We’re talking Texas, of course.
As the old saying goes, “When three different people tell you you’re drunk, it’s time to sit down.”
Or, When Fox News suggests you’re a bigot, it’s time for some honest reflection.
It helps, of course, that Joe Straus, the embattled Speaker of the Texas House, is a Jewish Republican as opposed to being a black Democrat. But the principle applies.
“Over the past month,” the article notes, “in a spate of e-mails and political pitches, conservative opponents of incumbent Speaker Joe Straus have said they want him replaced not because of his Jewish religion, but because of his betrayal of Republican principles.”
But in a November 30th email, John Cook of the Texas Republican Executive Committee reminded his readers that, “We elected a house with Christian, conservative values. We now want a true Christian, conservative running it.”
If you read enough of these statements, you will notice that the words “Republican,” “conservative,” and “Christian” are used more or less interchangeably. In Texas it is generally assumed that orthodox Christianity teaches conservative economic and social principles. It thus follows, as the night the day, that real conservatives are Christians who vote Republican.
There is no reason, of course, that a Jew can’t be a Republican, but it doesn’t smell quite right.
For one thing, most Jews live in New York and pull the blue lever–everybody knows that.
Secondly, the prevailing conservative orthodoxy sees America as an “exceptional” nation founded by Christians for Christians. In recent decades, the theory goes, the country has drifted from its conservative (Christian) moorings. Therefore, it will take Christian conservatives to right the ship.
Which explains why Allen Heidt of Queen City, recently exulted that Straus “is going down in Jesus’ name”, or why Peter Morrison recently criticized Straus’ rabbi and blogged that Straus lacks a “moral compass.” (Thanks to Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Bud Kennedy for those glittering gems)
Kaufman County Tea Party, Chairman Ray Myers sent out an e-mail last month saying “we finally found a Christian Conservative who decided not to be pushed around by the Joe Straus thugs.”
Joe Straus, not surprisingly, insists that he is pro-life, pro-gun, pro small government and pro-Obamacare repeal. For a true Texas conservative, what’s not to like?
Too bad Joe was born into the wrong religion.
Friends of Justice 
My state house representative, Warren Chisum, authored the anti-gay marriage amendment to the Texas constitution,which passed with 72% of those voting in 2006, I think it was–but only about 12% of eligible voters bothered to vote on this amendment. (Not that the outcome would have been significantly difference if voter turnout had been higher.) Jim Landtroop of Plainview, newly elected to the Texas house by defeating conservative Christian Democrat Joe Heflin, is supporting Warren Chisum for Speaker of the House. This shouldn’t be held against Mr. Landtroop, but his wife stated publicly during the 2004 presidential campaign that “Anyone who is a Christian will vote for George Bush.” Whatever umbrage is, I’ll take some.
Maybe Joe should get a clue about the kind of bigots he’s associated with, and switch politics.
This is why most of America sees Texans as a bunch of right wing bigoted nut cases. From the way they refuse to use national standards for school exit exams, to wanting to secede from the Union, as if they even stood a chance of being a Nation State, or just plain hatred of everything not from their twisted views of God, Guns, and inbred ignorance.
What is important is to see how many Texas GOP members have been convicted of felonies since being elected to office, yet still have the backing of their State Party. Seems being a Christian has an entirely differently meaning in Texas then it does anywhere else in the world.
BTW, why would any nation founded on Christian Principles give every person a right to carry a concealed weapon? I thought the Bible taught non violence and kindness to all, to “sell all of your possessions and give the money to the poor”. Seems Christians pick and choose which parts of the Bible they actually believe, the parts that fit their radical agendas. Kind of like al Qaeda and the Koran.
When I said “Maybe Joe should get a clue . . .” I meant Joe Strauss, not Joe Heflin.
Tony, approximately 40% of Texans vote Democratic. Not that voting D is a sign of enlightenment or anything like that, but it is a sign that not nearly all of us are just a bunch of bigoted right wing nuts.