Crazy Republicans in Texas State School Board elections (“Can you say, ‘The Pilgrims were Communists,’ boys and girls?”), and Republican pushback

by David Safier

Talking Points Memo has a good piece about the Texas State Board of Education races. Let's begin with excerpts from a video TPM links to, of statements by Republican candidate Gail Suprlock:

[about 5:15] "There's been a lot of, frankly, socialist indoctrination going on in our schools for a long time. . . . Socialism is old, old, old. It's just tyranny with a populist face, and that's being sold to our children. . . . We have 60-some members of Congress who are socialists, self proclaimed socialists, in the Democrat Party."

[about 13:30] "When the Pilgrims set up their little communities — well, first of all, they were required to be Communists. That was in their charter, Communism is that old."

In answers to a questionaire, 10 Republican candidates disagreed with the statement, “it is the government’s responsibility to be sure children are properly educated.” Eight others abstained and only three agreed. The Texas Constitution mandates the state "establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools."

One Republican candidate, George Clayton, a current board member who lost his primary, plans to run as a write in candidate.

George Clayon was widely considered one of the committee’s more discerning, moderate GOP members. He’s supported evolutionary theory, come out as gay, and presented, according to the Texas Freedom Network, “a voice of sanity."

Clayton may be fighting a losing battle, but it's another sign that some Republicans, in Texas and elsewhere, are saying, "What the hell has happened to my party?"