Texas GOP was wrong to censure Gonzales
When our Founding Fathers laid the foundation of this country, they chose a republic over a democracy. They were wise to foresee that a democracy could too easily bend and sway to the prevailing mob with its pitchforks and torches.
So, when the Republican Party of Texas voted to censure U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, who represents Congressional District 23, it was a pitchforks-andtorches kind of moment. In the party’s view, Gonzales wasn’t Republican enough. We are reminded of the old saying that if two people agree on everything, then only one person is doing the thinking.
The governed send their representatives to Congress not to vote in lockstep, but to educate themselves, think, analyze and, most importantly, represent their districts. That’s what Gonzales does. He represents his sprawling border district. He has a track record of seeking out different viewpoints, educating himself on an issue and then voting in the way he thinks is in the best interest of his district and what fits within his conservative philosophy.
Apparently, that’s not good enough for the Republican Party of Texas, or RPT. When he was a state representative in 2017, Matt Rinaldi, now the RPT chair, called U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement when Hispanic Texans were protesting in the Texas Capitol. Did Rinaldi conflate Hispanics who disagree with him over immigration to be undocumented immigrants?
Former Republican President Ronald Reagan is said to have stated a person who disagrees with you 20 percent of the time is a friend or ally 80 percent of the time. That philosophy does not apply under Rinaldi.
In a meeting last week in Washington, D.C., during a Texas Association of Business fly-in, U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, I-arizona; Thom Tillis, R-north Carolina; and John Cornyn, R-texas, all singled out Gonzales’ leadership on immigration and border security. They also said how much they appreciate his willingness to tackle tough issues.
As two people who believe in the right to bear arms to protect our home and family, and as two people who enjoy reducing the population of clay pigeons and feral hogs, we believe Gonzales’ actions on guns were reasonable. Our lives, liberties and rights were not in any way infringed by his vote in response to the mass shooting in Uvalde. He did right by the people of Uvalde, San Antonio and Texas.
In a divided America, we need fewer lectures and more listening sessions. We need fewer arguments and more understanding. And we need leaders who will do the right thing regardless of who gets the credit.
President Joe Biden was wrong not to invite Gonzales when he went to the U.s.-mexico border. Gonzales has the largest stretch of the U.s.-mexico border of any member of Congress and has shown true leadership on the issue of immigration and security.
And the Republican Party of Texas was wrong when its members voted to censure Gonzales. They are certainly entitled to their opinion, but how much better off would our state and country be if the RPT’S executive committee spent less time scolding its own members and spent more time rolling up their sleeves working to find real solutions?
Fortunately, Gonzales has the support of his district and the business community, and he has the faith and support of U.S. House Speaker Kevin Mccarthy.
We don’t live in Gonzales’ district, but we are grateful for his leadership and dedication to his family, district and Texas. We are all the better for it.
Cristina Aldrete is the managing partner of Aldrete Strategic Partners, LLC, a public affairs and communications consulting firm and is the former CEO of the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. Eddie Aldrete is CEO of Aldrete Strategic Partners, LLC and is the treasurer of the State Chamber, The Texas Association of Business.