Texas GOPer: I have nothing against Jews and Muslims but Christians do better jobs over all

[^_^ 5,021]

When emails first appeared calling for dumping current Speaker Joe Straus in favor of "Christian conservative" leadership, Straus' more visible opponents initially dismissed accusations of anti-Jewish/pro-Christian bias.

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I obtained an email exchange Tuesday between two members of the State Republican Executive Committee—Rebecca Williamson and John Cook. After Williamson sent a fact sheet to SREC members defending Straus, Cook responded by dismissing her claims and saying that "We elected a house with Christian, conservative values. We now want a true Christian, conservative running it." (You can see both emails here.)

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When I posted the emails, Cook had not responded to phone calls—but today I got to speak with the SREC member at length ... Cook, who stands by his email, doesn't mince words: he maintains that his demands are in no way bigoted. Here's a summary of our conversation, and I'll leave it to readers to judge.

"When I got involved in politics, I told people I wanted to put Christian conservatives in leadership positions," he told me, explaining that he only supports Christian conservative candidates in Republican primary races.

"I want to make sure that a person I'm supporting is going to have my values. It's not anything about Jews and whether I think their religion is right or Muslims and whether I think their religion is right. ... I got into politics to put Christian conservatives into office. They're the people that do the best jobs over all."

Then he asked me if I was a Christian. "I just need to know who I'm talking to so I can understand," he explained. "The Bible is true to me. God exists, Christ is his son and the holy spirit is in the people who are Christian."

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"Ken Paxton is a good solid Christian conservative man," Cook continued, explaining why he endorsed Paxton.

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Cook said his opposition was not about Straus' religion, although he prefers Christian candidates.

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"If that offends you, I'm sorry that offends you," he said.

http://www.texasobserver.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=17184:srec-member-i-got-into-politics-to-put-christian-conservatives-into-office&Itemid=1880

[one...two...tree 2,762]

"I want to make sure that a person I'm supporting is going to have my values. It's not anything about Jews and whether I think their religion is right or Muslims and whether I think their religion is right. ... I got into politics to put Christian conservatives into office. They're the people that do the best jobs over all."

What a maroon.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Politics + Religion don't mix. Voting for someone strictly based on what faith they are is about as idiotic as voting for someone just because they support some singular issue that you support...

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Politics + Religion don't mix. Voting for someone strictly based on what faith they are is about as idiotic as voting for someone just because they support some singular issue that you support...

Tell that to the person who created this forum.

[Ban Hammer 13,474]

Tell that to the person who created this forum.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Tell that to the person who created this forum.

Oh snap.

[scandal 951]

Here's a summary of our conversation, and I'll leave it to readers to judge.

Perhaps surprisingly, but I'm not really offended by this.

People have the right to support whichever candidates best represent their views, that's an inherent part of a democracy.

I would never choose a candidate based on their religion or ethnicity, I prefer to pick based on merit and experience and policy stances.

But that's me. It's not a great shock that many blacks have supported black candidates (including Obama), Jews have supported Jews, women rally around Emily's List to nominate and vote for women ... why should fundamentalist Christians be any different?

This guy is supporting his candidate, nothing wrong with that.

[Danno 1,228]

Perhaps surprisingly, but I'm not really offended by this.

People have the right to support whichever candidates best represent their views, that's an inherent part of a democracy.

I would never choose a candidate based on their religion or ethnicity, I prefer to pick based on merit and experience and policy stances.

But that's me. It's not a great shock that many blacks have supported black candidates (including Obama), Jews have supported Jews, women rally around Emily's List to nominate and vote for women ... why should fundamentalist Christians be any different?

This guy is supporting his candidate, nothing wrong with that.

Awwe ya beat me to it.