Texas State GOP Party eats its own

[TexasThoughtCriminal]

Wow! How did I miss this juicy tidbit, now a week old...

AUSTIN – The state Republican Party's top strategist, after fending off questions for nine months, has confirmed that the party paid for calls gauging the popularity of moderate Republicans in the Texas House.

One lawmaker said Monday that the effort was designed to defeat moderate GOP incumbents in primaries.

<snip>

Rep. Carter Casteel, who was Dr. Leininger's top target and who lost in the March primary, mocked Mr. Fisher's account.

"If you believe that, you believe in the tooth fairy," said Ms. Casteel, R-New Braunfels. "Why, sure, Leininger paid for it they targeted certain people. And they certainly didn't call me and say, 'Carter, we want to help you build traditional party values, and I know this is your district and here's what we're doing.' They never said a word."

Ms. Casteel, who helped torpedo a school vouchers bill that Dr. Leininger promoted last year, said top state leaders wanted to oust Republican moderates.

"They targeted me and people who didn't drink the Kool-Aid," she said. "I've used my brain to think. I didn't let the party think for me."

More

[sonias]

1. Carter Casteel should just leave the GOP

She's one of the few on their side that's a moderate. She should join the Democratic party.

Sonia

[ceile]

2. I missed it too.

Very interesting. Not a "Kool Aid" drinker, I love it!