Those of you who regularly follow me know that I think it’s more productive for Republicans to concentrate on defeating Democrats in general elections rather than conducting political purity contests in Republican primaries.
I wish Rep. Steve Stockman of Texas had listened.
Stockman has announced a primary challenge against incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, which is certainly a case in point. Sen. Cornyn has a 93 percent lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union. And the National Journal rates Cornyn as the second most conservative incumbent senator.
Stockman hasn’t been in Congress long enough to acquire an ACU rating. But even if the esteemed member was a perfect 100 percent, this campaign would cost millions of dollars in campaign expenditures better spent defeating Democrats; all to improve the conservative index of Texas elected officials by 7 percentage points. This is straining at gnats.
Stockman currently has a safe House seat and one wonders why he has embarked on this quixotic adventure. In the House he’s viewed as a tea party favorite and has called on Congress to impeach Obama. Both of those items only help the mainstream media to portray him as a wacky ideologue.
And now Stockman’s fundraising isn’t helping his image. Cornyn has $7 million in campaign cash on hand. Stockman has $32,000, which would not even cover the interest that Cornyn’s bankroll earns.
Therefore, Stockman has to generate money fast if he’s going to be competitive in the March 4 primary. One of the inducements Stockman is using is an “Obama barf bag.” For a minimum contribution of $10, supporters can get this delightful campaign keepsake that’s described by Stockman thusly, “Obama’s socialism makes me sick! And I have the barf bag to prove it!”
There is a certain level of decorum voters expect from a political campaign and this stunt plunges to a new depth. The “barf bag” is tacky and the image it conjures up is simply distasteful. By employing this sales aid Stockman does nothing to increase his stature as a candidate and it certainly doesn’t make him look the equal of the dignified, substantial Cornyn.
It just makes Stockman look like another tea party loony that the MSM loves to caricature.
A serious group of Americans who are concerned about the future of the country deserves a better candidate and they deserve a more targeted and substantive campaign that will advance conservative principles and not one man’s ambition.
Why, it’s enough to make you want to throw up.
Michael Reagan is the son of President Ronald Reagan. He is president of The Reagan Legacy Foundation and chairman of the League of American Voters. Mike is an in-demand speaker with Premiere. Read more reports from Michael Reagan — Go Here Now.