Whitmire Should Follow Example Of U.S. House Dems & Not Cut Deals With Extremists

The Houston Democracy Project tries to keep it local, but the removal of U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has a lesson for Houston City elections in 2023.

The Republican-only debate on the House Floor was a debate of the anti-democratic far right against the anti-democratic far right. No side better than the other. Watch the debate for yourself to see.

What type of major political party allows someone like Matt Gaetz to be in a position to topple their most powerful figure?

U.S. House Democrats knew the score. They sat it out. All House Democrats voted to remove Mr. McCarthy rather than intervene to save him. Every one of them across the full ideological spectrum of the Democratic Party. They didn't seek a deal. There was nobody to seek a deal with. 

For Democrats concerned about the refusal to work across party lines to save Rep. McCarthy, please note that Hakeem Jeffries and Nancy Pelosi supported McCarthy's removal.      

The Republican Caucus is solid for Trump. My Congressman, Wesley Hunt, voted in support of McCarthy. Congressman Hunt is a full Trumpist. Mr. Hunt would take our freedom no matter who is Speaker of the House. Houston-area Congressman Troy Nehls supported McCarthy today. He is now proposing Trump for Speaker.

Hakeem Jeffries and Nancy Pelosi are experienced and pragmatic leaders who know threats to democracy when they see them.      

It would be good if Houston Mayoral candidate John Whitmire had the insight of U.S. House Democrats. Maybe it makes a difference when you've seen Republicans for what they are up-close in the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, rather than having them fund your race for Mayor.  

Senator Whitmire has been in office for 50 years. He's dedicated his career to systems that have lost Roe, lost most of the Voting Rights Act and messed up the weather. Faced with the real and increasing threat of authoritarianism in Texas and the nation, he tells us to talk without condition to extremists and invites their police into our city. 
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There will not be a well-functioning government until the people trying to overthrow the government are out of office. Houstonians merit protection from the far-right. This protection from extremists should be Senator Whitmire's mission rather bringing them into the heart of Houston City Hall. 

The Houston Democracy Project works daily to make democracy a top issue in 2023 Houston politics and to inspire, organize and strengthen pro-democracy coalitions in Houston and Harris County. 

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