Posted on 10/02/2013 5:26:28 AM PDT by cotton1706
Texas Senator John Cornyn is in trouble with the tea party.
At the Texas Tribune policy conference last weekend six tea party leaders were asked if want a strong candidate to challenge Cornyn in the Republican primary.
Five of them said yes.
Listen 0:003:09Story airing on KERA 90.1
Included in that group were former gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina, who now heads We Texans a limited government group; Northeast Tarrant County Tea Party President Julie McCarty; and Republican state representatives Matt Krause from Fort Worth and Jonathan Stickland from Bedford.
The fifth and most vocal critic was JoAnn Fleming. Her email list for Grassroots America reaches tens of thousands of tea party activists across the state. She’s also the liaison between state tea party groups and the legislature.
“I believe that Sen. Cornyn has never been more vulnerable,” said Fleming. “If a credible candidate comes forward who can raise money, Sen. Cornyn will have a race on his hands.”
Fleming says she’s fed up with Cornyn for several reasons.
She says he served on a committee that raises money for Republican candidates but would not raise money for tea party contenders.
And she claims Sen. Cornyn has repeatedly declined to attend tea party town halls.
“We don’t like that because it makes him appear to be very establishment and we think elected officials work for us instead of the other way around,” she said.
Fleming says the final straw was Cornyn’s decision to oppose the talkathon waged by Texas’ junior senator Ted Cruz who wants to pass budget legislation that defunds Obamacare, even if it shuts down the federal government. Her message to Cornyn:
“If he’s got a better idea we need to hear it.”
Former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey who knows what it’s like to navigate the halls of Congress was the sixth member on the panel. He defended Cornyn.
“Let’s first recognize our senator is with us most of the time and we ought to be somewhat appreciative of that before we trade horses in midstream,” Armey suggested, only to have Strickland heatedly jump in.
Strickland says Cornyn was “dishonest” in claiming he wanted to defund Obamacare.
“The deception of acting like you are against something then voting to help it along that’s where I have a serious problem.
A spokesperson for Cornyn responded to the criticism by saying the senior senator has repeatedly called for killing Obamacare he just disagreed with Cruz’s tactics for doing that. She said that just last month Cornyn met with tea party leaders from Denton, Frisco and Addison, and he’s led the Senate fight for adding a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
But for some tea party activists there appears to be a disconnect.
Fleming says she’s talking with at least two elected officials who are interested in tea party backing for a primary campaign against Cornyn.
“I realized what a loser he is in 2010 when he was funding Charlie Crist here in Florida against Rubio in an open seat primary. He’s the problem in Washington.”
I think Cornball did the same in Kentucky, backing Mitch McConnell’s establishment pick (Trey Grayson) over Rand Paul.
Texas needs to find one good candidate like Ted Cruz and send Cornyn the way of Dewhurst.
Everyone wants to primary Cornyn. The question is finding a realistic candidate to rally behind.
I think Congress and its staff are considered essential workers. Go figure.
/johnny
Maybe, maybe not. Let’s have a primary contest and see how well Cornyn fares.
I’ll be there with bells on.
The person defending him is Dick Armey.
There’s a reason Dick is no longer a member of the House.
Cruz has no chance against Dewhurst. Dewhurst is a favorite and he’s backed by the Bushes.
Cruz is an unknown.
Never happen.
Oh...
Glenn Beck is pushing Louie Gohmert to run against Cornyn. Louie will be on with Glenn in a bit.
/johnny
———Dick Armey who knows what it’s like-——Dick Armey is or was a brilliant man but he was. He see’s the past and cannot extend his vision to a future.
The same is true of lamar Alexander. His useful days are past.
Just for info....
Texas
Primary Filing
Nov. 9, 2013, start
Dec. 9, 2013, ends
Primary Election
Mar. 4, 2014
Thus any challenger with any potential has a short time to step up and get in the race.
I support Dwayne Stovall who is running against Cornyn. He is a real conservative!
“Everyone wants to primary Cornyn. The question is finding a realistic candidate to rally behind.”
The more the better in Texas. Force a runoff! Just like last year.
I’ll vote for almost anyone over Cornholer, anyone except a community organizer type.
Medina!
And in Phil Gramm’s seat...
He sealed his fate in 2010 as NRSC chairman. He was quick to support Charlie Crist, now a Democrat, and ARLENE Spector, died a Democrat. Very embarrassing.
“He sealed his fate in 2010 as NRSC chairman. He was quick to support Charlie Crist, now a Democrat, and ARLENE Spector, died a Democrat. Very embarrassing.”
He also withheld funds from O’Donnell, Buck and Angle but had no problem funding Murkowski, who wasn’t even the republican nominee. But she was an incumbent so in his mind, she had to be protected.
At every turn, Cornyn either funded or endorsed the more moderate candidate over the conservative.
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