After what he describes as the Republican Party’s victory of “pettiness and bigotry” over “pragmatism and principle”, Bexar, Texas County Criminal Court Judge Carlo Key has decided to leave the GOP to run next year as a Democrat instead.
In a video posted to his website, Key, who was first elected in 2010, echoed and reversed Ronald Reagan’s explanation for leaving the Democratic Party to become a Republican in 1962. “Make no mistake,” Key says, “I have not left the Republican Party. It left me.”
“I cannot tolerate a political party that demeans Texans based on their sexual orientation, the color of their skin or their economic status,” Key explains in detailing some of his reasons for the party switch. “I will not be a member of a Party in which hate speech elevates candidates for higher office rather than disqualifying them. I cannot place my name on the ballot for a political party that is proud to destroy the lives of hundreds of thousands of federal workers over the vain attempt to repeal a law that would provide health care to millions of people throughout our country”…
Key’s brief video, along with a text transcript of his remarks, follow below…
These principles have served as the bedrock upon which my rulings have been made. They are also my driving force. That is why I can no longer be a member of the Republican Party. For too long, the Republican Party has been at war with itself. Rational Republican beliefs have given way to character assassination. Pragmatism and principle have been overtaken by pettiness and bigotry. Make no mistake. I have not left the Republican Party. It left me.
I cannot tolerate a political party that demeans Texans based on their sexual orientation, the color of their skin or their economic status. I will not be a member of a party in which hate speech elevates candidates for higher office rather than disqualifying them. I cannot place my name on the ballot for a political party that is proud to destroy the lives of hundreds of thousands of federal workers over the vain attempt to repeal a law that would provide health care to millions of people throughout our country.
That is why I am announcing that I am now running for re-election as a Democratic candidate for County Court of Law 11 in the 2014 elections. My principles have led me to the Democratic Party. I can only hope that more people of principle will follow me. If you believe these values are your values, then I respectfully ask you to join me and let’s work together to keep dignity, fairness and respect for rule of law in our county courts.
Good on him but we really do not need any cons dressing as dems. We have one in the White House and I do not want anymore.
Perhaps Carlo Key is trying to save his ass in the next election when Van de Putte runs as Lt. Gov. with Davis as Gov. Van de Putte would sweep the straight ticket votes in Bexar which would screw over any Republican. It is as simple as that.
In this case…and perhaps others, partisan election of judges us unproductive.
Rather convenient speculation on your part, Davey Crocket, don’t you think?
It permits you to ignore the substance of what Judge Key has to say because that substance exposes the absurdity of the right wing views you’ve repeatedly left in past comments.
Ernie,
The Democratic party is replete with:
“Pragmatism and principle”
and devoid of:
“hate speech elevates candidates”
That is way Carlo is changing parties??
He is changing parties to keep his job. Pure and simple.
Nice try, Davey Crocket @4, but as my friends from the Lone Star State would say, “That dog can’t hunt.”
Judge Key is leaving the Republican Party because, thanks to the Tea Party, the very concept of a “moderate Republican” has become an oxymoron.
Judge Key has integrity, which is a quality that is sorely lacking in a 21st Century GOP, whose extortion like tactics are all too reminiscent of “organized crime.”
http://www.expressnews.com/news/news_columnists/brian_chasnoff/article/Local-conflict-played-into-judge-s-defection-4914288.php
Yup, right-winger sees the light–bullshit!
Ernie @5
Proves you don’t have any friends from Texas. Check your idioms. I don’t know any Texans that have used that phrase.
Swung and missed again, Davey.
I have lots of friends from TX including my daughter-in-law, her family. Actually, the idiom is “that dog don’t hunt,” but I’ve always thought “can’t” fit better.
Oh, and as to your “right winger sees the light,” Davey, like most wing nuts, you seem totally unaware of the fundamental distinction between honest conservatives, like President Eisenhower, and “right wingers,” like Fred Koch, father of Charles and David and charter member of the John Birch Society — an organization that was so extreme they accused Eisenhower of being a Communist agent.
Real conservatives should abandon the 21st Century GOP because the fascists who have taken over the party only pretend to be fiscal conservatives when they are seeking to eliminate the core function of government expressly recognized by the U.S. constitution–“to promote the general welfare.”
The right wingers who pretend to be concerned about fiscal responsibility when trying to demolish Social Security and Medicare are the same hypocrites who never met a corporate subsidy, bank bailout, war or weapons system they didn’t like.
Kidos at @8
Glad you admit your error.
Ernie @9
Well I am not a wing nut. You are calling me names! At least you did not call me a dimwit.
I am a libertarian–less government, not more.
If you think government can solve anything consider the healthcare.gov fubar.
oops davey @10 should have been “Kudos to Ernie”
Davey Crocket @11 wrote:
Odd, that’s the same monicker that the Koch brothers, and the other billionaire apostles of inequality, use to describe themselves.
FDR applied a different label.
Would you have been more comfortable, Davey, if I’d used the word “fascist” instead of “wing nut” to describe your ideology?
I certainly believe that the word “fascist” appropriately applies to the right wing fanatics who were behind the shutdown.
Key’s reference to “pettiness” was exemplified by your latching on to my use of “can’t” in place of “don’t” as if that had anything to do with substance.
That gets us back to your unwillingness to accept the sincerity behind Judge Key’s statement that he is leaving a Republican Party where principle and reason have “given way to character assassination,” “pettiness and bigotry.”
Your speculative and desperate search for some Machiavellian reasons that would otherwise explain why a principled conservative, like Judge Key, would part company with the fanaticism that is the hallmark of the Koch brand of libertarianism only serves to prove the judge’s point.
Indeed, your speculations are precisely the type of “character assassination” one would expect from those upon whom Judge Key’s reasons for leaving the GOP reflect badly.
Davey Crocket said @ 4:
That, of course, could very well be true. Of course, other than your completely partisan speculation, supported by zero evidence right now, it’s probably less fool-hearty to go with evidence that does exist: 1) Judge Key’s statement, as transcribed in full above. 2) The fact that he’s correct about the Republican Party now completely off the rails and no longer a legitimate governing party.
Other than that, you are welcome to pull whatever partisan speculation you want out of your ass, as usual. Have a great day in your delusion bubble, amigo!
Brad and Ernie,
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/10/grayson-ratchets-up-tea-party-kkk-flap-saying-the-truth-hurts/
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/01/abc-news-jonathan-karl-reports-the-newfound-civility-didnt-last-long-political-rhetoric-in-congress-doesnt-get-much/
It is funny how you guys love “principled conservatives” when they turn hard left. What is principled about that…and what were those principles any way?
Maybe you can get Carlo to blog on your site with the moniker: “Hard Right Conservative” and then launch into some left wing diatribe. It would be entertaining for me at least…you know like that other guy that offers guest blogs…cannot remember his name because he is such a non-entity.
RE “can’t vs. don’t” give me a frigging break…you guys have impugned old davey since the first day he showed up here on the bradley blog.
No matter…the wind is blowing the right way these days as liberals are getting their come uppance with the total clustarfark of obamacare.gov + red lines + screwing over the Saudis + NSA reading your email and monitoring your phone + Benghazi + IRS + gun running + grenade running + AGW!! It is true theater!
The only thing in your favor is the MSM sucking up…Rachel Mad dow…poor soul.
For old davey…it is true entertainment… marveling at the blind ignorance of the “principled” left.
Davey, I’m sure you believe that what you believe is correct. However, apart from everything I read above, one thing is certain: this is a clear symptom of the beginning of “mainstream Texans” moving away from the Republican ignorant jingoism that has dominated the state since Ms. Ann got beat through character assassination. I lived in Texas for many years, and you’ve picked a losing horse, son. Redneck Republicans may still carry the election in 2014, but just wait until 2016. Then Texas will vote Dem for a hundred years or more. Where YOU gonna go, bro?
Two very simple yes or no questions for you Davey Crocket.
Do you support the 16 day Tea Party shutdown of the U.S. government?
Do you support the threat to refuse to raise the debt ceiling?
Ernest Canning hit a homerun in answering Davey Crocket. Sadly, Davey Crocket cannot take Judge Carlo’s comments seriously because they are a direct indictment of his own radical beliefs. Apparently he has no concept of how a principled person really thinks or acts. His avoidance of actually dealing with the substance of the Judge’s remarks are telling. He can only say that the Judge is lying or intentionally being deceitful because his belief system will not allow him to regard the Judge’s statements as truthful or worthy of respect. He cannot give those statements any credibility because if he did, it condemns him directly for his involvement with such extreme Reich wing behavior.
ok, so when’s he coming out of the closet?