Double Standards: "Interfering" in Another Governmental Entity

"Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."
Matthew 7:5

One of the more obnoxious criticism's we've heard concerning the current Travis County courthouse bond campaign is the notion that Austin City Council members Houston and Zimmerman should "butt out" of issues concerning another governmental entity.  This was a major argument during the City Council hearing last month.  We've also seen this point made on social media.

In that spirit, consider how Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt and Austin Mayor Steve Adler spent their morning:

Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Sarah Eckhardt, wading into the volatile debate over immigration, blasted state Republican leaders for blocking President Obama’s executive order that would allow millions of undocumented immigrants to avoid deportation.

The state’s lawsuit, which stopped Obama’s controversial “deferred action” order earlier this year, has become a major flashpoint between Democrats and Republicans ahead of the 2016 elections.

Appearing on stage with undocumented immigrants at the offices of the Workers Defense Project, Adler called on Gov. Greg Abbott to “meet with the immigrant families in our community and in our state to understand the harm that this lawsuit is causing these families."

“I urge these state leaders to drop opposition to these federal programs because of the benefits they can provide to our local communities,” Adler said. Eckhardt said the lawsuit was being waged by “those who wish to play politics with peoples’ lives” and declared that Travis County’s “economic success was built on immigration.”

Abbott filed the lawsuit against the Obama administration while he was still serving as attorney general, and his successor, Ken Paxton, has continued the fight. Both men are Republicans. Adler and Eckhardt are Democrats.

In other words, it's ok for local officials to "butt in" on national issues where they will have absolutely NO impact, but woe unto the local elected official who interferes with a corrupt scheme to build a playground for 1200 rich downtown lawyers.

Bottom Line: Mayor Adler and Judge Eckhardt have every right to express their opinion, we just wish the political class would extend the same courtesy to council members Houston and Zimmerman.