CAPITOL LETTERS

The House's Mexican-American Legislative Caucus sent Gov. Perry a letter on Friday demanding that he apologize for the “unfortunate” performance by Ted Nugent at his inaugural ball last week that reportedly included racially insensitive comments.

He was also wearing a confederate-flag shirt and reportedly had fake machine guns onstage. Just like he's always done. (Except in the '05 tour the guns were real.)

He's denied making the comments. No audio has been released – which is disappointing because there just aren’t enough live bootleg recordings of “Cat Scratch Fever” and I was sure I’d be able to get the cassette in the alley after the show.

Missed. Opportunity.

“We ask for an immediate and unequivocal apology directly from you for the
inappropriate conduct, offensive words, and indefensible actions exhibited by your
invited guest,” says the letter, signed by 23 House reps, all members of the Mexican-American Legislative Caucus.

Perry’s office answered back with a resounding, “Yeah, whatever,” and then added, “Bring it.”

Spokesman Robert Black said the confederate flag still flies over the airport in Laredo, smack in the middle of Rep. Richard Raymond’s district – but where’s the flap over that? Or, more importantly, the legislation banning it?

Raymond’s a MALC member, but it’s hard to tell if he signed the letter because I can’t read half the signatures. He couldn’t be reached Friday.

“The governor … is going to always come down on the side of freedom of expression” with regard to the confederate flag T-shirt, Black said.

In case you missed it, here's a little context from the Nuge.