As I noted earlier this week, the protest at the Governor’s Mansion on Saturday was addressed by Republican Party of Texas Chairman Allen West. His comments consisted mainly of reading a resolution passed by the State Republican Executive Committee to “Open Texas Now.”
Since then, West has come under attack from GOP establishment politicians – like State Rep. Justin Holland (R–Heath) and Gov. Greg Abbott’s political advisor, Dave Carney. They are complaining that West shouldn’t be advocating for Republican principles but instead just singing the praises of Republican officeholders ahead of the election.
Jumping to Lt. Col. West’s defense has been State Rep. Matt Schaefer (R–Tyler), writing on Twitter:
I don’t have a problem w/ the chairman of the Republican Party protesting at the Tx governor’s mansion against exec orders that have hurt thousands of families/small businesses. I’m with checks & balances and the families/businesses on this one. #txlege
— Matt Schaefer (@RepMattSchaefer) October 12, 2020
Speaking from personal experience, it seems that with the GOP establishment there is never an acceptable time to criticize Republican officials who carry water for the Austin lobby, break faith with conservative voters, or even enable the Democrats.
Discussions in odd-numbered years about how lawmakers vote during a legislative session are treated with cries of “disloyalty” and accusations that citizens just don’t “understand” the “process.” But then any criticism of the final results of a legislative session are rebuked as “helping recruit opposition.”
When I broke the story in 2019 about disgraced House Speaker Dennis Bonnen (R–Angleton) offering official government favors to our reporters in exchange for me going after his GOP political opponents, there were those in the Austin-centric political circles who said it was unconscionable to “attack” a statewide Republican officeholder ahead of an election year. They didn’t care that he lied, acted unethically, or promoted public corruption.
And clearly none of the Austin lobby cronies want a discussion about the governing actions of a Republican (who isn’t even on the ballot) to be discussed in an even numbered year. Never mind that Texas is second in the nation in government-mandated business closures.
Since there is an election every even-numbered year, and we cannot talk about bad-acting officeholders in odd-numbered years, apparently the only acceptable time to do so is … never?
In truth, candidates and political parties exist to serve the citizens, and not the other way around. We make idols of politicians and political parties to our own detriment. As citizens, we must demand the practical application of principles, without excuses. If politicians don’t want to be held publicly accountable for their actions, they shouldn’t be in public office.
