Netroots Activists Join Forces To Launch Website Promoting Censure Of State Rep. Leo Berman

Netroots activists from across Texas have joined forces to launch CensureLeo.com, urging the Texas House of Representatives to censure State Rep. Leo Berman (R-Tyler) for his conduct following an immigration summit last week.

CensureLeo.com urges Texans to contact their state representative, House Speaker Joe Straus, and House GOP Caucus Chair Larry Taylor, urging them to support a resolution of censure condemning Berman’s actions.

On Thursday, February 18, 2009, following a panel discussion sponsored by Texas Employers for Immigration Reform, Rep. Berman was engaged in a heated verbal exchange with Harry Joe, immigration lawyer of Chinese American descent from Dallas.

Berman, who was invited to participate in a panel discussion to speak about a bill he authored requiring illegal immigrants to relocate to “sanctuary cities,” was approached by Mr. Joe after the session.

Following their exchange, Berman told Harry Joe to “go home” (as in “back to China”) and “kiss my ass.” Mr. Joe issued an apology for his part in the incident; to date Rep. Berman has remained silent and issued no apology.

The story made headlines across Texas, and Associated Press coverage of the incident was published on newspaper websites across the nation.

“Representative Berman’s conduct was inappropriate. We expect more from our elected officials, and his peers in the Texas House should do the right thing and pass a resolution of censure condemning his conduct,” said Vince Leibowitz, publisher of CapitolAnnex.com and a netroots activist who helped create the website.

A list of Texas blogs that have joined the movement to censure Rep. Berman is included.

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