The blog Wilco Watchdog goes for the jugular vs. District Attorney John Bradley and District Judge Ken Anderson, attacking their "tuff on crime" credentials head on by exploring a plea deal they cut with an alleged child molester - from a 3rd degree felony to a Class A misdemeanor - who later showed up on NBC Dateline's "To Catch a Predator" series:
Thanks to the reduced charges, the defendant spent 97 days in jail for the misdemeaor then went on his merry way until Dateline caught up to him. Wrote the Watchdog, "It is one thing to just be sloppy or have temporary lapses in judgment, but it is quite another thing to turn a child predator loose with a slap on the wrist, freeing him to act again." That's a rough and tumble attack, but it's also the kind of thing John Bradley slings at others all the time in the press without giving it a second thought: Live by "gotcha" politics and you may well die by it.
In a past life, Grits was a professional opposition researcher for around 13-14 years, working in a total of roughly 68 campaigns, and I can't recall a candidate with as much negative research handed to the opposition on a platter before you even get started digging. Offhand:
1. Delaying the Todd Willingham investigation at the Forensic Science Commission, leading to a refusal by the Republican-controlled Texas Senate to confirm his nomination (lots of negative quotes about his performance just a Google search away).
2. The Michael Morton fiasco: Opposing DNA testing and disclosure of exculpatory evidence withheld from the defense. Dismissive comments about Morton to the press while he was in prison.
3. Cynical attitude toward innocence and DNA testing.
4. Tried to water down Texas' much-praised probation reforms.
5. Behaves like a bully.
6. The UnCatch a Predator angle, which includes footage that would make a devastating TV commercial.
These are messages that, combined with a general anti-incumbent sentiment among voters, create plenty of fodder for attacks against John Bradley in the electoral arena. And those are just the easy ones. A full-blown opposition research effort would inevitably discover more given how long he's been in office. You'd want to poll them to see which ones resonated most with the public, but any one could be devastating. Collectively they could wipe the incumbent off the electoral map if he faces opposition with enough money to deliver those messages to the voters. Bradley already has drawn a Democratic opponent in 2012, but anyone with a D by their name is at best a longshot in Williamson County. However, rumors are swirling that Bradley may face an opponent in the GOP primary, which would be an even greater threat.
UPDATE: For another, similar tale from the Wilco Watchdog, see also "To Uncatch a Predator: Another predator, another catch and release." In that sordid tale, a local law enforcement official was allegedly given a relatively light sentence when accused of fondling his underage step daughter.
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