Souring on Mattress Mack
Regarding “Editorial: Thank you, Mattress Mack, for suing Harris County over election records,” (Feb. 17): I should not have been surprised to see the Chronicle’s support for Mattress Mack’s harassing lawsuit against Harris County.
Republicans have kept up a continuing offensive against our county’s Democratic elected officials ever since County Judge Hidalgo replaced a Republican county judge. Purging registered voters, limiting the use of drop boxes, restricting mail-in ballots, giving more power to partisan poll watchers — this is all part of the Republican national strategy to undermine the public’s faith in elections.
Even though there were some problems with paper shortages in several locations that caused some delays, the problems were resolved. If anyone truly believes that the election results were compromised, then let’s see the affidavits from those who were registered and who showed up to vote and couldn’t. Republicans and Democrats. In other words, show us the evidence!
Wayne Dolcefino remarked that Mack had done a lot of things for the city (without specifying what) and asked what Hidalgo had done. I believe Hidalgo’s tireless efforts to deliver COVID vaccinations to as many people as possible as well as to improve flood control have likely saved many, many lives.
We all want transparent government, but make no mistake: This lawsuit isn’t about transparency — it is just another attempt to deny a lost election without evidence.
Sarah B. Frates, Houston
I had the highest regard for Mattress Mack for over 40 years. I admired his marketing skills, his philanthropic work and how he loved and supported the Astros. He invested heavily — financially and personally — to support his choice for Harris County judge in the last election. He lost.
Please, the fact that he waited two months to try to investigate the election does not negate a possible desire to help a Republican effort to overturn the election.
Our disgraced ex-president has encouraged a culture where Republicans’ lost elections should be contested and overturned if possible. Republicans have already openly expressed a desire to overturn the Harris County election and McIngvale is out front starting the process. If I lived in Harris County, I wouldn’t buy another piece of his furniture.
Patricia Swartley, League City
I believe the Chronicle editorial board got it wrong this time. While it is not debatable that faith in election results has been eroded, what you failed to mention is that that faith has been eroded since 2020, when former president Trump denied that he lost a presidential election and claimed widespread election fraud. We now know that it was not true, and even now, we know that Trump’s own Fox News anchor surrogates did not believe there was any election fraud at all. All of this has created “election deniers” like “My Pillow Guy” Mike Lindell, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, Rep. Troy Nehls and Sen. Ted Cruz, among others.
Unfortunately, our dear Mattress Mack, who has done so much for our community, has chosen to throw his name in the ring of election deniers. Why doesn’t Jim McIngvale just stick to selling furniture?
Blanca Blanco, Houston
Your long editorial on Mattress Mack was pretty far off the mark. Everyone in the city can acknowledge the fact that McIngvale has been a great benefactor to the city, and has helped the people in times of distress in numerous ways.
But when he ventured into politics, he went the wrong direction, siding with big business and the far-right wing of the Republican Party. His characterizations of Hidalgo have been petty and vicious, so it is not much wonder that she responded as she did.
McIngvale deserves no thanks for his actions from anyone in the city on this matter. He would do well to stay out of politics completely, and stick to what he does best: operating his retail business and serving the public as a benefactor.
Robert L. Fischer, Houston