We could have a potential disaster on our hands in Texas, if the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll is any indication. While the main headline is Wendy Davis trailing Greg Abbott by 11 in a head-to-head matchup, the Senate primary should be the real concern for Democrats both in and out of the Lone Star State. If this poll is to be believed, Texas Dems may be about to hand the Senate nomination to a follower of Lyndon LaRouche. This was mentioned in the Morning Digest, but given the implications I thought it merited a full diary.
Of the five candidates in the primary, Kesha Rogers attracted the most support, with 35 percent. Rogers is a loud-and-proud LaRouchie who has been a burr in the butt of Texas Dems since 2006, when she tried to run for state party chair. In 2010 and 2012, she made two consecutive runs in TX-22 against Pete Olson. During her 2012 bid, she was seen singing "Obama is nuts!" while handing out literature calling for the president's impeachment. She also had campaign signs comparing Obama to Hitler. She's keeping up the same drumbeat in her Senate campaign--impeaching Obama, colonizing Mars, the lot. And that should really make us nervous. It's too bad, because she's a really pretty woman. I've wondered for years about how so many pretty Republican women are so loony (Ann Coulter and Michele Bachmann immediately come to mind). I didn't think I'd have to ask that question about a Democrat. Then again, LaRouchies are NOT Democrats.
It was bad enough when no real name candidate stepped up in this race. But for a raving LaRouchie to be even within striking distance of a Senate nomination is almost too embarrassing for words. Wendy Davis needs credible candidates downballot. And the national party needs credible candidates for every Senate seat. Hopefully Davis has a contingency plan in case Rogers ends up on the ballot.
The scary part is that there may be other LaRouchies stinking up primaries elsewhere. Rogers claims that her 2010 and 2012 House runs were part of a nationwide slate of LaRouchie congressional candidates. Say what you will about the Blue Dogs, but for my money there are two far bigger threats to our party than the Blue Dogs ever will be. Namely, LaRouchies like Rogers and the few Dems who are actually in bed with the Christofascist New Apostolic Reformation. Sometimes I wonder if Canada and Australia have the right idea. Any candidates in those countries who spew lunacy of the type Rogers is spewing get turfed by their parties in short order.