James Lankford beats back national Tea Party groups to win Oklahoma Senate primary

[Formerly Once-Ler]

http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2550144/

National Tea Party groups tried to sell state Sen. T.W. Shannon as the conservative candidate in the race to succeed Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. But Oklahoma Republicans didn't buy it.

Instead, they boosted Rep. James Lankford to victory in a primary Tuesday by a wide margin, avoiding a run-off that was predicted by many.

The Associated Press called the race for Lankford around 9:30 p.m. Eastern time, confirming that Lankford won more than 50 percent of the vote. The victory in deep-red Oklahoma all but guarantees Lankford a seat in the Senate.

The outcome avoids a run-off to extend a race in which national Tea Party groups have thrown their support behind Shannon, fashioning him as the conservative candidate in yet another Tea Party-versus-establishment showdown.

But many Republicans have balked at that clichéd portrayal of the race. Although Lankford is the fifth-ranking Republican in the House, his record in Congress has been a reliably conservative one.

Lankford outraised Shannon by more than $1 million, but he received less support from outside groups. Recently, Lankford has been the target of attacks by the Senate Conservatives Fund and Oklahomans for a Conservative Future, as well as a letter of support for Shannon signed by former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and GOP Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Ted Cruz of Texas.

Washington insiders like James Lankford will never change Washington, said the SCF ad supporting Shannon. The letter from Palin, Lee and Cruz echoed that theme, claiming Lankford has the backing of the Washington establishment.

Coburn did not officially endorse either candidate in the race, but he leapt to Lankford's defense recently against outside attacks, calling him a man of absolute integrity.

Coburn, who has fought off prostate cancer, announced in January that he will retire at the end of this year, prompting a special election.

[Machiavelli]

The Tea Party Blew It: National conservatives came up short Tuesday in Mississippi and Oklahoma. Maybe the Republican base just isn't as angry as they thought.
Molly Ball
The Atlantic
June 25, 2014

...If there's any segment of the GOP that ought to have egg on its face, it's national Tea Party groups and figureheads. Dave Brat, the obscure college professor who took out Cantor, won largely without the help of these groups. Meanwhile, when they were the most heavily involved, in races that should have been favorable to them, they couldn't close the deal. The organizations claiming to speak for the Tea Party nationally do not appear to be plugged into the real grassroots or have the ability to mobilize effectively in support of the candidates they favor...

Read the whole thing.

[mountaineer]

The organizations claiming to speak for the Tea Party nationally do not appear to be plugged into the real grassroots or have the ability to mobilize effectively in support of the candidates they favor

No kidding. So-called national tea party groups are not the tea party at all. Most of them appear to be opportunists.

[GourmetDan]

...The organizations claiming to speak for the Tea Party nationally do not appear to be plugged into the real grassroots or have the ability to mobilize effectively in support of the candidates they favor...

That's actually a good thing, since 'national Tea Party leadership' organizations are almost certainly infiltrated and controlled by the same people who control the Rats and GOP...

[truth_seeker]

No kidding. So-called national tea party groups are not the tea party at all. Most of them appear to be opportunists.

They mislead locals into thinking they have a chance, get involved with fundraising, get commissions from funds when raised, and again when ads are placed.

Locals are naïve, go along, thinking their Tea Party leaders are in it for the same reasons they are.

If the nationals were HONEST, they would advise the locals to leave the incumbent alone, for he fits the local electorate very well.

But since the nationals can make money for themselves, they encourage taking shots at the incumbents everywhere.

Poorly focused, and plenty of reasons to be suspect of the nationals, for sure. Even such heros as Jim
Demint.

[Oceander]

They mislead locals into thinking they have a chance, get involved with fundraising, get commissions from funds when raised, and again when ads are placed.

Locals are naïve, go along, thinking their Tea Party leaders are in it for the same reasons they are.

If the nationals were HONEST, they would advise the locals to leave the incumbent alone, for he fits the local electorate very well.

But since the nationals can make money for themselves, they encourage taking shots at the incumbents everywhere.

Poorly focused, and plenty of reasons to be suspect of the nationals, for sure. Even such heros as Jim
Demint.

Actually, if the nationals were honest, they'd tell the local tea partiers to focus on their own local people and work out what's best for their particular local situation.  There is no reason to think, a priori, that all incumbents are, for that reason alone, suited to their localities - it is just as likely that the local constituency has become tired of the incumbent - but there is every reason to think that any approach to a local issue must come from the locals themselves, and cannot be driven by the nationals; that is, the nationals should be following the locals, not leading them on.

[speekinout]

Actually, if the nationals were honest, they'd tell the local tea partiers to focus on their own local people and work out what's best for their particular local situation.  There is no reason to think, a priori, that all incumbents are, for that reason alone, suited to their localities - it is just as likely that the local constituency has become tired of the incumbent - but there is every reason to think that any approach to a local issue must come from the locals themselves, and cannot be driven by the nationals; that is, the nationals should be following the locals, not leading them on.

 

[sinkspur]

No kidding. So-called national tea party groups are not the tea party at all. Most of them appear to be opportunists.

Some of us have been saying this for months and months. The SCF (now led by that loser, Ken Cucinelli), Heritage Action, and Tea Party Nation (and that grifter Jenny Beth Martin) are nothing but fundraising organizations who pour their money into the pockets of the organizers.  Very little of it actually gets to the candidates or the races. 

These scumbags are making seven figures trashing other Republicans and they should be shunned by EVERYBODY, the Tea Party base included.  You're a sap and a sucker if you give money to the SCF, the most excreble of the group.  Cucinelli got rewarded for losing. 

[Carling]

Some of us have been saying this for months and months. The SCF (now led by that loser, Ken Cucinelli), Heritage Action, and Tea Party Nation (and that grifter Jenny Beth Martin) are nothing but fundraising organizations who pour their money into the pockets of the organizers.  Very little of it actually gets to the candidates or the races. 

These scumbags are making seven figures trashing other Republicans and they should be shunned by EVERYBODY, the Tea Party base included.  You're a sap and a sucker if you give money to the SCF, the most excreble of the group.  Cucinelli got rewarded for losing.

I agree with you 100%, and have for months.  I don't agree with the smear tactics that those associated with Cochran undertook in Mississippi, though, when they trashed a fellow GOP.  I hope you'll have the sense of honor to call Cochran's enablers "scumbags," too.