UPDATED: Mark Tice, Chambers County commissioner, insulted Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo for speaking Spanish at a press conference about the aftermath of the ITC terminal fire that blackened our skies for several days last week.  On the live feed comment thread of a press conference, Tice blurted out, “She’s a joke; English this is not Mexico.”  When asked later by the Houston Chronicle about the comment, he confirmed saying it and added, “It’s real simple. This is the United States. Speak English.”

While shocking to normal people, this kind of language is common among Texas Teapublicans, who wear their xenophobia as a badge of honor.  Most of these guys, though, keep their ranting to Facebook and in private circles.  Some are blatantly offensive, like Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller who regularly spews bile on his social media pages.  Welp, here’s another one from Chambers County.  He’s a racist pig, and doesn’t care who knows it; he apparently thinks it’s fine to insult a colleague from a neighboring county government.  It will be interesting what Ms Hidalgo’s response will be the next time Chambers County asks for emergency assistance after a storm and/or flood.

Maybe “Habla Español” would be a good answer.

UPDATE: Mark Tice apologized publicly to Hidalgo for showing her and the public that he’s a racist prick.  When he spouted off to her on a public comment board to “speak English”, he was probably a little surprised that being a flaming asshole in public is generally not a good thing to do.  He issued a full apology sometime late yesterday:

“In regards to the comments I issued on Judge Hidalgo’s press conference: From my understanding, there were reporters asking questions in Spanish and Judge Hildalgo responded to those questions in Spanish, with no translation given. If that is not the case, then I sincerely apologize. Like many citizens concerned about the ITC fires, I was very emotional about the effect it was having on everyone. I apologize to Judge Hidalgo, the citizens of my County, and most importantly the entire Hispanic community for hastily acting out with transgression on social media. I recognize how my response could have been interpreted in a derogatory manner and for that I am sorry. I immediately regretted my choice of words. I’m not proud of my behavior, that is not the example I wish to lead by. I can only hope, in time, that my actions can be forgiven. Having grown up in Galena Park, Texas— a place that is and has always been a very diverse community—I was raised with the ideology that you do not judge anyone by their ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. Those values mean everything to me. It breaks my heart that I may have said anything that would lead anyone to believe otherwise. Those who know me well, know how deeply rooted I am within the Hispanic community. My sentiments on this issue were grounded in the passion and love that I have for the City of Houston and the surrounding areas. Again, I am truly sorry for for creating this unnecessary situation.”

When asked about his comments to the Chronicle, Tice wrote:

“My comments towards Judge Hidalgo today in the Chronicle were inappropriate. I apologize for that. I was very emotional, and said things that I regret. Again, I am truly sorry.”

“My response could have been interpreted in a derogatory manner.”  Ya’ think? In what other way could that insult be taken other than derogatory?  In what world does a guy like Tice live where being a caustic racist in public is OK? Chambers County, apparently. The good thing, though, is that occasionally, even mouthbreathers like this clown can be shamed into not acting like a complete prick to others 24/7.