It’s not official, however the scuttlebutt is that the Franklin County Republican Get together’s speaker for its Lincoln Day Dinner can be virulently anti-Trump congressman Dan Crenshaw. Assuming that is true, it will go down as most likely probably the most bone-headed choice within the historical past of the native get together. Crenshaw is radioactive, particularly to Trump supporters, who make up a minimum of 90% of county Republicans. Heck, why not invite Nancy Pelosi and go the complete monty?
Crenshaw, who simply survived a major problem from a number of conservative candidates in his personal Texas district, has turn out to be the darling of the liberal media for his anti-Trump rhetoric and assist of different anti-Trump Republicans reminiscent of Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, each of whom have been hand-picked by Nancy Pelosi to sit down on the January 6th Fee. Crenshaw was additionally one of many institution Republicans who lined up with Congressman John Joyce and each Home Democrat to vote for funding of a vaccination database to maintain tabs on who was getting the Covid19 jab, amongst different issues. This final reality makes it doubtless that Congressman Joyce was referred to as in on the final minute to assist salvage the Lincoln Day Dinner, which can happen two months later than regular as a result of lack of ability of the occasion’s organizers to place it collectively.
Crenshaw gained approval of Democrats when he referred to as out fellow Republicans who solid doubt on the 2020 election outcomes saying that claims of voter fraud have been a part of a “mass manipulation” by members of his personal get together, even though he had joined 125 different Home Republicans in backing an unsuccessful lawsuit geared toward getting the Supreme Court docket to determine whether or not ballots in 4 states that Biden gained had “important and unconstitutional irregularities”, thus enjoying either side of the road.
He additional attacked Trump after January 6th, 2021, writing on January 13th that he “condemned the President for the phrases and actions which contributed to those occasions, and encourage each member of Congress to equally condemn.”, thereby falling in keeping with the brand new Democrat majority, whereas on the identical time making a professional forma assertion opposing a second impeachment of Trump, mainly saying that the President was leaving workplace anyway, and we have to get again to enterprise with out him.
Maybe probably the most egregious and revealing episode of Crenshaw’s conduct is his wholesale denunciation of the Home Freedom Caucus, a bunch of probably the most conservative Home Republicans. The Freedom Caucus was based by conservative stalwarts reminiscent of former Consultant and now Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Consultant and Trump Chief of Workers Mark Meadows, and present Consultant Jim Jordan, and contains members reminiscent of Rep. Andy Biggs, Rep. Mo Brooks, Rep. Scott Perry, Rep. Louie Gohmert, Rep. Debbie Lesko, and Rep. Matt Gaetz. Crenshaw attacked the conservative group calling its members “grifters” and “efficiency artists”. He stated, “What you hear so typically shouldn’t be true. It’s not true. We’ve got grifters in our midst … within the conservative motion,” he added. “Lie after lie after lie as a result of they know one thing psychologically in regards to the conservative coronary heart. We’re nervous about what persons are going to do to us, what they’re going to infringe upon us.”
No marvel Crenshaw has turn out to be often called “McCain 2.0”.
Crenshaw’s duplicity was betrayed early on, earlier than he ran for congress. In a now-deleted Fb put up, which has been preserved on-line and which Crenshaw doesn’t deny, he referred to Trump as an “fool” and celebrated that society progressed past biblical language on issues like gay marriage. In a video that went viral, he additionally attacked an 11-year-old boy who requested him about his evaluating Jesus to a Marvel Comedian E-book hero by repeatedly shouting “don’t query my religion!”
Perhaps in some alternate universe model of Franklin County, a man like Dan Crenshaw may belong on stage for a Republican occasion, however he definitely doesn’t right here, and now. To characteristic a RINO never-Trumper on the identical platform the place we’ll have statewide candidates wanting Trump’s assist and in entrance of a Trump-supporting viewers is extra than simply clueless; it borders on willful recklessness, or extra appropriately from the present get together management, one other case of willful negligence.
Dwight Weidman is a resident of Greene Township and is a graduate of Shepherd College. He’s retired from america Division of Protection, the place his profession included assignments In Europe, Asia and Central America. He has been in management roles for the Republican Get together in two states, most lately serving two phrases as Chairman of the Franklin County Republican Get together. Concerned in net publishing since 1996, he’s the writer of The Franklin County Journal. He has been an Novice Radio Operator since 1988, getting his first license in Germany, and is a previous volunteer with each Navy and Military MARS, Navy Auxiliary Radio Service, and can also be a licensed firearms teacher.
