If you wonder why conservative victories seem so few and far between sometimes, this story offers one explanation.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s former chief of staff Daniel Hodge is now a lobbyist for one of the biggest liberal organizations in the country.
After a long history with Abbott since serving on his campaign for attorney general in 2001, Hodge was promoted to chief of staff when Abbott first took office in 2015. The key position gave him an incredible amount of power as both an informal advisor to his boss and a liaison between the governor’s office and the state Legislature.
In 2017, it was announced that he was parting from the role. Shortly after, he became a registered lobbyist.
Since then, Hodge has quickly become one of the highest-paid lobbyists in the state of Texas, with lobby reports revealing he could be making up to $8,269,999 on his contracts.
One of his high-paying clients, however, raises questions about where the former Abbott staffer’s loyalties lie.
Reports reveal Hodge is receiving $200,000-$300,000 from the left-wing Tides Center, the sister organization that helps manage donations from the Tides Foundation.
First established in 1976 in San Francisco, the Tides Foundation says it is dedicated to “working to advance progressive causes and policy initiatives in areas such as the environment, health care, labor issues, immigrant rights, LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights and human rights.”
Look into pretty much any radical Social Justice Warrior issue destroying the quality of life for Americans (#BlackLivesMatter, defunding the police, CRT, radical transgenderism, Acorn, etc.) and you’ll generally find Tides Foundation somewhere in the background.
According to an analysis from Influence Watch, “Tides’ fiscally sponsored groups have been prominent in the anti-war movement, anti-free trade campaigns, gun control, abolition of the death penalty, abortion rights, and gay rights.”
The Tides Center is funded by major leftist foundations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and George Soros’ Open Society Foundations.
That brings up the question: What the hell was such a publicly conservative Governor as Greg Abbott doing with Hodge as his Chief of Staff?
I understand that lobbyists are hired guns, but this is like someone from the American Cancer Society leaving to work for R. J. Reynolds.
It’s impossible to imagine top aides to Ted Cruz or Dan Patrick going to work lobbying for George Soros. The fact that it happened to one of Abbott’s longest-serving aides (and the manager of his 2006 Attorney General reelection campaign) does not reflect well on his staffing judgment.
It shouldn’t need to be said, but it’s imperative that conservative Republican elected officials appoint conservative staffers to important positions. Progress towards conservative goals is all but impossible if you have foxes guarding the hen-house.
Tags: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Daniel Hodge, George Soros, Greg Abbott, lobbyists, Social Justice Warriors, Texas, Tides Foundation
“ The fact that it happened to one of Abbott’s longest-serving aides (and the manager of his 2006 Attorney General reelection campaign) does not reflect well on his staffing judgment.”
Or, once a Rino always a Rino. Just look at the Convention of States to see what a grifter Abbott is.
Dan Patrick is not a conservative either. He is a WEF Future Young Global Leader i.e. a Covid mandate, Green Energy Garbage, Depopulation supporter, a Klaus Schwab minion. Don’t be fooled by his “conservative” persona. He’s a Texas version of Trudeau.
All these conservatives who really lean “ruling class.” Sad.
I was going to move to Texas and then someone showed me election results for 2020. Democrat candidates lost by a slim margin in every case. I cringe when I think of 2022.
Can’t we clone DeSantis?
Gregg Abbott is the best governor Texas has had during my lifetime.. And I go back to Coke Stevenson. No, I’m not a relative.
Hodge’s new affiliations, while a bit odd, simply reflect that he saw an opportunity to make some money to help support his family. I doubt that state government jobs, even the governor’s chief of staff, are nearly as well paid as the best lobbyists.
I’ve seen good defense attorneys go over to the plaintiff’s side for the same reason. When Junior is ready for college and the ticket is north of $50, 000 per, sometimes you may have to do jobs that are distasteful.
RE: Abbott. If you guys don’t stop demanding absolute purity and perfection out of conservative office holders and candidates, we will never put together a governing coalition.
Why is it impossible to imagine top aides for Desantis, Sen. Cruz or Dan Patrick working for George Soros? Heck, Cruz, Desantis and Patrick would all work for Soros themselves if the money was good enough, it just isn’t. I don’t trust anyone in the GOP.
Abbott’s a VichyCon. Only does the right thing under heavy pressure from real Rs, often not then.
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/02/03/texans-overwhelmingly-want-gun-background-checks-are-open-to-red-flag-laws-dmn-ut-tyler-poll-finds/
Abbott wanted red-flag laws after a school shooting, backed off under pressure from real conservatives.
“[Red Flag] is opposed by Jack Wilson who returned fire at his church, and Stephen Willeford who confronted the gunman in a shooting that left 26 parishioners dead.”
“If someone wants a gun they can get it whenever they want, red flag or not.” -Wilson
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2019/08/22/could-texas-change-its-gun-laws-after-el-paso-mass-shooting-gov-abbott-opens-talks-as-nra-says-no-no-and-no/
Abbott expressed concern that “One stranger can sell to another stranger & that’s a danger.”
“Assault weapons…several strategies on the table we will continue to talk about.”
Abbott Kills Child Sex Surgery Ban
https://texasscorecard.com/podcasts/how-burrows-phelan-abbott-killed-a-ban-on-sex-change-surgeries-in-texas-episode-140
Abbott-Phelan take $250k from sex-change mills
https://nationalfile.com/texas-abbott-patrick-house-speaker-received-250k-from-clinic-that-chemically-castrates-transgender-kids/
Abbott’s lockdowns bankrupted small firms. Refused to call special session for mandate bans with teeth despite his EO being ignored (as he knew it would).
“Abbott was ok jailing hairstylists but does zip to stop UT ignoring his vax mandate ‘ban’.” Only helped get Shelley Luther out under pressure from real Rs.
The Tx legislature’s infested with Vichy Repubs. Sneaky games to trick the base.
How Burrows, Phelan & Abbott Killed a Ban on Child Sex Change Surgeries
https://texasscorecard.com/podcasts/how-burrows-phelan-abbott-killed-a-ban-on-sex-change-surgeries-in-texas-episode-140
Abbott & Phelan do nothing to stop child mutilation
https://texasscorecard.com/state/texas-governor-lawmakers-continue-to-do-nothing-to-protect-children-from-mutilation-operations/
Tip of the iceberg of Abbott-Phelan-Patrick sabotage.
[…] Battleswarm BlogTexas Gov. Greg Abbott’s former chief of staff Daniel Hodge is now a lobbyist for one of the biggest liberal organizations in the country.After a long history with Abbott since serving on his campaign for attorney general in 2001, Hodge was promoted to chief of staff when Abbott first took office in 2015. The key position gave him an incredible amount of power as both an informal advisor to his boss and a liaison between the governor’s office and the state Legislature.In 2017, it was announced that he was parting from the role. Shortly after, he became a registered lobbyist…… for Soros. Among lots of others, to be fair. But it does make you wonder about loyalties and why so little actually gets done. The left seems quite adept at electing controlled opposition. […]