Posted on 04/09/2014 10:51:32 AM PDT by cotton1706
Another Tea Party versus Republican establishment battle is brewing in this June's Oklahoma Republican U.S. Senate primary, and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has come out on the other side of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.
On Monday, Huckabee endorsed Congressman Jim Lankford (R-OK). In March, Palin endorsed Lankford's rival, T.W. Shannon, former Speaker of the House in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
On Wednesday of last week Tea Party favorite Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) endorsed Shannon. Then on Friday, Dr. Ben Carson also endorsed Shannon. The Senate Conservatives Fund, which is backing a host of Tea Party challengers around the country, is also backing Shannon over Lankford.
Shannon, 36, who served as an aide to former Congressman J.C. Watts (R-OK), was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2006. In 2013 he became the youngest Speaker of the House in the state's history. His campaign website claims he "has been coined by many 'the most conservative Speaker in State History.' "
Shannon resigned as Speaker in February when he announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. During his one year as Speaker, Shannon pushed several conservative bills through the House that became law. One law requires recipients of payments from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to work at least 20 hours per week. Another generates cash for the state through the sale of unused assets and property.
Shannon's opponent, Congressman Lankford, can also claim conservative credentials. He receives an 83% rating in the latest Heritage Action Scorecard, 1% better than retiring Senator Tom Coburn, generally considered one of the more conservative members of the Senate.
But Lankford's conservative credentials falter in light of his 2013 Club for Growth scorecard, where his 70% rating ranks him as only the 120th most conservative member of Congress.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
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Lankford's response: "Oh sh!t. I'm screwed."
Mark Levin also endorsed Shannon. A Black Conservative in the Senate would drive the Liberals bat $hit crazy.
Huckabee exists at the pleasure of the establishment. His job is to peel off social conservatives to split the conservative vote thereby increasing the chances of an establishment plurality victory.
You’re right on that.
A Clarence Thomas type in the Senate would be a lot of fun.
“Huckabee exists at the pleasure of the establishment. His job is to peel off social conservatives to split the conservative vote thereby increasing the chances of an establishment plurality victory.”
You’ve got it exactly right! He’s a McConnell stand-in. He tried the same thing in NC by endorsing some preacher, so Brannon would lose support. But it didn’t work. Brannon and Tillis are neck and neck and there WILL be a runoff with the two candidates.
BRING IT ON!
This scenario seems just about what one should expect, given the mind sets of these two candidate endorsers.
Hukabutt is an obese cornball third rate tv show host, who thinks he still wants to be a pres playa... Better practice that Mel Bay teach yourself guitar book Huk......
This happened with Todd Akin as well, with Michelle Bachmann and Huckabee supporting Akin, and Palin supporting someone else.
“This happened with Todd Akin as well, with Michelle Bachmann and Huckabee supporting Akin, and Palin supporting someone else.”
Palin supported Sarah Steelman, and guaranteed if a woman had been the nominee, there would have been no rape question that led to the MO seat remaining democrat and the IN seat going democrat. These establishment types know exactly what they are doing. Defeat conservatives at all cost!
Lets see. Who’s judgement would I trust more? There is Tax Hike Mike on one side and the other Palin and Lee. Yah, real tough call there.
There is a 3rd candidate - Randy Brogdon. He is really the most conservative. The guys on the Tulsa morning talk radio show - Pat Campbell - are all in for Brogdon. The are blind to the fact that an 89% Black conservative is better than 93% white conservative.
I will vote for Brogdon,
Lets look at the big picture - Another White Conservative in the Senate, or a Black Conservative from Oklahoma in the Senate.
Clarence Thomas drives the liberals crazy. So would TW Shannon.
Lankford isn’t that bad, they say Tom Cole is mentor and that’s not great but I’m sure he’d be ok.
But Shannon is more conservative, and yes his being Black is helpful, adding a second Black conservative to the Senate will drive them insane, they only have 1, Booker.
Palin made the correct choice. Duckabee is moron who’s endorsement I wouldn’t want.
Oklahoma has primary runoffs so we don’t have to worry about Brogdon throwing the election to Lankford.
For most liberals that would be a short drive.
Time to go donate to Shannon!
Shannon is more conservative than Lankford, and has the record (as state representative and Speaker) to prove it. And a Senator Shannon would drive liberals doubly crazy, since he’s half black and half American Indian, which are the two most heavily Democrat racial groups in America.
Huckabee endorsed Lankford because (i) Lankford and Huckabee are both establishment types and (ii) Lankford is really close to the state’s Baptist leadership, and Huckabee wants to stay on their good side. But Shannon also is a very active Baptist with strong ties to the church. That run-off should be a hoot.
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