TribBlog: "We Texans" Will Party

Debra Medina may have been shut out of the Republican Party of Texas' 2010 Convention in Dallas, but her new advocacy group, We Texans, will still celebrate in Dallas next weekend.

According to their mission statement, We Texans is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes "public policy and legislation that advances the protection of true private property ownership, personal and economic liberty, and ensuring the proper, constitutional role of government in Texas."

The group's name is derived from a slogan Medina repeated often during her unsuccessful GOP primary campaign. Visitors to her campaign website were invited to complete their own "We Texans" phrase themselves. An example: "We Texans...want to see a substantial reduction or elimination of confiscatory property taxes on our primary residences!" — credited to a Claude McCutheon of Fort Worth.

We Texans was denied a booth at the Republican convention because of a policy the Republicans have against granting a booth to someone who has sued the party in the past — as Medina did in 2008.

Since they can't join the GOP, it seems We Texans will have to try to beat them. Their official launch party is set for June 11 at 7 p.m. at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, just as GOP party loyalists are settling down for the Republican Party of Texas Banquet a mile down the street at the Dallas Convention Center.  We Texans spokeswoman Gwen Walton points out that the two are "not affiliated in any way."

We Texans is bringing in big names for its event — or trying to, at least. In addition to Medina, attendees will get to hear from featured speaker and Fox News analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano.  Invited (though still unconfirmed) guests include U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Surfside, and his son Rand Paul, a GOP nominee for U.S. Senate in Kentucky. Tickets range from $50 to $5,000.