https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2010-04-27/this-week-in-campaign-fail/

This Week in Campaign Fail

By Richard Whittaker, April 27, 2010, 4:38pm, Newsdesk

What do Glenn Beck, Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, and failed governor and agriculture commissioner candidate Kinky Friedman all have in common? They've all had great weeks on the campaign fail trail.

Remember last week, when Kinky "I Was a Democrat before you were born" Friedman was caught fundraising for arch-Republican Congressman Lamar Smith? Now it turns out that he's not a Republican: He'll hang out at any political event. Kinky has been announced as one of the headline speakers at June's Libertarian Party of Texas State Convention. Oh, and guess what? He'll be taking time to shill his new book, Heroes of a Texas Childhood.

At least Kinky is only annoying Democrats. That's small beans compared to wingnut extraordinaire and all-round charmer Rep. Leo Berman, who seems to be hell-bent on defying God's will. Appearing at a Taking Back America rally with his local congressman Louie Gohmert, Gov. Rick Perry, and unofficial GOP spokesman Glenn Beck, Berman told the assembled crowd, “I believe that Barack Obama is God’s punishment on us today, but in 2012, we are going to make Obama a one-term president." Er, Leo, shouldn't you just accept the divine judgment, rather than setting your strength against that vengeance?

Maybe he can consult with Beck on the will of God, since the modern day Father Coughlin recently claimed on his radio show that God is sending him "a plan that is not really a plan." However, Beck might be facing his own judgment day. Earlier this month, his Fox News boss Rupert Murdoch appeared on the Kalb Report. When asked about whether his "news" outlets should be supporting the Tea Party, he replied, "No. I don’t think we should be supporting the Tea Party or any other party." If Murdoch was serious about keeping his network fair and balanced, that could leave Beck with some awkward explaining to do.

Not to be outdone on the bad PR front, Berman's staff have announced that he's hoping to introduce his own version of Arizona's half-baked (and arguably unconstitutional) immigration bill next session.