In front of an increasingly enthusiastic crowd tonight, Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Michael Williams touted the experience of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and shot across the bow of his Democratic opponent, Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.).

“When Mr. Obama was choosing his running mate, he said the standard should be whether that individual is ready to be president,” Williams said. “But I have to ask: Shouldn’t the same standard apply to the Democrat at the top of the ticket? Americans need not risk our future and our peace on a false promise of hope.”

As the Lone Star delegation waved their cowboy hats in the air, Williams also blasted Democratic energy policies. Williams has served for almost a decade as head of the Texas government agency that oversees utilities and energy companies.

“With rising electricity rates and soaring gasoline prices, Democrats say ‘turn down the air in your home,’ and, ‘increase the air in your tires,’ Williams said. “That’s not an energy policy. … That is an ‘Obama-nation!’”

Both Obama and Williams are black.