Republican Party of Texas
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The Republican Party of Texas is the affiliate of the Republican Party in Texas, headquartered in Downtown Austin.[1] Steve Munisteri of Dallas was elected Chairman and Melinda Fredricks was elected Vice Chairman of the party on June 12, 2010. State law requires that the chairman and vice chairman be of the opposite sex.[citation needed]
The Texan wing of the Republican Party, most publicly since its party platform of 2008, has been characterized as "far-right" by multiple commentators,[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] and on occasion, has been accused of advocating a Christian theocratic political philosophy.[15][16][17][18][19][20][21]
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[edit] State Party Strength
Ever since the 1990s and coming into the 2000s, the Texas Republican Party has emerged to become the dominant party in state politics.
Since 1994, every statewide elected office has been in Republican control. Furthermore, both houses of the Texas Legislature feature Republican majorities (though the 2008 elections narrowed the House majority to a mere two votes; both houses are officially organized on a bipartisan basis, with both Republicans and Democrats holding committee chairs).
At the federal level, Texas was last carried by a Democratic presidential candidate in 1976. Both of its Senators - Kay Bailey Hutchison (first elected in 1993) and John Cornyn (elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2008) - are Republicans, and the state also boasts the largest Republican delegation in the House: 20 out of 32.
[edit] Telemarketing Center
The Republican Party of Texas (commonly known as the RPT) ran a highly successful telemarketing center from 1994-1998 in the Southwest Tower Building (nicknamed "Telemarketing Tower") at 211 East 7th Street in downtown Austin.[1] The slogan of "A dime a day to keep the Democrats away" succeeded in bringing in thousands of dollars for the party in the form of $36.50 donations. Most of the telemarketers were University of Texas students and assorted RPT "vagabons". ("Dialing for Dollars the GOP Way" Austin Chronicle July 23, 1996)
[edit] New conservative movement
On April 12, 2010, Sen. Dan Patrick announced the formation of Independent Conservative Republicans of Texas,[22] with five principles in their "Contract with Texas". Radio host Laura Ingraham, who had Patrick on her show, said she believed similar movements could develop across the country.[23]
44 of the 73 Texas House Republicans, are "founding members". A total of 57 legislators and five primary winners were members. Their objectives were "to promote conservative causes and oppose federal government intervention" as well as "limiting government and protecting borders".[22]
[edit] Homosexuality controversy
In 2010, the Republican Party of Texas prompted outrage when it suggested criminalizing gay sex and imprisoning anyone who issues a marriage license to a gay couple.[24]
[edit] References
- ^ "Contact Us." Republican Party of Texas. Retrieved on May 13, 2010.
- ^ http://washingtonindependent.com/88487/texas-gop-unveils-brand-new-far-right-platform
- ^ http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/36597_Texas_GOP_Platform-_Make_Gay_Marriage_a_Felony
- ^ http://lezgetreal.com/2010/06/human-rights-campaign-joins-fight-to-repudiate-texas-gops-platform/
- ^ http://newmexicoindependent.com/57368/texas-gop-splinters-over-immigration-at-party-convention
- ^ http://www.dallasvoice.com/viewpoints/a-platform-of-ideas-—-bad-ideas/
- ^ http://tfninsider.org/2010/06/09/how-extreme-will-the-texas-gop-get/
- ^ http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2010/jul/04/party-conflicts-in-texas/?print=1
- ^ http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/tea-party/texas-gop-incorporates-some-tea-party-positions/
- ^ http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/10239/texas-house-and-senate-republicans-pander-to-far-right-launch-new-gop-organization
- ^ http://www.laprogressive.com/progressive-issues/texas-gop-grand-piece-work/
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/15/us/15texas.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=james%20mckinley%20jr.&st=cse
- ^ http://tfninsider.org/2010/06/15/the-texas-gop-at-prayer/
- ^ http://newsbusters.org/blogs/clay-waters/2010/02/15/ny-times-boy-those-far-right-texas-candidates-sure-are-hard-line-and-di
- ^ http://lezgetreal.com/2010/06/human-rights-campaign-joins-fight-to-repudiate-texas-gops-platform/
- ^ http://www.theocracywatch.org/texas_gop.htm
- ^ http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/6/20/15922/7012
- ^ http://www.worldcantwait.net/index.php/about-mainmenu-2/writer-staff-mainmenu-291/larry-jones-mainmenu-275/4899-texas-gop-platform-a-model-for-theocracy
- ^ http://www.bluebloggin.com/2008/11/12/fran-corte-jr-proposes-christian-dominionist-theocracy-on-texas/
- ^ http://www.411mania.com/politics/columns/143980/Texas-GOP-Party-Platform---Part-2.htm
- ^ http://www.fontcraft.com/rod/?p=815
- ^ a b "Radio host lawmaker forms new conservative group". El Paso Times. Associated Press. 2010-04-12. http://www.elpasotimes.com/texas/ci_14868096. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
- ^ Fikac, Peggy (2010-04-12). "Sen. Patrick: New GOP group reaching out to Tea Party". Houston Chronicle. http://blogs.chron.com/texaspolitics/archives/2010/04/sen_patrick_new.html. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
- ^ http://www.towleroad.com/2010/06/texas-gop-platform-criminalize-gay-sex-and-imprison-anyone-who-issues-a-marriage-license-to-a-gay-co.html
[edit] External links
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