Republican newsletter editor attacks his own Party

The following are excerpts from Express-News staff reporter Greg Jefferson’s article in the Metro Section of Sunday, July 16th, entitled “Republican ruffles political feathers of his own party with newsletter.”

The headline read like a jab from a Democrat out for a laugh. “Congressman Henry Bonilla RETIREMENT Party! You’re invited.”

It came in an email newsletter last week. But many of its readers-San Antonio area Republicans-weren’t likely to appreciate the joke, and a Democrat didn’t write it.

The writer was Joe Solis, a 37-year-old conservative activist who has become one of the party’s loudest gadflies. He is ahead of a largely member-less organization called the South Texas Republicans, but his megaphone is its weekly newsletter.

Bonilla, R-San Antonio has been a favorite barb of Solis……and last year Solis criticized US Sen. John Cornyn for not putting enough appearances in the region.

Some of his commentaries-and Solis himself-draw strong reactions in local GOP circles. Solis’ broadsides have angered many Republicans. Some simply disagree while others contend he’s breaking Ronald Reagan’s 11th commandment-thou shall not speak ill of a fellow Republican.

“This feeling that one can’t be critical is nonsense,” he said. “What is a true conservative to do? Sit down and act like a potted plant?”

Some of his columns wind up on the conservative SA Lightning Web Site and they occasionally pique the interest of talk show hosts, landing guest spots for Solis.

Gabe Quintanilla, a former chairman of the Bexar County Democratic Party said he has come to admire Solis' skills at getting his message out. “He has the potential to be the Democrats worst nightmare.”

Quintanilla said “He’s able to get his message out to a fairly wide audience…He is somebody they need to watch.”

Editor's note: The South Texas Republican Newsletter is emailed every Monday morning. An estimated 8-thousand local Democrats receive a copy of it, forwarded by fellow Democrats. Activist Democrat Madeleine Dewar's recent scathing condemnation of Republicans was suprisingly published in the newsletter.