Thread: Republican civil war goes to Oklahoma Senate race

Republican civil war goes to Oklahoma Senate race

BY JOEL GEHRKE |
MARCH 27, 2014

T.W. Shannon applauds during a joint session of the Oklahoma House and Senate in Oklahoma City,...

Former Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon received the endorsement of the Senate Conservatives Fund, raising the likelihood that his campaign with Rep. James Lankford, R-Okla., to replace retiring Sen. Tom Coburn will turn into a new battleground between Republican leadership and outside conservative groups.

"T.W. Shannon believes in the principles of freedom that make this country great and will stand up to the big spenders in both parties to balance the budget and stop Obamacare," SCF executive director Matt Hoskins said. "We're supporting T.W. Shannon because he's a principled conservative, he has strong grassroots support in Oklahoma, and he can win if Americans come together to support his campaign."

That endorsement could make Shannon an enemy of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who wants to "crush" SCF in every race where they have endorsed a candidate.

"I don't think they are going to have a single nominee anywhere in the country," McConnell told the New York Times.

Shannon told the Washington Examiner at CPAC that he hoped to get the SCF endorsement, adding that independent expenditures by outside groups can be effective in his state.

"Oklahoma voters are savvy enough to know what the truth is about candidates," he said. "I think they're very savvy about vetting candidates and so, where the message is coming from, if it's an accurate message, I think they'll listen to it, I think they know."

Rep. Jim Bridenstine, R-Okla., who declined to run for the Senate seat, was SCF's top choice, so it wasn't clear that they would get involved in this race.

Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., predicted that the campaign would not turn into the kind of insider-outsider battle that has unfolded in other races, such as Chris McDaniel's bid to unseat Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.

"I know Shannon well enough to know that it's not going to be that way," he told the Examiner.

Sarah Palin framed the race in exactly those terms when she decided to endorse Shannon. "T.W.'s opponent has the backing of Beltway insiders, but T.W. has the passion and experience we the people need in Washington," she said.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2546391

MEET T.W.



T.W. Shannon learned the values of faith, family, hard work, and personal responsibility in the pews of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Lawton, Okla. He still serves there today as a Sunday School teacher.

A champion for limited government, T.W. first was elected to the state House of Representatives in 2006 from his hometown of Lawton.
Chosen by his Republican House colleagues, T.W. became Oklahoma’s youngest and first African American House speaker. He is also an enrolled member of the Chickasaw Nation.



When T.W. became speaker of the House in Oklahoma, he advocated for policies that could break the devastating cycle of government dependency, instead helping people move toward self-reliance. He understands the key to helping people who are dependent on government assistance restore their dignity is to break the cycle of generational poverty. He continues to be a leading voice in Oklahoma politics for State’s rights, and has been coined by many “the most conservative Speaker in State History.”

T.W. has worked hard to shrink the size of state government and reduce the state’s debt. He led the way to lower income tax rates so people could keep more of what they earn. He insisted that the state sell its underutilized assets. He authored the monumental workers compensation reform which saves businesses millions of dollars. He also authored welfare reform which adds work requirements for healthy food stamp recipients.

GOPAC recently recognized T.W. by adding this proud Oklahoman to its advisory board. The Republican National Committee recently named Shannon one of its “Rising Stars.”

Shannon has reliably supported pro-life legislation. He has participated in the Pro-Family Legislators Conference, sponsored by historian David Barton’s WallBuilders organization.

T.W. earned a bachelor of arts in communications from Cameron University and holds a juris doctorate from Oklahoma City University Law School. He worked as a field representative for former Congressman J.C. Watts and served Congressman Tom Cole in the same position after he won the seat. At a young age fresh out of college, T.W. served as the chief administrative officer for the Chickasaw Nation, one of the most prosperous Native American tribes in the country.

T.W has been married to his college sweetheart, Devon, for 12 years and they have two children, Audrey Grace and T.W. II.

I am T.W. Shannon, and I believe:

America is a gift from God and our nation is blessed because we live in liberty. But are we free if a president can undermine the Constitution and rule by executive order? Are we free when an unelected federal judge can overrule a vote of the people and declare that traditional marriage is unconstitutional? Are we free when establishment elites in Washington, D.C., overspend, overtax, and overregulate the hard-working people who make the nation prosper?

I believe we should look to God for guidance as we fight to reclaim the liberty we have lost. I made my decision to run for the United States Senate because I believe our rights are God-given and that the people, not government, are sovereign — and that Oklahoma, not Washington, knows best. I believe in liberty. I will do everything in my power to preserve, protect and restore it, and reclaim our country.

On the Issues:
Defend the U.S. Constitution
States’ Rights
Agriculture
Uphold Strong Families
Restore the Sanctity of Life
Defend Our Right to Bear Arms
Strengthen National Defense
Repeal ObamaCare
Educate Our Kids
Protect Our Borders, Reject Amnesty

Illegal immigration not only jeopardizes the security of our nation, but it has put an incredible burden on our schools, hospitals, and communities. We must make the necessary investments in border security to protect us. We need an executive branch willing and able to implement laws already on the books. The rule of law must be respected. We cannot create a system for those who have violated our laws and are rewarded for that behavior. As such, I reject amnesty for those here illegally.

Energy Independence
Free Enterprise
Lower the Tax Burden
Cut Waste and Protect Tax Dollars
Protect Privacy
Fiscal Accountability, Reduced Debt
Personal Responsibility
Renew Our Values
Reclaim Our Freedom

http://twshannon.com/meet-tw/