The Political Chicken Endorses Charlotte Lampe for SREC

Dear Texas Delegate,

Congratulations on becoming a delegate to this year's convention!  I hope you're just as excited as I am about all of the activities coming up and the duties that we'll be fulfilling as delegates.

One of the duties that we'll be working on is electing party officers to our State Republican Executive Committee or SREC.  There are two representatives chosen from each Senate District and they do the job of representing us at the SREC meetings which are held quarterly in Austin.

Charlotte and I at Senate District Convention

My good friend Charlotte Lampe is running for the SREC position in Senate District 7.  From her website, "She is a committed grassroots activist that has been fighting to protect conservative principles for over 40 years. Many might agree that politics has a bad reputation which creates only endless conflict.   However, because of your love of our Country, our Texas, and our republican way of life we are connected. She might never have met you, if not for politics that bringing us together to fight for a common cause. She talks with many people and is inspired by your dedication to our political process. For Charlotte, you are the unexpected joy that makes politics worthwhile."

I am personally endorsing Charlotte Lampe for the position of SREC Committeewoman because,  
"I have known Charlotte for the past six years or so. We are both precinct chairs and activists in the same area of Harris County. I have always admired Charlotte for her spirited involvement and her stick-to-itiveness when she works on an issue or a campaign.

Charlotte doesn't take 'no' for an answer. She makes sure that fairness and justice prevail in every situation. She's creative and she's resourceful. She's passionate about liberty and freedom and she's committed to making sure we elect Republicans to office. For these reasons and many others, I'm proud to endorse Charlotte Lampe for the position of SREC Committeewoman to represent SD 7 and the great state of Texas."

The vote for SREC will be held on Friday, June 15, at 8:00 AM.  Please be sure to show up and vote for Charlotte Lampe!  She will be a great representative for SD 7!

The Texas GOP Does Not Need A Gatekeeper

Notice the title?  Gatekeeper as defined by Wikipedia is this:  "A gatekeeper is a person who controls access to something."   There are gatekeepers for all kinds of activities and clubs and even churches, for that matter, but since I'm involved in the political world, I'm thinking of the GOP.  I can think of a gatekeeper of the Republican party; actually I can think of a few of them.  Someone who thinks that the Republican party is an arm of the Baptist Church; where religiosity and exclusion meet.

You know the kind of person I'm talking about.  The kind of person who uses their Christianity and 'holier than thou' attitude as a weapon.  Who invokes the name of Jesus to instill fear in those who would oppose them.  Who ALWAYS paint their opponents as less than Christian or as not conservative enough.   Let me tell you something, I have a personal relationship with Jesus, and that's not the Jesus I know.

There's a saying that goes something like this, "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary, use words."  Funny, it doesn't say anything about shouting others down and shoving the Bible down people's throats.  As I've said, I'm a Christian, and that's not the Jesus I know.  The Jesus I know is about love and compassion and grace and mercy.  "Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?"-Romans 2:4

This is MY blog and this is MY opinion.  So, take it or leave it.  However, it is my feeling that Jared Woodfill along with Steven Hotze are religious gatekeepers for the Republican party.  Or at least, they try to be.  They want to keep the 'riff-raff' from joining in the ranks of the Republican party, and I'm not even talking about elected officials.  I'm talking about activists, precinct chairs, you name it.  Anybody who doesn't agree with their opinion lock stock and barrel are sinners, and not to be included in the Republican
 process.

I've got news for you folks, we are ALL sinners, saved by grace, and while we're talking about sinners, let's remind ourselves who Jesus was often found in fellowship with.  Jesus didn't eat with the religious elite, remember? He didn't rub elbows with the Pharisees or with Pontius Pilate.   He ate with the sinners and tax collectors and the broken and the sick.   He was ALL inclusive.

Funny thing is that Jesus wasn't and still isn't about passing a purity test.  If you came with a desire to be changed, to accept his forgiveness and mercy and grace, you could and you still can.  If we elect Jared Woodfill as State Party Chair, there will be rules and purity tests for the activist who want to become involved.  Information will not be disseminated to all activists, but only to  a select 'worthy' few.  He will turn this party into a top down tool for his power the same way he treated the Harris County Republican Party.

No, the Texas GOP does not need a gatekeeper.  What it needs is a leader.