Op-Ed: Fear, Fury, and the Fight for TX-03’s Soul

Op-Ed By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews.com

Texas’ 3rd Congressional District includes some of the fastest-growing and most dynamic communities in North Texas. From the historic charm of McKinney to the booming suburbs of Frisco and Allen, and the rapid rise of cities like Princeton and Melissa, TX-03 is home to a diverse cross-section of America. We’re teachers, small business owners, engineers, immigrants, veterans, and first-time homeowners. We don’t all vote the same—but most of us want the same things: safe neighborhoods, good schools, a fair shot at opportunity, and leaders who reflect our values—not inflame our divisions.

So what does it say about us when our congressman—who is supposed to represent everyone, regardless if you voted for him or not—spends days fanning the flames of division while a major U.S. city reels?

Let’s be blunt: there is an extremist undercurrent in TX-03. We’ve seen it in Facebook threads, in online echo chambers and overheated rhetoric. There are some who genuinely believe immigrants are the enemy, who would welcome martial law, and who wouldn’t flinch at the sight of Marines patrolling American streets with rifles in hand. Not long ago, those views were confined to the fringes and relegated to the dark corners of the internet.

So we have to ask: how many in TX-03 actually believe this? And more urgently —Is this the tone and vision we want tied to our community? Because if Rep. Keith Self’s X feed is any indication, he’s not just tolerating the most extreme voices. He’s echoing them — loudly.

On June 9, as protests erupted in Los Angeles following ICE raids, Self unleashed a flurry of inflammatory posts:

“Democrats are doubling and tripling down in support of the thugs pelting rocks and bricks at law enforcement… They supported the invasion of America. Now they are supporting the anarchy taking place on our soil.”
— @RepKeithSelf

In another post, he declared:

“When you hear Democrats say ‘peaceful protests,’ that’s usually code for arson, violence, and assault against law enforcement. Americans remember the summer of 2020 well…”
— @RepKeithSelf

And in what might be the most unsettling message of all, he posted:

“Illegal aliens are the real constituents of Democrats.”
— @RepKeithSelf

Let’s pause. That last comment isn’t just an immigration opinion—it’s a deliberate attempt to erase the legitimacy of political opponents. It doesn’t debate policy; it implies Democrats represent “illegals” rather than Americans. It’s dehumanizing, conspiratorial, and a direct insult to thousands of legal voters in his own district. How does that bring us together?

To be very clear: no one here supports violence against law enforcement. No one defends riots or thugs who harm ICE or DHS Agents. But Self’s rhetoric doesn’t draw those distinctions. It doesn’t encourage peace or unity. It accuses. It generalizes. It divides. And it does so under the name of “TX-03.”

Of course, calling this out isn’t likely to change Rep. Keith Self’s behavior—or suddenly make him tone down the rhetoric. He’s made it abundantly clear who he believes he’s speaking for—and who he thinks we are.

So the real question is: Are we going to stay silent and let him speak for all of us? If you voted for him, do you read those tweets and say, “Yep, that’s me. That’s what I believe”? Because like it or not, when your congressman tweets, he’s doing it with your name attached.

Let’s not dance around it:

Do you honestly believe Democrats—or Republicans, for that matter—are enemies of the state?

Do you think the phrase “peaceful protest” is just some secret code for terrorism?

Do you want to live in a country where our political rivals—and anyone who dares speak out—get silenced by military force at the end of a rifle?

Because that’s the logic baked into Rep. Self’s recent rhetoric.

And just to drive it home, he even mocked California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s concerns about troops on domestic patrol:

“You think our troops are that soft, @GavinNewsom?? Our troops are built for battle! No mud, no rain? This is luxury compared to most deployments!”
— @RepKeithSelf

This isn’t serious policy discourse. It’s performance. It’s trolling. It’s mean. And it fits a broader strategy: keep voters angry, keep them scared, and keep the conversation away from the issues that actually affect our daily lives—like voting for a bill he admitted would increase the national deficit by trillions.

Maybe you voted for Keith Self because you care about fiscal responsability, the economy, or simply because he was a Republican and nothing more mattered. Fair enough.

But take a step back and ask yourself: what are you actually getting in return?

You’re getting someone who tosses around words like “treason” and “anarchy” on an official govenment account, backed a bill that balloons the deficit, and stays silent on the real issues affecting us—while rushing to perform toughness and feigned outrage online for a national audience.

Is that really what you were hoping for?

Only you can answer that. But here’s the truth: In a democracy, silence is a form of consent. And if this isn’t the kind of leadership you believe TX-03 deserves, maybe it’s time to say—Rep. Self doesn’t speak for me.