Bay Area Houston

(R) Racist.

Enough with being nice about this. We need to say it and say it loud. If you are running as a republican then you need to own the title. When you stand silent while racism runs rampant in your own party then you need to embrace the title. When you stand silent and allow racists to take over your party then you need to wear it and wear it with pride. Unfortunately many are doing just that.

The Republican latest racist dog whistle, following the racist dog whistle “CRT” issue, is now the Great Replacement Theory which claims minorities are being bussed into the United States to replace racist white folks and those in the Republican Party. Now I understand what the Republican Party’s chant of “Jews will not replace us!” means.

The GRT that Fox News and Tucker Carlson promoted played a significant role in the Buffalo shooting where a well armed, radical, racist, gun nut killed 10 African Americans and yet the leaders of the party stand silent, or are using GRT as a campaign talking point. They have stood silent as the leader of their party refers to Native Americans as Pocahontas, Mexicans as rapists, Muslims as terrorists, Asians as virus speakers, and nazis as “good people”. 

So, what does the (R) stand for behind a political candidate running for office? Own the title.

In response to the racist comments made by Texas Lt Governor Dan Patrick switching the blame for the COVID outbreak in Texas from Mexicans to African Americans the Texas Republican Party has issued the following statement:

#NoPlaceButTexas

They are out in the open. The once great Republican Party that believed in simple family values such as respect and honor now is just a bunch of racist, rotten assholes led by Trump. They are not even trying to cover it up. 

Last week it was Senator Ron Johnson claiming he wasn’t afraid of the white patriots who were storming the capitol, attacking police, and looking to hang Mike Pence. He wasn’t afraid as he ran like a coward with others like Ted Cruz. But he would have been afraid if the same rioters were Black. Dude, that is just racist.

Now coming off that racist rhetoric Texas Congressman Chip “Racist” Roy piles on with his comments towards the Asian American Community. Racist Roy can’t act like an adult and wear a mask appropriately in order to protect others around him and he had to to bring up lynching in a hearing to address hate crimes directed to the AAPI. Maybe someone needs to remind him that lynching was used as hillbilly justice towards everyone except the white folk. 

This is who they are. #RacistRoy From CNN:

Remember that racist post the chair-elect of the Harris County Republican Party, Keith Nielsen shared on his Facebook page? Let me remind you:

Keith posted a racist meme (which has been removed) on Facebook quoting Martin Luther King. The meme also had a pic of a banana next to the Black civil rights leader’s quote. It wasn’t a fruit salad, or a medley of fresh tropical fruits and he wasn’t in the middle of a well balanced meal when he created the meme. It was a banana. It was racist. We know it. He knows it. The Pasadena City Council knows it and took action.

Nielson was fired from the Texas Planning Commission based upon his racist post. Shortly afterward he resigned from the position of Chair of the Harris County Republican Party before even taking office. And then today we hear this:

Harris County GOP officials are increasingly convinced that chairman-elect Keith Nielsen plans to take office next month despite saying he would step aside weeks ago after sharing a racist image on social media.

So now it is up to the precinct chairs of the party to decide which side of the aisle they are on. Do you line up behind Nielsen and shake off his racist post or call for his removal? My bet is that they will stand with Nielsen, after all they are firmly behind the racist in chief, Donald Trump so why not just maintain consistency? It’s really just who they are as a party. Nielsen is a perfect leader for them. 

How stupid can trump people be? Ask the General Manager (or it might be the former GM this afternoon) of the Scrap Yard professional softball team out of the Woodlands. From Sports Illustrated:

During a game against USSSA Pride, another independent pro softball team, a tweet was posted on Scrap Yard’s Twitter account with a picture of players standing and the words, “Hey @realDonaldTrump Pro Fastpitch being played live @usssaspacecoast @USSSAPride Everyone respecting the FLAG!” 

That post produced sharp retorts from Osterman and several other players as well as a Facebook repudiation of the tweet, which subsequently was deleted but archived by several Twitter users, by USSSA Pride.

By this afternoon I would bet the GM will have lost her job joining the Harris County Republican Party Chair-elect. The USSSA Pride Team has responded:

It really isn’t hard.

Since the killing of George Floyd there has been a rash of firing, suspensions, and removals from office because of racist comments or displays. Here in Harris County after posting a racist meme the Chair of the Republican Party resigned his position months before officially taking the office. He also lost his job with the City of Pasadena. He is just one of 6 other republican county chairs in Texas who have been asked to resign by the Governor or encouraged to resign for posting racist comments on Facebook.

Maybe the (R)s need a little training on how to avoid being labeled a racist (R). Here are some tips:

1. Don’t be a racist. Racism is bad. Very bad. (it’s also 2020. You shouldn’t have to be told this.)
2. Think before you post something on social media. 
3. If you think what you want to post might be considered racist, it probably is. Don’t post it.
4. Don’t use racist slurs. You know what they are. Just don’t say them. Ever.
5. Remember that social media and video are forever. They never go away. What you write or do might go viral and available for your next possible employer to find. No one will hire a racist.
6. Don’t display racist symbols. That means take your confederate flag off your pick up truck before driving to work, unless you really are a racist. If you are a racist fly the flag so we know who you are. The Confederate flag is a flag for losers, literally and it has become a symbol of racism. 
7. And if you really have the urge to show your racism, do it in the comfort of your own home and using your inside your head voice.

Ray Ciccarelli is/was a NASCAR driver. NASCAR gave him the perfect excuse to leave the sport, banning the confederate flag from it’s properties. That includes the parking lot, the stands, the pits, and cars. Ciccarelli took a stand and has announced he is leaving. Up until now no one knew who he was. Much like what the confederate flag symbolizes, Ray wasn’t a winner.

Ray is what we call “filler” in sports. He was there to fill out the crowd on the track. No one wants to see a race between the top 10 drivers. A race with 20 or more is much more exciting. NASCAR gave Ray a great excuse to bow out of a sport he wasn’t very good at. I am sure NASCAR will miss him dearly.

If you ever been to a NASCAR race the confederate flag is everywhere. My first trip to a track included sitting behind a guy with a t-shirt that said “You fly yours, I’ll fly mine”. Whatever bitch.

Here is a quick video of Ray’s car catching fire. Luckily Ray was fine.

It’s got to be bad when the top republican in the state calls for the resignation of 2 Republican county chairs. Greg Abbott did just that and they have told him to buzz off. The Chair of the Texas Republican Party has also asked all 5 chairs to resign.

Bexar County GOP Chairwoman Cynthia Brehm, Harris County GOP Chairman-Elect Keith Nielsen, Harrison County GOP Chair Lee Lester, Nueces County GOP Chairman Jim Kaelin, and Comal County GOP Chairwoman Sue Gafford Piner posted racist meme and/or conspiracy theories to their Facebook pages.  Abbott has called for the resignation of Brehm and Kaelin. Here is the status of each:

Harris County GOP Chairman-Elect Keith Nielsen. Resigned before taking office. Removed from his position as Pasadena Planning Commissioner.

Nueces County GOP Chairman Jim Kaelin. Has refused to step down even after Abbott asked him to.

Bexar County GOP Chairwoman Cynthia Brehm. Has refused to step down even after Abbott asked her to.

Comal County GOP Chairwoman Sue Gafford Piner. Has refused to step down but has bravely stepped away from Facebook.

Harrison County GOP Chair Lee Lester. Has refused to step down.

No Place but Texas. Literally.

A precinct chair in Galveston County, Kevin Holland II, just couldn’t let a peaceful march against racism go without an ill advised statement or following it up with another one, and then explaining in a “fun” way. While people of all colors, young and old, male and female, gathered in the hot sun to call for changes to protect people of color as well as our police men and women, this guy had to have a laugh.

Kevin joined another elected official, the Chair elect of the Harris County Republican Party, Keith Nielsen, who posted a racist meme to his Facebook page. Keith has since resigned and he was removed as Chair of the Pasadena Planning Committee. Showing off your racism almost always leads to bad things happening to you. Americans do not like racists, white supremacists,  or nazis. 

Americans and the military fight to support our rights to peacefully protest. They also fight to support the rights of people who want to make racist memes or statements, but that does not guarantee a place at the table. In fact it might guarantee an escort through the door.

Joking about racism isn’t funny. Ask Keith.

UPDATE: The precinct chair’s Facebook posts have been removed. He should now resign his position and take some time to reflect on the moment.