Former LT of Texas Ben Barnes

Ben Barnes is a well known American politician, businessman, and lobbyist from the state of Texas. He was the youngest Speaker for the State House of Representatives at 26 and became the Lieutenant Governor of Texas at the age of 30. Ben Barnes served as the Lt Governor from 1969-1973, a political position that is one most prominent and powerful political roles in the state of Texas. Ben Barnes was President Lyndon Johnson’s protégé and sometimes called the “51st Senator."

Ben Barnes identifies with the Democratic Party and believes strongly in liberals and conservatives coming together in a bipartisanship effort to make positive things happen for their state and the country as a whole. Regarding the state of Texas, Ben Barnes talks in an interview with National Public Radio about the curiosity of Texas being regarded as a Republican State when Texas was solidly Democrat until 1999. In 2006, Ben Barnes published a memoir called Barn Burning Barn Building in which Ben Barnes relates details of the political scene in Texas during his time in office and today and calls for a return to bipartisanship. The title comes from the idea that anyone can burn down a barn but it takes a carpenter’s skill to build one. Ben Barnes believes that politicians could do more with building and less with burning. In his own words:

"I've seen Texas in good time and in bad times, and we can do better than we're doing right now. When I introduce myself and say, 'I'm Ben Barnes, from Texas,' I used to heard, 'Man, tell us about Texas. Y'all are really accomplishing a lot of great things. I really would like to live there.' Now people will say, 'You're from Austin? It's a great city. I'd like to live there sometime.' But Texas? 'Hmmmm, y'all are a lot like Louisiana and Mississippi and Alabama, aren't you? Y'all got a lot of problems. Y'all got a lot of people in penitentiaries. Y'all are tough on them down there.'"

During the 2004 Presidential campaign, Ben Barnes gained additional notoriety for his heavy activism with the Democratic Party. Ben Barnes raised over $500,000 in campaign contributions toward John Kerry’s political campaign and what he saw as an important election. He also established the Ben Barnes Group, a business consulting and lobbyist group with offices in Austin, Texas and Washington, D.C.

tell us about Texas. Y’all are really accomplishing a lot of great things. I really would like to live there.’ Now people will say, ‘You’re from Austin? It’s a great city. I’d like to live there sometime.’ But Texas? ‘Hmmmm, y’all are a lot like Louisiana and Mississippi and Alabama, aren’t you? Y’all got a lot of problems. Y’all got a lot of people in penitentiaries. Y’all are tough on them down there.’” Barnes served as Lieutenant Governor from 1969 until 1973.

Don’t confuse him with a Republican, Ben Barnes is Texan Democrat through and through. He loves his party and helps them out as much as he can. He also loves Texas and, as proven by his loyalty to the Kerry Campaign, is willing to sacrifice time and money to upgrade the Democratic Party and the state of Texas.