Mullin: FEC ‘Punts’ On Company Advertising Decision

From Markwayne Mullin

UPDATE: Markwayne Mullin said tonight he will not appear in new commercials for his plumbing company.

In the latest example of how little common sense is exercised in Washington, D.C., the Federal Election Commission punted instead of making a decision on Mullin Plumbing advertisements.

“To say that we are frustrated is an understatement. I asked the FEC for a clarification, going above and beyond to stay in compliance, and to protect my business with our more than 120 employees and their families,” said businessman Markwayne Mullin, a candidate for Congress in the 2nd District of Oklahoma.

“But the FEC did what the federal government does all too often, so instead of getting an answer, I got nothing,” said Mullin. “They’re making it as hard as possible for a businessman to run for Congress.”

Not only did the FEC decline to issue clear guidance, but they waited until the last possible minute to say anything at all.

“They waited until the last required day to consider the matter, then they delayed the decision. And today, even after a week-long delay, the FEC commissioners can’t even agree on their own rules,” said Mullin. “This is exactly what’s wrong with the federal government: unreasonable regulations, delays, inaction, burdens on businesses. This is why I’m running for Congress.

“We’ve literally seen four different opinions by the FEC lawyers. They first said Mullin Plumbing ads needed a ridiculous disclaimer, then they said the ads didn’t need a disclaimer, then we got a combination, and at the end of the day, the commissioners ended in gridlock unable to reach a decision.”

The FEC is a six-member commission and it takes four votes to get a ruling.

“While politicians can continue to be politicians as they run for higher office, business owners are punished,” said Mullin. “It’s the ultimate double standard, to suggest that politicians with all of the advantages of the political establishment can continue to do what they do, but a business owner has to scale back a business that provides a living for more than 120 employees and their families.”

Mullin Plumbing has aired its advertisements for about 10 years.


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  1. Forrest Country, 31 May, 2012

    Sounds like the “evil monster” played right into Mullin’s hands! What a perfect example of why we need non-politicians (elected AND appointed, or should that be ‘annointed’) in Washington!

  2. Ava, 31 May, 2012

    The FEC has not officially made a ruling on this case. This statement may be a bit early.

  3. Hope Williams, 31 May, 2012

    Mr Mullin seems to be attempting a mighty spin on what the FEC has actually offered an opinion on. From the FEC report; “The Commission concludes that the television and radio advertisements and radio program paid for by the Mullin Companies are electioneering communications.”

    Read the FEC draft opinion here; http://saos.nictusa.com/aodocs/1210221.pdf

  4. mikes1voice, 31 May, 2012

    Your quote is from the DRAFT opinion written by staff; the commissioners can change it or do nothing with it, or approve it as presented by staff…is is their call. Until they take action, however, it is nothing more than a recommendation.

  5. Jonathan, 31 May, 2012

    Are his staff and consultants intentionally trying to make him sound whiny? It’s fine to highlight the inefficiency of the federal bureaucracy, but all of his official communications on this issue since it first surfaced have the ring of petulance.

    This sentence, “But the FEC did what the federal government does all too often, so instead of getting an answer, I got nothing,” is great. But they follow it up with, “They’re making it as hard as possible for a businessman to run for Congress.”, which is both dumb and problematic.

    Instead of framing the issue as a minor distraction from a candidate’s goal of serving his constituents and providing a voice for their values and principles, they frame it as a major roadblock erected by a political establishment bent on preventing Markwayne Mullin’s ascent to Congress, because he’s a businessman. This is, of course, lunacy. And assuming they know that, it fails even as spin. Such is the case for most of his material and campaign trail commentary which highlights his personal accomplishments where it is not warranted, expected or asked of him.

    He always falls back on that line, or variations of it, at every turn on the trail, simply because it’s actually what’s on his mind. He isn’t a candidate of vision or principle. He’s not a policy guy. He’s interested in the promotion of Markwayne Mullin and Markwayne Mullin’s personal interests, and he is staunchly opposed to things which make that more difficult. That is the essential distillation of his entire message.

    If you attend an event where Mullin speaks, you better get ready to hear a whole lot of singular, first-person, possessive pronouns.

  6. Gayle, 31 May, 2012

    Mullin was asking for an “exception”. The FEC’s action to not rule means that he did not get the exception and the ads are electioneering.They didn’t punt, they just refused to give the spoiled rotten kid the ice cream that he wanted!

  7. Ken, 02 June, 2012

    This is just the tip of the MarkWayne Mullin iceberg! Claremore Daily Progress from Friday, June 1st. The democrats are just praying the MWM is the nominee. Rob Wallace, the Muskogee prosecutor, will eat him for lunch.

    http://bit.ly/LTAxSk

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