So a Tea Party leader in Dallas says that the GOP doesn’t want black folks to vote.

Trust me, that is not news.  That is olds.

“I’m going to be real honest with you,” Tea Party leader Ken Emanuelson said at a Dallas County Republican Party event on May 20. “The Republican Party doesn’t want black people to vote if they are going to vote 9-to-1 for Democrats.”

He now says he “misspoke.”

No, no, Ken.  Misspeak is when you say the meeting is Tuesday when you meant to say Wednesday.  What you said is not misspeaking – it is saying out loud what is said behind every Republican closed door meeting.

And, Ken, next time – do not shave your head before saying something racist.  It’s just unattractive.

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The link is here.

So yesterday First Lady Michelle Obama was at a private home fundraiser in Washington, DC.  A female heckler interrupted her about 12 minutes into her 20 minute speech.

Ms. Obama confronted the heckler, leaving the podium and walking to her in the crowd.

” ‘One of the things that I don’t do well is this,’ replied [Obama] to loud applause. She left the lectern and moved over to the protester, saying they could ‘listen to me or you can take the mic, but I’m leaving. You all decide. You have one choice.’

They chose Ms. Obama.

I am a strong support of gay rights, but to heckle the President’s wife is just a tad of what we nicely refer to as freekin’ damn rude.

Here’s the catcher.

The heckler, later identified as Ellen Sturtz from the campaign that advocates for lesbians and gays, told the Post that the first lady “came right down in my face. … I was taken aback.”

So you think the First Lady of the United States of Damn America should politely let you interrupt her speech that other people donated money to come hear?  Babe, you are way out of your league.

Ms. Sturtz, there is a difference between guts and gall.  Both were exhibited that day.  Ms. Obama has guts.

Thanks to Pam for the heads up.

Ted Cruz is tap dancing on a new soapbox:  the IRS.  He’s opposed to it.

Seriously.  He wants to abolish it.

So how will we collect taxes to pay, you know, Ted Cruz’s salary when he has spent his entire life on the public dole?

‘I think we ought to abolish the IRS and instead move to a simple flat tax, where the average American can fill out our taxes on a postcard,’ Cruz told Bolling,’ saying Americans should be able to ‘put down how much you earn, put down a deduction for charitable contributions, for [a] home mortgage, and how much you owe.’

So, no deductions for children?  Or medical expenses?

I should add that Ted took $315,000 from a group who favors abolition of the IRS.  He’s not only for sale – he’s for sale cheap.

Thanks to Norma for the heads up.

Judge Edith Jones, Texan born and educated, sits on the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans and was appointed to the court by Ronald Reagan.  She has earned her ultra conservative stripes over the years in fireworks fashion.   She’s known as being anti-abortion, wanting the state to rush to execute death penalty cases, and seems to favor debtor’s prison for poor people rather than bankruptcy.

She’s a damn horses’ patootie.  She also wants to invalidate a federal ban on owning machine guns.  Machine guns.  Won’t that be fun?  Hell, she considers Ronald Reagan a pussy-footed liberal.

Her name always bubbles around when Republicans are looking for Supreme Count nominees.  Reagan and Bush both considered her.  We dodged a bullet, Honey.

She made a speech earlier this year that is gaining some dandy attention.

The speech was not recorded but five students and one attorney have signed a complaint.  Nobody who knows her would doubt for a New York minute that she did indeed say these things.  These kinds of things roll off her tongue like Amens from a tent revivalist.

Jones is accused of saying that certain “racial groups like African-Americans and Hispanics are predisposed to crime,” and are “prone to commit acts of violence” and be involved in more violent and “heinous” crimes than people of other ethnicities.

The judge also allegedly said Mexicans would prefer to be on death row in the United States than serving prison terms in their native country, and that it’s an insult for the U.S. to look to the laws of other countries such as Mexico.

She also said that claims of mental retardation by defendants “disgust her,” and that the fact that they committed a crime is proof that they are not retarded.  Ring, ring.  Judge Jones, it’s Joseph Heller on line one.  He wants his satire back.

And …

… she said a death sentence provides a service to capital-case defendants because they are likely to make peace with God only just before their execution.

Yeah, how’s that there for some Christianity?  We’re gonna kill you so you can go make peace with God.  Because, you know, we love you and God.

Judge Edith Jones, a real Texas kind of judge.

Thanks to Aggieland Liz for the heads up.

It it with great sadness that I write to you with news of the passing of James Barnett, our Data Director.

James speaking at a Texas Democratic Workshop in Richmond in March

James was dedicated to the ideals of our democracy, and chose to live his too short life in service to others. His passing is a great loss to the TDP, and to all those who believe in democracy and Democratic values.

Below please find the official TDP statement on this loss.

And thank you for keeping James’ family in your thoughts and prayers.

Gilberto Hinojosa

—————————–

Yesterday the Texas Democratic Party learned of the passing of James Barnett our Data Director. Words cannot express the sadness we feel from the loss of our colleague and dear friend.

James came to the party in January of this year, having previously served as the Data and Voter File Manager in Nevada. James was a 2004 graduate of Rossville High School, and a 2008 graduate of the University of Evansville. He was an avid sports fan. His favorite teams were the Cardinals, Colts and Pacers and he was a huge fan of college basketball.

But James was most passionate about his job. He worked across this great country to fight for his values through supporting Democratic candidates and causes. As we contemplate his loss, we are thankful for all that he has given us through his love of service to others.

We ask that you keep James in your heart and his family in your prayers. James is survived by his parents Randy and Charlotte and his brothers and sisters Bryan, Sarah, Chris, Erik, Abee, and Bekah.

On a personal note:  Y’all, this is very tough for me, so I won’t be posting today.  I was on the hiring team who found James at the Nevada Democratic Party and brought him to Texas.  The night after his first interview (and his first visit to Texas), Don and I took him to Stubbs Barbeque in Austin and fed him the all-you-can-eat plate. We were accompanied by two of my other favorite people, Glen Maxey and Huey Rey Fischer.  James fit in beautifully and believed in what we are trying to do in Texas.  He and I shared a love of baseball and all things nerdy.  I was honored to work with this bright and charming young man on many occasions, including a training visit to my county.  My heart breaks for his family.  I personally know what they are going through and it is unimaginable.  I miss his plaid shirts, his lousy Star Wars references, and arguing with him over baseball.  James Barnett was loved.  He was 27 years old.