Tea Party celebs arrive in MS for McDaniel, Cochran daughter lashes out at “Neo-cons”
We’re two days away from the runoff election between longtime Senator Thad Cochran and Tea Party favourite Chris McDaniel, and McDaniel has brought the Tea Party to Mississippi to try to drum up last minute support, and advocate for a hostile takeover of Washington:
Chris McDaniel urged his backers to “storm those walls” by voting for him and turning longtime Sen. Thad Cochran out of office. Cochran asked his supporters at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport to insure the election is held fairly and freely and return a “resounding victory for our party, our country and our hopes and dreams for our future.”
That seemed to be a response to accusations from his opponents that his supporters were enticing Democrats to vote in the runoff even though they had no intentions of voting for the Republican winner in the general election against Democratic nominee Travis Childers.
There was at least one sane person at Cochran’s rally:
Gary Fredericks was among the Democrats in the crowd supporting Cochran.
“You have to think outside the box,” said the nephew of longtime state Reps. Frances and Isiah Fredericks of Gulfport. “You can’t just say I’m a Democrat or I’m a Republican. You have to consider your options. What’s best for your state. What’s best for your community.”
For his part, Cochran’s opponent is pretty much towing the tea party line
McDaniel argues that Cochran is trying to scare voters by saying McDaniel will cost jobs in Ingalls and will cost the state seniority and clout in Washington.
“Don’t fall for the fear tactics,” McDaniel told his supporters.
But, the Tea Party Express speakers who preceded him had plenty of fears
of their own.For instance, Wayne Allyn Root, a talk show host and 2008 Libertarian vice presidential candidate, said, referring to President Barack Obama, “Our nation is being run by the Manchurian Candidate.”
Lars Larson said he thought Obama should be impeached.
“There’s a new world order coming to your town,” sang the Rivoli Review.
And then there’s good ol’ Chuck..
Former “Love Connection” host Chuck Woolery, who was on the Tea Party Express bus in Biloxi, said he just wants what’s best for the entire country.
“I believe we need to get rid of some of these older guys who have been in Congress for years and years and years making a living off the taxpayer dollars and being professional politicians,” he said. “We need some people to come in and not think about themselves but start thinking about the states and the country.”
It’s ironic that a 73 year old former game show host is prattling about “older guys” overstaying their welcome.
Elsewhere on the campaign trail, Thad Cochran’s daughter had some choice words for McDaniel and his supporters on Facebook:
“I think that Mississippians are being snookered by neocon zealots on talk radio, Fox News, and elsewhere. The New Right values extremism, obstructionism, partisanship, and, frankly, ignorance.”
In the June 3 primary both men were separated by a mere few thousands votes (McDaniel had a slight edge). The climate is still as polarized now as it was then, so the 24th looks to be another barn burner of a race.