Jun 27, 2012
Two Severely Flawed Candidates Set For Republican Runoff
Oklahoma voters will now go to the polls in August to choose between two seriously flawed Republican candidates. Their choices are Markwayne Mullin, a candidate whose campaign is saddled with debt, has possibly violated FEC law, and may face charges from an ATF raid on his business in 2009; or George Faught, a candidate with extreme views who would drastically cut Medicare making seniors pay more and shift the tax burden onto the middle class.
“Oklahoma voters will just have to hold their nose and pick from two extremely flawed Republican candidates who will be bad for the middle class,” said Stephen Carter of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Whether it’s ethically challenged Markwayne Mullin or George Faught with his policies that would leave seniors and the middle class out in the cold, Republican voters in Oklahoma will have to choose between two bad choices.”
Background
Mullin’s Campaign Is Over $200,000 in Debt. Despite having raised over half a million dollars since entering the race, Mullin’s campaign committee is $235,000 in debt due to personal loans Mullin himself provided. As of his last report filed on June 14, Mullin only had $181,435 cash on hand. [FEC.gov, accessed 6/26/12]
FEC Issued a Draft Opinion Faulting Mullin for Electioneering Communications. In May 2012, the Federal Election Commission issued a draft opinion arguing Mullin’s corporate commercials and a home improvement radio show he sponsors are electioneering communications as they clearly identify a federal candidate and reach at least 50,000 people in the district. After the FEC’s two conflicting draft opinions, Mullin said he would step out of his business’ advertisements altogether so as to avoid any further legal complaints. [The Oklahoman, 5/24/12, 5/31/12]
Mullin Could Still Face Charges for the ATF Raid on His Business. Following a raid on Mullin’s plumbing business which resulted in an employee’s guilty plea to drug and firearm violations, the Washington Times noted, “One particular disturbing story circulating around local Tulsa media is a speculation that Mr. Mullin could face felony charges from a 2009 arrest of a Mullin Plumbing supervisor Timothy Lee Saylor.” [Washington Times, 6/20/12]
Faught Supports the House Republican Budget. Faught has come out in support of the House Republicans’ budget that would force seniors to pay more for Medicare while giving tax breaks to companies shipping American jobs overseas. In May 2012, The Oklahoman noted, “Of the six Republicans running, four endorsed the House Republican budget — Wood, Pettigrew, state Rep. George Faught, of Muskogee, and Dustin Rowe, of Tishomingo.” [The Oklahoman, 5/27/12]
Faught Unequivocally Accepted Endorsement from Infamous Fair Tax Advocate Mike Huckabee. George Faught has prominently featured the endorsement of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee whose tax plan would impose a 23 percent national sales tax on nearly everything, but eliminate the corporate income tax, shifting more of the burden onto the middle class. [CNN, 2/21/08; Tulsa Beacon, 4/26/12]
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