You know an election must be close when politicians start telling voters not to look at their records. Some incumbents hate it when voters get uppity and start getting educated and acting empowered. Earlier this week, the campaign consultant of choice for moderates and RINOs, called Empower Texans and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility “demonic” in an interview with the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

What was our sin?

Calling out his clients for raising taxes, killing voter ID and generally working against the state’s conservative majority.

The consultant is Bryan Eppstein, whose Fort Worth-based operation is cozy with all the big-taxers.

The Texas Watchdog recently wrote that Eppstein “helps elect politicians at every level in town, who turn right around and rubber-stamp his lucrative business deals.”

That’s angelic? Apparently Mr. Eppstein has found a way to use politics to buy his way through the big-taxers’ version of the pearly gates. Again, from Texas Watchdog:

For example, two years ago, he helped elect Jim Lane and Marty Leonard to the Tarrant Regional Water District Board. Soon after, the board turned around and gave Eppstein two no-bid contracts for crafting a public relations strategy for its half-billion dollar plan to redirect the Trinity River as it meanders through downtown Fort Worth.

After reading the story, you might wonder if lucrative no-bid government contracts are part of the payment plan he requires when helping get politicians elected.

I guess that’s why Eppstein’s cronies are so dead-set against the kind of government transparency Texans for Fiscal Responsibility advocates. They don’t want voters knowing just how cozy — and expensive — these no-bid relationships really are with their political hit-man.

So when someone like Bryan Eppstein calls you demonic, you really have no choice but to grab a pitchfork and light a little electoral fire!

You might want to check the expenditure records of your Republicans. If they are writing checks to the Eppstein Group, it might be a reason to question their conservative bona fides a little more closely.

Certainly not all of his clients are bad, but far too many end up playing for the other team, despite what color jersey they wear in the election season.

Michael Quinn Sullivan

Michael Quinn Sullivan is the publisher of Texas Scorecard. He is a native Texan, a graduate of Texas A&M, and an Eagle Scout. Previously, he has worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine contributor, Capitol Hill staffer, and think tank vice president. Michael and his wife have three adult children, a son-in-law, and a dog. Michael is the author of three books, including "Reflections on Life and Liberty."

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