He has gone too far.
Update 2: Today I spoke with Smitherman’s assistant and she confirmed that he was in the office yesterday afternoon so he retweeted this from a state computer.
Maybe Smitherman should pay more attention to his job.
New research reveals Texas does not enforce oil and gas regulations
UPDATE:
Texas Tribune reports
Top Oil and Gas Regulator Retweets Noose Image
by Kate Galbraith April 11, 201
I wonder if there is still justice for all. From the comments: via Texas Tribune on Facebook
“Threatening other officials is a Class C or D felony, usually carrying maximum penalties of 5 or 10 years under 18 U.S.C. § 875, 18 U.S.C. § 876”
National Press:
- Salon, “Perry’s appointee’s noose tweet sparks outrage“
- Mother Jones, “Texas GOPer Tweets Image of Noose for Republicans Who Even Debate Background Checks“
- Huffington Post, “Barry Smitherman, Texas Railroad Commission Chairman, Retweets Noose With GOP Senators’ Names“
- Washington Times, “Texas official slammed for re-tweeting noose image after gun vote“
- Think Progress, “Rick Perry Appointee Tweets A Picture Of A Noose, Accuses Pro-Gun Regulation Senators Of ‘Treason’“
- Opposing Views, “Texas Railroad Chairman Barry Smitherman Tweets Hanging Noose Picture, Republican Names“
- Texas Tribune, “Top Oil & Gas Regulator Retweets Noose Image“
- State Impact NPR, “Top Oil & Gas Regulator Retweets Noose Image“
- Houston Chronicle,”Treason? Texas RR Commission Chair criticizes Republicans opposing gun filibuster, re-tweets image of a noose“
- Dallas Observer, “Barry Smitherman Retweets Image of Noose, Accompanied by Names of Senators Who Voted To Consider Gun Safety Proposals“
- Burnt Orange Report, “Texas Railroad Commissioner Barry Smitherman Posts Awful Tweet“
A weak apology was issued today.
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The Republican’s circular firing squad, I love it.
The RRC is the best TxTWO in the world. (TxTWO = Texas Tax Wasting Organization)
Well, it’s pretty common knowledge that Mr. Smitherman is being groomed for perhaps taking on Senator John Cornyn’s seat when he retires. So in that context, this is a pretty good political move in his eyes: courting the NRA with a pretty dramatic move. But as an American, I find it really demeaning to members of Congress to threaten to accuse them for treason just because they dared to think for themselves, do what they believe is best for the nation, and disregard the “party line”. And the image of a hangman’s noose conjures up visions of the “Old Wild and Wooly West” justice, is a political stroke-of-genius propaganda imaging, which really pleases all the nostalgic politicos and voters of today who are reliving those times conjuring up John Wayne movie solutions to everything they see as “wrong” for the country. BTW, “party line” as a phrase, at least until recent times in the US, was a phrase used to describe the dictatorial style of the Communist Party–the one-party system in control of the Soviet Union in its prime. Members who dared to think for themselves were sent to a gulag, or eliminated. Tsk. tsk. So interesting that a patriotic Republican who claims to be rabidly for Freedom, Democracy, and the Constitutional rights of all Americans cannot honor and respect those same rights in members of the US Congress who dare to think for themselves. Seems like Mr. Smitherman believes in a one-party system for the United States of America. And he probably cheered the fall of Communism as a form of tyrannical government. There’s just no end to the irony in his statement and his political philosophy or behavior. Will we really want him as our next Senator?? On the other hand, I am grateful to Mr. Smitherman for calling out these persons who voted in support of gun safety (i.e. safety of adults and children in homes, theaters, schools, Army bases, etc.) contrary to the express “orders” of the Republican Party. I intend to contact each one and let them know I am grateful that they put their conscience and their judgment of what they believe is the right thing to do for their fellow Americans over the wishes and express orders of their political party. We need more of these honest kind of persons in Congress.
I’m going to contact them too with a modest campaign donation as a thank you.
Well, I know what a noose connotes to me, and I’m betting that’s exactly his intention–to appeal to all the racist morons who make up the base to which he is appealing. It’s no accident that there have been other examples of noose imagery showing up in Republican and Tea Party propaganda under the administration of the first black president of the United States. He wants to call out treason? I want to call out exactly what this is, a terroristic threat.
EXACTLY.
Smitherman is trying to get NRA support in his bid for higher office. That’s why he fought the Sunset Commission bill requirement to resign if running for higher office. He want’s tax payers to pay him for campaigning, which he has already started.
This incident shows he has no impulse control and very poor judgment.
I wonder if he is using taxpayer resources such as RRC staff, computers, printer, and cell phones to distributes this propaganda?
As always, you cut to the heart of the problem. I will make sure to find out.
Barry Smitherman is a disgrace, and while this ‘tweet’ is not originally from him, it is being promoted by him, hence agreement.
If memory serves, Smitherman was one of the politicians calling for Armendariz’s head when he made the ‘crucify’ remarks, referred to ‘inappropriate’ amongst other things.
That being the case, I think Mr. Smitherman should be forced into resigning himself as his posting comments expressing his opinion about the current gun control debate are over the line, even without the veiled racist accompanying threat. And this IS racism in in most truest form, as those who are actually convicted of treason are not hung, even when given the death penalty.
Given that his opinion is about GUN control, I would have thought he would have used a picture of of GUN, not a rope.
I will be sending emails and calling my representatives demanding they call for his immediate termination. I’m also going to call that jackass in Oklahoma who went on a mission to unseat Armendariz, and see if he can perhaps explain what the difference is between what Armendariz said and what Smitherman is saying.
This made me laugh. I had forgotten about Smitherman’s over the top response to the Dr. Al comment. I think the whole Range – EPA thing is going to come unwound pretty soon.
Please let me know what the jackass in Oklahoma says.