Coburn joins criticism of Mullin campaign
U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin is facing opposition from some conservatives after breaking a term limit pledge Tuesday.
In an 11-minute video, the eastern Oklahoma Republican announced he would run for a fourth term, despite previously vowing to serve no more than three terms in Congress. Mullin, R-Westville, said he knew little about politics six years ago when he made the pledge and now feels he can positively impact the country by remaining in Washington.
“What it tells us is the arrogance of power has affected his thinking, and when a man’s word doesn’t mean anything, nothing else matters,” former U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn told a radio program this week. “To me, I just think it’s really sad.”
Coburn told 1170 KFAQ that Mullin is “a nice young man” but has “drunk the Kool-Aid” in Washington and now owes his allegiance to the capital, not Oklahoma. Breaking his pledge was bad for the state and bad for Mullin, the former Republican senator said.
“If you can’t believe him on term limits, what else can you believe him on, and what can’t you believe him on?” Coburn asked rhetorically.
Oklahoma has a tradition of three-term pledges. Coburn served in the U.S. House of Representatives before serving in the U.S. Senate. He left the House in 2001, upholding a promise to serve just three terms. U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine, R-Tulsa, will leave Congress after this term due to a three-term pledge.
Former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts ran for a fourth term in 2000 despite his support for term limits. He later disputed whether he had privately pledged to only serve three terms.
Whether Mullin’s decision to break his pledge will hurt him in 2018 remains an open question. He dominated in 2016, defeating fellow Republican Jarrin Jackson in the June primary by 27 percentage points and defeating Democrat Joshua Harris-Till by 67 percentage points in November.
Coburn vowed this week to campaign for Jackson if he runs again in 2018 and said Mullin’s pledge violation will “absolutely” hurt him next year. Coburn said he believes Jackson can defeat Mullin.
“When it comes down to it, Oklahomans are going to say the truth matters, integrity matters, character matters. This is an issue of character and integrity,” Coburn said.
“He actually believes it doesn’t matter and that’s part of the Washington Kool-Aid that he’s drunk,” he added.
In an emailed response, the Mullin campaign said, “Dr. Coburn has served in Congress for 16 years and has earned his right to an opinion.”
Jackson did not respond to requests for comment Friday about whether he is running. In a Facebook post this week, he said he forgives Mullin for breaking the term limit pledge because “America is worth so much more to me than anger at my fellow man for a broken promise.” Several of Jackson’s Facebook followers have urged him to run.
Jamison Faught, a tea party organizer in Muskogee, said Mullin’s decision to break the pledge will likely become the defining issue of the 2018 race.
“One of the primary issues behind the tea party movement was politicians breaking their word, saying one thing and doing another. Donald Trump was elected on a similar sentiment,” Faught said.
U.S. Term Limits, a national group that advocates for such pledges, railed against Mullin on Thursday, calling him “an entitled, entrenched and dishonest politician.”
“The congressman never supported term limits through his actions and simply paid lip service and lied to the people to get elected. He will do well as a career politician,” the group wrote on its website.
In an editorial, the conservative blog SoonerPolitics.org said Mullin has been “reprogrammed” by “the (Washington) DC swamp” and “is now a liar.” ConservativeHQ, a right-wing grassroots group, publicly urged a Republican in eastern Oklahoma to run against Mullin.
Among the constituents who follow Mullin on Facebook, however, his decision to seek a fourth term was largely met with praise.
“A lot of hateful squeaky wheels out there but I think you’ll find that the great majority of us support your decision,” wrote one man.
Another said, “You are allowed to change your mind anytime you want.”