The Heart of Texas? - WSJ Editorial
The midterm election results in Texas werent exactly an occasion for Republican whoopin and hollerin. Ted Cruz narrowly held his Senate seat against Beto ORourke, and previously secure House Members such as John Culberson and Pete Sessions lost in the suburbs. Were going to guess the last thing most Texas Republicans thought they needed now is a controversy over Shahid Shafi.
Dr. Shafi came to the U.S. from Pakistan in 1990, is a surgeon, and is vice chairman of the Republican Party in Tarrant County, which includes Fort Worth. A faction of local Republicans are seeking a recall vote next month to turn him out of his party job. The excuse is that Islam is in contradiction with American values and the party.
That this factions initiative is an ugly post-election look for the party isnt lost on its leadership. Dr. Shafi has received support from Senator Cruz, Texas land commissioner George P. Bush and the county chairman who appointed him.
Dr. Shafi for his part isnt put off by the minirevolt. He says, Anyone wondering if one can be a practicing Muslim, which I am, a good American, which I am, and a Republican, which I amIm a living example that one can be all three.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-heart-of-texas-11544996457 (paid subscription)