Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin delivered a sharp rebuke to former President Barack Obama over accusations of a Republican "power grab" in Texas.
According to Newsmax, Van Orden appeared on "Wake Up America" Thursday, dismissing Obama's claim that Texas Republicans are gerrymandering district lines to secure five seats in the upcoming midterm elections. He called the criticism nothing short of absurd.
Obama posted on X Tuesday, stating, "We can't lose focus on what matters – right now, Republicans in Texas are trying to gerrymander district lines to unfairly win five seats in next year's midterm elections." Van Orden fired back, suggesting Obama must be joking to level such a charge while ignoring similar tactics elsewhere.
Van Orden didn't hold back, urging people to examine the congressional maps of Illinois, a state Obama once represented in the Senate. He likened those district lines to random inkblot tests, implying a level of distortion that rivals any Texas plan.
He argued that Illinois, under current Democratic leadership with Gov. JB Pritzker, stands as one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation. The hypocrisy, he suggested, is glaring when Obama singles out Texas for scrutiny.
For Van Orden, the decision by Texas Democrats to flee to Illinois as a protest against redistricting is almost laughable. He called it "comically stupid" to spotlight gerrymandering from a state that exemplifies the practice.
On Sunday, many Texas House Democrats left the state in a desperate move to block new congressional maps pushed by Republicans. Their aim is to stall plans that could help preserve a slim GOP majority in the U.S. House for 2026.
A significant number of these lawmakers headed to Illinois, a destination Van Orden finds ironic given its own redistricting controversies. Their flight is framed as a last-ditch effort to derail the process.
Van Orden sees this as more than just political theater; it's a distraction from the broader history of map-drawing manipulation by Democrats nationwide. He contends Texas Republicans are simply ensuring districts align with the actual will of voters.
The core of Van Orden's argument is that Democrats have long redrawn maps to cement their influence, building power through strategic line-drawing over decades. He views the Texas GOP's efforts as a corrective measure, not an overreach.
Quoting Obama’s post about undermining democracy, Van Orden essentially turns the tables, asking why similar concerns aren’t raised about states under Democratic control. The selective outrage, he implies, reveals a double standard that undercuts the criticism.
This isn’t about grabbing power, Van Orden insists, but about reflecting the electorate’s true makeup in congressional representation. If anything, he suggests, the real undermining happens when one side cries foul only when it suits their narrative.
When asked by co-host Marc Lotter about the next big hurdle for Congress after the summer recess, Van Orden shifted focus to practical governance. As a member of the agriculture committee, he stressed the urgency of passing an updated farm bill to support the nation’s farmers.
He emphasized the vital role farmers play in feeding the country, calling for swift action to address their needs. Beyond that, Van Orden expressed pride in recent legislative wins under strong leadership, hinting at broader national progress.
While the redistricting spat grabs headlines, Van Orden’s pivot to policy reminds us that governing requires tackling real issues over political posturing. His message is clear: let’s redraw maps fairly, but let’s not forget the fields that sustain us.
