Abbott evolved on Jade Helm
His office’s first response was more measured
AUSTIN — Before Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas State Guard last month to monitor Jade Helm 15, his office offered a much more measured response to scores of people who wrote or called expressing concern that the planned military exercise could mean martial law, gun seizures and the use of shuttered Wal-Marts for nefarious purposes.
“Rest assured, this is not a martial law exercise,” his office responded in emails and letters signed by Dede Keith, deputy director of Abbott’s constituent communication division.
“Law enforcement agencies in the training areas are fully aware of the exercise and will be coordinating with military officials to ensure the safety of residents and exercise participants.”
Hundreds of letters and emails to Abbott’s office obtained by the San Antonio Express-News under the Public Information Act show that before he ordered the State Guard to keep an eye on the operation, he heard from scores of concerned citizens about a possible federal takeover of Texas.
They also show that his April 28 order to the State Guard triggered a strong backlash from people complaining, among other things, that he had disrespected the U.S. military and embarrassed himself and Texas.
The order drew national headlines and quickly became the butt of late-night talk show jokes.
In the weeks leading up to Abbott’s directive to the State Guard, his office received hundreds of phone calls, emails and letters from residents concerned about the military exercise scheduled to take place across seven states. In response, his office pointed out that the exercise only will take place in areas where the U.S. Army Special Operations Command receives approval from lo-
cal officials and property owners.
“As such, you may also wish to share your concerns with your mayor and city council or county judge and commissioners,” it said.
Then came a packed community meeting in Bastrop where an Army officer faced many of the same questions and concerns that had flooded Abbott’s office.
Shortly thereafter, Abbott sparked national outcry with his directive saying the Texas State Guard would monitor the military exercise in part to ensure Texans know their “safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed” during the exercise.
Abbott’s office had no comment this week about why his message changed, but a number of those who wrote to the governor had asked him to take action.
“Was our collective vote for Greg Abbott a mistake? I don’t think so. I know about all the lawsuits you filed against the Obama Administration; everyone does. It’s why we voted you in,” wrote a Lakehills, Texas, man in late March. “We expect something from you.”
Earlier this month, Abbott said it was clear from the Bastrop meeting and inquiries to his office that people had questions about the exercise.
“I think we have an obligation to answer questions of citizens and by us working with the special operations forces, we’re able to provide information to citizens who are concerned about it,” Abbott said then.
He repeatedly has expressed his respect and support for the military, saying his directive intends for the Texas State Guard to serve as a “communication facilitator between the special operations forces and the people of the state of Texas.”
Political error seen
Trinity University political scientist David Crockett said Abbott’s April 28 directive was a political error that some viewed as embarrassing.
“I certainly think that he would have been better served sticking to the original plan of downplaying it and calling it what it is — it’s an exercise,” Crockett said Thursday.
At the same time, Crockett emphasized that Abbott does not face re-election until 2018, and Jade Helm 15 is likely to be a distant memory by then.
“If there is a pattern that develops of this kind of obsequiousness toward the fringe faction, then that could be a problem,” Crockett said.
Otherwise, “It’s a fairly minor blip.”
The documents provided by Abbott’s office show the emails and phone calls from the public tracked the national response to his unusual directive to the volunteer Texas State Guard.
Those extremely distrustful of the federal government in general, and President Barack Obama in particular, applauded his move.
Others were shocked and upset, accusing Abbott of pandering to people with fringe views.
About 270 calls, letters and emails voiced opposition to the Jade Helm 15 exercise, with all but a hundred coming before Abbott’s letter to the Texas State Guard.
“Please do what you can to keep military ops on military bases. Scramble the Texas Air National Guard if need be. Citizens of Texas don’t need further, and continued intimidation from our Marxist president,” wrote a San Antonio man.
A Deer Park woman wondered, “Is there anything we can do to prepare, other than lock and load?”
A Hemphill woman mentioned the rumor of closed Wal-Marts “being prepared to be detention camps.”
The operation advertised as a military exercise “could turn into a full fledged effort by the Federal Government to take guns away from law abiding citizens,” wrote a Houston woman, who asked Abbott what he planned to do about it.
A number of people
thanked Abbott for his April 28 directive to the Texas State Guard, although some said he should have barred the exercise from the state or gone even further.
“I believe you can support our state military forces a whole lot better,” wrote a man from Porter. “Governor Abbott, I’m asking you to properly train, arm and equip our state military forces so we can truly defend out state.”
More than 50 additional people expressed questions or concerns that stopped short of asking Abbott to stop Jade Helm.
Texas embarrassed
More than 90 others were upset at Abbott’s action, with many saying he had disrespected the military while embarrassing himself and his state.
“Keep this up and, if there are any informed Texans left in this state, we will vote you out of office,” wrote a Dallas couple. “For God’s sake, act like an adult.”
A Houston man suggested state leaders turn their attention to more pressing needs.
“While Texas has one of
the highest poverty rates, percent of people without medical coverage, and spends one of the lowest amounts on education, Austin is possessed by nuts.”
A number complained that Abbott had made Texas a laughingstock, with some saying they had hoped former Gov. Rick Perry’s departure from office had ended that.
“You may have to get some horn-rimmed glasses like your predecessor so people think you are smarter than your decisions would lead them to believe,” wrote a Coppell man, referring to the eyewear Perry began wearing in the wake of his ill-fated run for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.
Those who liked Abbott’s action suggested he could follow Perry’s example in another way.
“I heard about the excellent decision to send the State Guard to monitor Jade Helm,” wrote a Springtown man.
“All I can say is, Greg Abbott for president 2024!”