John Whitmire won with the combination of the MAGA Party and the White Progressives in Houston. The white progressives have no qualms about John Whitmire’s bad-mouthing and hating on people of color.
From a Chicano blogger in Houston:
Much like I send a political death stare to all those Dems who supported Kim Ogg, I send one to supporters and hangers-on of the local mayor. His current drive to outlaw the first amendment because they make him uncomfortable is just one more reason why they should distance themselves from him.
Now, he blames Iran–or at least that’s what some non-specific people “higher up” than him told him–for the anti-genocide protesters. “If this is true…” he added. I don’t know if he’s trying to pull a Trump or a Netanyahu, or both. Either way, it’s not a good look to whine about human rights activists by connecting them to anything that may be considered sinister in the eyes of bigots.
In the Houston Chronicle:
A coalition of pro-Palestinian advocates criticized HoustonMayor John Whitmire on Friday after he publicly accused them of being financed by Iran without providing any evidence.
In recent weeks, Whitmire has floated the idea that the pro-Palestinian activists who have been demonstrating outside his home are “professional, paid protesters” funded by questionable sources. He doubled down on his accusation on Wednesday,again without offering proof.
The mayor’s office has declined to provide proof or details of his claim. Mary Benton, Whitmire’s spokesperson, told the Chronicle the mayor often receives security briefings from law enforcement and intelligence agencies but cannot share that information publicly.
That explanation failed to quell advocates’ concerns. Nishu Siddique, an organizer with Houston For Palestinian Liberation, denied payments by outside forces. She questioned why Whitmire would make the accusation during a televised newsconference if it pertained to sensitive security information that he could not reveal.
“For him to make this vague conjecture…it’s reckless. It’s dangerous. And I would argue that it’s actually intentional on his part,” Siddique said.
It wasn’t that long ago when John Whitmire said that Latinos were not wanted at the Galleria:
Mayor Whitmire criticized over comment about Gulfton community and Galleria
Whitmire had previously said to a media outlet that Houstonians in Gulfton are largely undocumented immigrants who “just want basic services. They don’t want to be part of the Galleria. You think they’re going to be welcome in the Galleria?”
I am not a progressive, so why should I consider most white progressive programs as necessary? I reminded my wife, a yellow dog Democrat, that when the Republicans were running this county, we didn’t have any problems, and we wouldn’t have any issues if they were to be in charge again.
I am still pissed that the Democrats did not stand up for President Biden. They let a few white privileged people and white privileged journalist lead them by the nose to get Joe Biden to quit his re-election campaign. I am voting for Harris/Walz and Collin, but I am still undecided on whether I will bother to vote for any other candidate.