Exchange Over 'Purity' of Vote Puts Texas G.O.P. Firebrand in Spotlight

[Judi Lynn]

Dave Montgomery and Nick Corasaniti 7 hrs ago

AUSTIN, Texas — It was an awkward few minutes for Briscoe Cain, the conservative provocateur and handpicked Republican chair of the State House Elections Committee, as he fumbled through his defense last week of the restrictive new voting bill his party is moving through the Texas Legislature.

Representative Rafael Anchia, a Democrat, was grilling Mr. Cain, the bill’s sponsor, about a phrase in it calling for the “purity of the ballot box,” asking Mr. Cain if he knew that it evoked the discriminatory voting restrictions of Texas’ Jim Crow past.

“Are you aware that references to purity of the ballot box used throughout this country’s history has been a justification for states to disenfranchise groups they deem unfit to vote or somehow lacking?” Mr. Anchia asked.

. . .

Mr. Cain had only four years of legislative experience and a reputation as a brash and unpredictable combatant for his deeply conservative causes. In 2018, he crashed the state Democratic Party convention and handed out lawn signs that said, “This home is a gun-free safe space.”

More:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/exchange-over-purity-of-vote-puts-texas-gop-firebrand-in-spotlight/ar-BB1gDFn4?li=BBnb7Kz

[Jilly_in_VA]

1. You really have to see this

to appreciate it. I think it's on MaddowBlog, or it may be on You Tube. It is worth watching. I saw it on Rachel Maddow's show originally and since have re-watched it twice and it's funnier every time. Rep. Anchia is masterful and Briscoe Cain looks like a middle schooler in front of the principal, or in front of his teacher when he's not prepared. By the end, he is literally shaking in his shoes. Go find and watch!

[Prof. Toru Tanaka]

2. The Briscoe Kid gets taken to school...

Good job, Rep. Anchia!

[Judi Lynn]

3. Found the video, and thank you: "Rep. Ancha Questions Author of Texas Voter Suppression Bill"

[Judi Lynn]

4. This video is the entire 25 minutes of questioning, even more heavenly than the short version.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. Cain is a bad attorney and an idiot