Texas Democrat’s frivolous lawsuit to knock state Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) off the November ballot has been thwarted. But the perception that they’re anti-military has been accentuated. There was a previous determination that Mr. Birdwell was eligible, and he was resoundingly elected in a special election in June. But that didn’t stop the partisan scheme against a native Texan and retired Army officer who survived the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon.

The Democratic nominee challenging Sen. Birdwell, former McLennan County Democratic chairman and liberal personal injury trial lawyer, R. John Cullar (D-Waco), pushed for the Chicago-style power play, much like President Obama’s first Illinois state Senate campaign.

Only this time it didn’t work.

What makes this whole eligibility controversy so offensive is the fact that Sen. Birdwell is a Texan, and a military veteran who only lived outside the Lone Star State while serving his country or receiving treatments for wounds sustained from his service in the U.S. Army.

Some partisans seemed to imply Sen. Birdwell was un-Texan for being out of the state to receive reconstructive surgeries and treatments, and that he is somehow an outside influence trying to infiltrate Texas politics.

It shouldn’t be a surprise though.

This isn’t the first time Texas Democrats have tried to infringe on military members seeking to exercise their civic duties.

Bill White, the Democratic nominee for governor, sought to block active-duty military from voting in certain elections when he was the party’s state chairman. Now the Texas Democratic Party is on-record for seeking to disenfranchise a decorated Texas veteran from running for elective office.

Is it any wonder Democratic candidates and officials are often unpopular in military and veteran circles?

Now that the Dallas-based Texas 5th Court of Appeals ruled that Sen. Birdwell will remain on the ballot, his litigious opponents’ next option would be to push for review by the Texas Supreme Court.

Following the current decision, the unflappable Sen. Birdwell said, “It’s now time to put all this behind us and get on to the important business of the state.”

Let’s see if his petty challengers will follow suit (or if they will follow with a new lawsuit).

RELATED POSTS