Commentary: Texas Congressional Race Becomes an Extreme Obama Hate-Fest
Welcome to today’s GOP.
Roger Williams has gone extreme, and he had to. After years as a genial local car dealer, he’s knee-deep in a Central Texas congressional runoff that amounts to an Obama-hating contest against a Tea Party leader aligned with the John Birch Society and Constitution Party.
That’s why Williams’ newest campaign e-mail Tuesday included a shadowy monochrome photo of President Barack Obama labeled: “SOCIALIST!”
The e-mail also complains about the Austin newspaper: “Will you help me fight back against the liberal media?”
Newspapers aren’t Williams’ problem.
Wes Riddle is his problem.
Riddle, a retired Army officer from Gatesville, wants to impeach Obama for “giving away” seven Arctic Ocean and Bering Sea islands near Siberia to Russia.
(Yes, even though those islands were ceded in 1991 under President George H.W. Bush.)
A year ago, Riddle invited Facebook friends to his Belton theater for a rally promoting the Constitution Party, a third party that calls for restoring government “on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Riddle’s Web list of supporters openly includes the Constitution Party state chairman, Collin County banker Bob Eoff.
Eoff said Tuesday that Riddle gave the same speech at a John Birch Society meeting in Richardson.
“He’s running as a Republican, but he’s more of a Constitution Party guy,” Eoff said.