An already contentious Republican primary in Texas just got a little more contentious after Rep. Tony Gonzalez described his primary opponent as a "neo-nazi" while appearing on CNN.
Brandon Herrera, also known as "The AK Guy" on YouTube, challenged Gonzales for his House seat and forced a run-off back in March. Since then, the embattled congressman has been on the attack, trying to shore up fundraising and hold Herrera at bay.
That led to this recent commentary that has caused a firestorm on the right.
My failure of a Congressman @TonyGonzales4TX went on CNN this morning calling @mattgaetz and @RepBobGood Klansmen, and me a “known neo-Nazi.”
— Brandon Herrera (@TheAKGuy) April 21, 2024
This is the death spiral ladies and gentlemen.
He has to cry to his liberal friends about me, because Republicans won’t listen anymore. pic.twitter.com/Wal5m3NclP
Whatever Gonzales believes on policy (he voted for red flag laws in 2021), running to CNN to bash another Republican is always ill-advised. To then use that platform to launch unfounded claims of neo-nazism steps well over the line.
As someone who owns firearms, I was exposed to Herrera in the gun world before he decided to run for office. I have never seen anything to indicate he is a "neo-nazi," and if Gonzales is going to make that assertion, it demands actual evidence. Labeling one's opponent a nazi without sufficient cause is a tactic of the far-left. Republicans are supposed to be better than that, and it hands unnecessary fodder to Democrats.
Illustrating that, Margeret Hoover parroted Gonzales's attack on PBS.
HOOVER: Well look, for Tony Gonzales, he's got he has a primary – a runoff election coming in several weeks against a Trump-endorsed neo-Nazi. He might – Meanwhile, he’s in the largest segment of the border. I mean, the only fight he cares about is the border question.
Not only is Herrera not a neo-nazi, he is not even endorsed by Donald Trump. It was Tony Gonzales who was last endorsed by the former president during the 2020 election.
I don't live in Gonzales' district, and ultimately, his fate will be up to the voters there. It's not my place to take a side or make an endorsement in the race. With that said, I would highly advise against continuing down this road. Republicans should observe some basic boundaries when it comes to throwing around the word "nazi," specifically against other Republicans.
Yes, there are legitimate neo-nazis who exist, but Brandon Herrera is not one. If Gonzales is truly the best man for the job, he should stick to policy and not stoop to the level of the mainstream press and blue-haired post-grads.
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