Christians Under Fire

Christians Under Fire By Avi White | Jan 26, 2016 In what appears to be a desperate attempt to gain publicity, validate his progressive world view, and remove focus from the issues that really matter, San Antonio Express-News reporter Brian Chasnoff viciously attacked community leader Jeff Judson, who is running against liberal Republican Speaker Joe Straus, with the beyond the pale accusation of being an anti-Semite. It seems that every two years, in the closing weeks of the campaign season, Speaker Straus and his liberal media apologists pull their yarmulkas out of storage and begin attacking Straus’s political opponent and their allies for the “unforgivable” sin of asking their fellow Christians for their vote. What was Judson’s crime that earned him the anti-Semite label from Chasnoff? He simply mentioned that, as Speaker, Straus allowed a bill protecting religious freedom to die in the Texas House. The document in question did not mention Straus’s faith. It did not pit Christian against Jew. It simply reported that a religious freedom bill, important to both Christian’s and Jews failed to pass in a Texas House controlled by Straus’s hand-picked henchmen. Maybe Chasnoff doesn’t understand the importance of religious freedom or maybe he does and was simply trying to distort its meaning and importance to fit his preconceived narrative that if you oppose Joe Straus it must be because you are an anti-Semite, not because you disagree with his public policies, are upset by the inglorious death of so many conservative bills in Straus’ Texas House, or simply believe that after six terms and eleven years in office, it’s time for a change. Jeff Judson, just like the Christian evangelicals he was communicating with, are the strongest supporters of the Jewish people in the world. In fact, Judson’s public record of support of religious freedom and of the State of Israel is much stronger than any pronouncement made by Joe Straus since he was first elected as one of the state’s top three political leaders. It appears the only time Straus even makes it known he is Jewish is when he feels the need to score cheap shots against his political opponents.

The reality is that Jeff Judson is the only candidate in the race who is talking about the importance of supporting Israel and joining Texas Governor Greg Abbott in his call to ban Texas investments in Syria—a state controlled by real anti-Semites who are intent on destroying Israel and the Jewish people. That is why Jeff Judson has been endorsed by strong defenders of the Jewish people such as Pastor John Hagee and Dr. James Dobson. While we have come to expect faux accusations of racism leveled at every conservative Republican who dare oppose Obama’s liberal agenda, this one is all the more egregious because of who Jeff Judson is—a fervent and unapologetic supporter of the American Jewish community and of Israel. Rabbi Moshe Trepp, a member of the Judson campaign leadership team of Jeff Judson said: “The Jewish community both in America and in Israel have no better friend than Texas Evangelicals like Jeff Judson who have been strong and consistent supporters of Israel and of the Judeo-Christian values upon which our state and nation were founded.” As an observant, orthodox Jew, a proud Texan conservative, and a member of the Israeli Defense Forces, I was honored when Jeff Judson reached out to me and asked me to join his campaign. I have watched Jeff in action and I know that he is good Christian man who will never compromise his values. In these dangerous times, I appreciate that. It appears the only people attacking someone because of their faith in the House District 121 race are Brian Chasnoff and Speaker Joe Straus. Both owe Jeff Judson and his supporters an apology. Avi White is an orthodox Jew and a member of the Israeli Defense Forces.