Texas Bigotry
Dear editor:
Anti-Judaism is alive and well and living in Texas. Not just in Texas, but in the state legislature. Not just in the legislature, but as spoken by the leader of the majority party (Republican.) Of course he was not alone in his bigotry, but one of many Tea Party activists who formed a right wing coalition to oust Rep. Joe Strauss (R) as Texas House Speaker, because he is Jewish and not of the “right” faith and beliefs.
The coalition began circulating emails with anti-Semitic messages against Strauss. Robo-calls and emails started demanding a “true Christian leader” and endorsed his opponent for the position of Speaker as “a Christian Conservative.” Two members of the Texas State Republican Executive Committee said in one email that “We elected a house with Christian, conservative values (and) we now want a true Christian conservative running it.” This marked the first time an elected party leader had semi-openly called for a “Christian conservative” Speaker. What these haters are saying is Jews, Muslims and members of other faiths are not qualified and might as well stay home.
John Cook, one of the party leaders, in one email wrote “I want to make sure that a person I’m supporting is going to have my values. I got into politics to put Christian conservatives into office. They’re the people that do the best jobs over all.” Where does he get the nerve to make a statement such as this?
The saddest part of all is that this so-called leader insisted he is not prejudiced against Jews. No, he just feels that they are not smart enough or virtuous enough to hold such a high position in the state legislature. Is this something new? Of course not. Anti-Jewish bigotry has existed for a couple thousand years. It’s just strange to hear venom like this in today’s America when it involves leaders of a state political party, who supposedly represents “all” of us no matter their religion or race. Evidently they have never heard of, or really wish to ignore the Constitutional separation of church and state. When did religion become a qualifying point for being Speaker of the Texas House?
The truly strangest part is that this action did not hit any of the evening news programs or appear in newspapers. That’s what you call bigotry by silence.
But the best part of all is that the Texas legislature ignored their leadership and re-elected Joe Strauss to the position of Speaker. Good for them.
Anti-Judaism is alive and well and living in Texas. Not just in Texas, but in the state legislature. Not just in the legislature, but as spoken by the leader of the majority party (Republican.) Of course he was not alone in his bigotry, but one of many Tea Party activists who formed a right wing coalition to oust Rep. Joe Strauss (R) as Texas House Speaker, because he is Jewish and not of the “right” faith and beliefs.
The coalition began circulating emails with anti-Semitic messages against Strauss. Robo-calls and emails started demanding a “true Christian leader” and endorsed his opponent for the position of Speaker as “a Christian Conservative.” Two members of the Texas State Republican Executive Committee said in one email that “We elected a house with Christian, conservative values (and) we now want a true Christian conservative running it.” This marked the first time an elected party leader had semi-openly called for a “Christian conservative” Speaker. What these haters are saying is Jews, Muslims and members of other faiths are not qualified and might as well stay home.
John Cook, one of the party leaders, in one email wrote “I want to make sure that a person I’m supporting is going to have my values. I got into politics to put Christian conservatives into office. They’re the people that do the best jobs over all.” Where does he get the nerve to make a statement such as this?
The saddest part of all is that this so-called leader insisted he is not prejudiced against Jews. No, he just feels that they are not smart enough or virtuous enough to hold such a high position in the state legislature. Is this something new? Of course not. Anti-Jewish bigotry has existed for a couple thousand years. It’s just strange to hear venom like this in today’s America when it involves leaders of a state political party, who supposedly represents “all” of us no matter their religion or race. Evidently they have never heard of, or really wish to ignore the Constitutional separation of church and state. When did religion become a qualifying point for being Speaker of the Texas House?
The truly strangest part is that this action did not hit any of the evening news programs or appear in newspapers. That’s what you call bigotry by silence.
But the best part of all is that the Texas legislature ignored their leadership and re-elected Joe Strauss to the position of Speaker. Good for them.
posted by Sam Schoolsky | 5:41 PM
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