry that there is nothing wrong with it. But that is not what was happening, and Perry knows it.

Cuevas was soliciting donations of $5000 and above from Texas restaurants. The same restaurants who serve alcohol and are subject to the awesome power of Cuevas' agency -- the TABC. They must be licensed by the TABC, and the agency has the power to fine the restaurants thousands of dollars or even close them down completely.

When the chairman of an agency with that much power over your business asks for a donation, how do you turn him down? Even if he didn't say so, there would be the fear or perception that the business could start having TABC problems if it upset the TABC chairman by refusing to donate.

I find it hard to believe that neither Cuevas nor Perry can see the ethical problems here. It is simply wrong for a government agent to solicit funds for any person or cause from those over whom his agency has power. Period. It doesn't matter that he did it as a private citizen instead of as an agency chairman. He's still the agency chairman and the perception by donors that the agency's power could be used against them is implied.

Let me give an example of this. Before my retirement, I was a juvenile parole officer working for the state of Texas. There would be nothing wrong with my soliciting funds for a candidate or cause while I was employed by the state -- as long as I did not solicit the funds from the parents or relatives of any parolee on my caseload.

Approaching these parents or relatives would give the perception that action could be taken against the parolee if they did not contribute. It would not matter that I would never do such a thing, because I simply weilded too much power over these people.

The same is true of Cuevas. His motives may have been pure, but he simply weilds too much power (through his state agency) over these businesses to be soliciting them for funds for any reason (even for a charity).

I and my fellow state employees knew this would be wrong (and could result in disciplinary action). How can the state's Republican leadership, especially Rick Perry, not be able to see it is wrong?

This is just another reason why Rick Perry should be removed as governor.