Politics In Texas: State Of The Right
By Vince Leibowitz on May 16, 2006 in Texas Republicans | | Sphere: Related Content |
Just in time for the upcoming Republican Party of Texas convention in San Antonio in a couple of weeks:
A new report documents how religious extremists have hijacked the political process in Texas, have tightened their grip on the Republican Party and today dominate debate over public policy in the state.
That’s from a Texas Freedom Network press release. The actual report [.pdf] is one heck of a barn burner. It’s 60 pages and worth every second of your time you will spend reading it. If you are a Democrat in Texas or just someone concerned about the tremendous influence of the far- and religious right in Texas, you have to read this report.
According to the report’s front matter, it is going to be an annual project. This year’s report includes a watch list of people who will play an important role in expanding the influence and reach of the Religious Right in Texas over the next 12 months. This year’s list includes: 
David Barton
Richard Ford
James Leininger
Dwight McKissic
Rick Scarborough
Kelly Shackelford
Susan Weddington
Laurence White
There is so much I could say about this report. I could write five posts and include interesting “tidbits” from the report that we all need to know. The report analyzes all of Leininger’s business interests and PACs and shows how they are all realated, and on and on and on.
While I’m surprised Texas GOP Executive Director Jeff Fisher didn’t make the list (he’s been listed in the TFN’s “who’s who” page for years, though they list it wrong that he was defeated as a county judge, he quit to work for the GOP), there are plenty of other tidbits of information in the report to keep your mind swimming all day.
One snippit from the report I will share, and you will have to read the rest on your own:
…to be a Republican in Texas meant that one was not only a social conservative, but also a particular kind of Christian conservative.
Right on the money.
Before you do anything else today, download a copy of the report and email it to everyone you know. Yes, understanding the influence of the Religious Right in Texas politics is that important. Go! Do it now!
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Jonathan Blundell | May 17, 2006 | Reply
ON your RSS feed, I keep getting an error when I view your posts…
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