Count State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, among the folks who have embraced the interactive features on news websites. It appears Dukes - or someone who says she's Dukes - posted a response to an Austin American-Statesman editorial which mentioned she was a supporter of House Speaker Tom Craddick.

A number of Republicans want Craddick out, including some committee leaders he appointed. And some Democrats have put their bets on Craddick, such as Austin’s Dawnna Dukes. Dukes has drawn a Democratic primary opponent who criticizes her support of Craddick.

A "Dawnna Dukes" responded online, accusing the Statesman of shoddy journalism by writing the above about her without talking to her first:

By Dawnna Dukes
December 20, 2007 12:24 AM
I am utterly appalled that the Statesman would attribute a comment to me in an editorial or article for which I was not interviewed. “And some Democrats have put their bets on Craddick, such as Austin’s Dawnna Dukes.” No one at your paper talked to me concerning this issue or this editorial. I would truly appreciate it if the paper would name the person(s) quoted in this article and not attribute their comment to me whom you have not interviewed.

Now her opponent, Austin attorney Brian Thompson, has weighed in, by saying that the Statesman didn't need to check with her, because it was only "stating the obvious" -- Dukes has indeed voted Tom Craddick for speaker in the '03, '05 and '07 sessions:

I don't understand why the incumbent is now blaming the Austin American-Statesman for merely stating a fact. The sky is blue, the grass is green, and Dawnna Dukes has supported the embattled Republican Speaker since 2003.

Thompson called on Dukes to pledge she will "never again" support Craddick in the future. Dukes so far has not said which way she would vote in '09, if re-elected.

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