Do you want to see a prime example of how badly fractured the Republican Party has become?
Take a look at the fight for the Texas Republican Party chairmanship.
This is an amazing development.
State GOP Chairman Tom Mechler has been accused of promoting a “disgusting homosexual agenda.” The accusation comes from supporters of Jared Woodfill, a Houston GOP activist who’s challenging Mechler for the party chairmanship.
Why is this so amazing?
Well, I happen to know Mechler. He hails from Armstrong County. He’s a Panhandle guy who is as conservative a politician as one can imagine. I consider Mechler to be a friend and, take my word for it, he doesn’t exactly line up with gay-rights activists’ world view.
The Texas GOPĀ had the temerity to allow a gay and lesbian group to set up a booth at the upcoming state Republican convention. Does that constitute a “disgusting homosexual agenda”? I do not believe it does.
What it constitutes is a recognition that Texas comprises a wide array of individuals who have differing orientations.
That’s it.
Mechler is putting some distance between himself and the gay-rights group. According to the Dallas Morning News: “Mechler said he had nothingĀ to do with the decision to allow the group, the Metroplex Republicans, to have a booth at the state GOP convention.”
Just as the national Republican Party is fighting among itself, the Texas GOP is exposing deep fissures within its own ranks.
The ultra-uber conservative wing of the Texas GOP is tossing out the “RINO” epithet at Mechler, who is the farthest thing possible from being a “Republican In Name Only.”
Believe me when I say this: Tom Mechler is a true-blue Republican believer. He’s the real thing.