Dr. Phil Critiques Texas Democrats Over Legislative Walkout

On Monday’s episode of “The Real Story,” Dr. Phil McGraw expressed his disapproval of Texas Democrats for retreating to a blue state like Illinois.

The House Democrats in Texas left the state to prevent Congress from gaining the necessary quorum to pass a new map that could potentially benefit Republicans with up to five additional seats. Dr. Phil even suggested that lawmakers should be arrested. You can catch the episode on his YouTube channel.

“I’m not a political expert. I can’t really evaluate the ins and outs of gerrymandering, but what I do know is that Democrats are just setting themselves up for criticism,” Dr. Phil stated. “[Republican Texas Governor] Abbott should take action and arrest them. Regardless of your political stance, we can’t condone this kind of behavior. These elected officials have responsibilities.”

He continued, “If you’re unhappy, then you should take it to court, vote, or simply perform better to win the election. Just don’t run away. You have to be present to do your job. Listen, debate, and present your points without being hypocritical.”

Despite nine Democrats exiting the chamber before the vote, the Texas Senate approved a new Congressional district on Tuesday.

The criticism faced by Texas lawmakers for fleeing to Illinois stems from Illinois being known as one of the heavily gerrymandered states.

On August 4th, the Texas House passed a measure seeking an arrest warrant for lawmakers who failed to attend the vote for the proposed new congressional map. On the same day, Governor Abbott ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to take action against those lawmakers, with support from Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Additionally, Republican Senator John Cornyn announced on Thursday that he would assist in locating the fleeing lawmakers after the FBI suggested potential violations of state bribery laws regarding funds from outside groups.

Doug Shane, an advisor to former President Bill Clinton, commented on Friday that the actions of the fleeing lawmakers do not reflect well on the Democratic Party.

“I perceive this as very damaging to the party’s image. For those claiming we need to take an offensive stance, it’s not about standing up and fighting; it’s about what they have done,” Shane remarked. “This sends a negative message and undermines voter trust.”