Mike McCarville
There’ll be no large influx of Sooner Tea Party legislators next year.
That’s evident today after Tuesday’s voting, which gave the controversial STP no traction in the House or Senate. The voting did, however, give Jim Bridenstine a victory over incumbent 1st District Congressman John Sullivan. Bridenstine was “adopted” by the STP as one of its candidates, but the relationship was a distant one and he did not campaign as an STP selectee.
The STP’s effort to knock off incumbent Republicans it labeled as “not conservative enough” resulted in the two “wins” and four runoffs, which means its total wins could hit only six if all its candidates win their runoffs.
And the STP lost at least 13 races, often with candidates who didn’t get out of the single digits. Only one of its legislative candidates won outright.
STP candidates most often were crushed; Senator Mike Mazzei dispatched Ronda Vuillemont-Smith 73-27, Dan Newberry sent Mark Croucher packing, Senator Brian Crain took Kevin McDugle 53-47, Marian Cooksey defeated Bob Dani 55-45 and Senator Clark Jolley defeated Paul Blair 60-40. Elise Hall walked to victory and Gary Banz killed A. J. Bailey in Midwest City, 84-16 percent.
The STP did manage to oust one legislative incumbent, with Mike Turner defeating Rep. Guy Liebmann in northwest Oklahoma City.
The STP distributed thousands of “newspapers” in targeted districts with little or no apparent result. In some districts, it is speculated they hurt the candidates they were supposed to be helping.
I hate that the Tea Party has tried to claim Jim Bridenstine as one of their minions! Just because he has conservative values, does not mean that he is associated with them and it’s wrong of them to try and come to claim a winner, because of their overwhelming losses last night.
Hope the STP and Tulsa area Tea Parties got the message last night that Oklahomans don’t like their bully-stye, negative campaigning!
So you’re angry that the Tea Party voted for your candidate? Maybe Mr. Bridenstine would like to not count those votes.
With regard to identifying with the Tea Party, Mr Bridenstine used this banner on his website: “Republican Patriot for U.S. Congress”. Now to whom do you think he was appealing with that moniker?
Republican voters.
…and you wrote that with a straight face, right? Your cynicism is showing.
Sullivan losing is huge news…first incumbent to lose since 1994.
Thanks, Mike, for a good quick analysis on the results you highlighted.
— Pat
I am a resident of HD82 (Liebmann vs. Turner). I am also a Precinct Chair (139) and you can probably guess I am a guaranteed likely voter. I never received anything from the Sooner Tea Party, nor did my neighbors. I did receive a mailer paid for by OCPAC for Mr. Turner.
Charlie Meadows of OCPAC supported candidates who are in a runoff in: SD15, SD17, SD33, SD43, and HD 70. Candidates he supported won in HD60 and HD84, as well as 82.
STP supported many of the same candidates. Those who are in a runoff are: SD17, SD33, HD53, and HD73. Winners he supported are: HD60 and HD82.
Based on publicly available endorsements, it appears to me that OCPAC had a more significant impact in supporting non-establishment candidates, but there was crossover support by both groups. I know OCPAC has funds to donate, volunteers to help and advice for organizing, along with a very thorough candidate vetting process before helping anyone. I am not aware of any such diligence on the part of the Sooner Tea Party.
Perhaps too much blame and/or credit is being given, and the actual responsible parties are the candidates who spent their time and efforts to make our state a better place. My hat is off to them, and their families, for their determination and willingness to put themselves out there and give it their best shot.
The STP represented by Al Gerhart are all about revoking tort reform. This is the not so secret agenda of Mr. Gerhart. Their simpleminded claims of ‘right to a jury trial’ to overthrow a state’s right to regulate tort law fail miserably. If the legislature of Oklahoma cannot decide the rules of the courts, then who can…Obama?? Can Mr. Gerhart go away yet? He destroyed the campaign of my candidate Ron Paul.
The Tea Party is run by a group of folks with no idea how to influence an election. It takes more than caravans and speeches. If they would take the time to think out the changes and programs they would like to influence and articulate those to the voters they would have some influence. I went to the OKC Tea Party meeting at H & H Gun range and was treated to much bloviating by the moderator and no concrete action at all. In the end he set the next meeting for some retreat upcoming. 120 days until the election and the last thing we need is to take some time off. We are long overdue to get moving not keep sitting out and inaction. They bemoaned the lack of participation on the part of the public when they propose no action at all.
There are many sincere, concerned, civil folks active in the Tea Party movement. Many of them are unskilled politically, which allows the cynical, rude and crude bullies to manipulate them. The Sooner Tea Party is the best example; quite a few original activists have moved over to the Oklahoma Tea Party, or dropped out of tea party organizations because of some of the disagreeable tactics they have witnessed, and some of the personal attacks on men and women of character.
Gerhart has redefined RINO: anyone who disagrees with me, the great and power fool behind the curtain. If you disagree with him in the least you are a RINO…kinda like some calling a person a racist…what the hell does that mean anymore?
If you wish to make a difference, I would suggest two paths:
First, find a candidate you like. You will have more impact at the City or County level than you will at the Presidential or Congressional, but just find someone you like. Contact them, and ask what you can do. They ALWAYS need people to put signs out (AND pick up later!), knock on doors, call people – there are no end of tasks. Keep volunteering for them until the election – decide if you can help a day a week, every other week, every day, once a month – just pick a schedule and stick with it.
Second, get involved in your political party. You may not like political parties, but we’re stuck with them. Make it your own. Go to your precinct meetings. If you don’t know when or where those are, call the HQ – they’ll let you know. Go to your County, District and State Conventions. You will be committing to 4 meetings, but you will learn a lot, and see a lot, going to them. I think the fees for the GOP come to less than $50 combined for all 4 of those Conventions, so it’s not that expensive.
If you do the above two things, you will learn how you can help, and where you will be most effective. I would encourage anyone to do these things, and beyond that, READ. Educating yourself is vital, since at some point doing these things you will be challenged to make your case for or against a candidate or cause. Be ready for that, and recognize it for the opportunity it is – to gain a supporter!