Well, here we go again. State Sen. Chris McDaniel has again anointed
himself as the conservative messiah sent to save us from a successful incumbent
U.S. Senator.
Most will remember the nasty and controversial campaign McDaniel waged
four years ago to unseat Sen. Thad Cochran. As described by the Biloxi
Sun-Herald, "that GOP primary race dominated the media and TV advertising
for months in one of the nastiest campaigns in Mississippi history. The vitriol
led to a blogger’s burglary of a nursing home, the suicide of a Tea Party
stalwart, and whispering campaigns about extra-marital affairs."
Now McDaniel wants to throw out Sen. Roger Wicker. There is no reason to expect the tone of this campaign will be any different.
However, the campaign itself will have a much different focus because of
President Donald Trump. McDaniel says he aligns with and supports Trump, but
Trump has issued a strong endorsement of Wicker. The night before McDaniel
announced, Trump tweeted, "(Wicker) has been a great supporter and
incredible help in getting our massive Tax Cut Bill done and approved. Also big
help on cutting regs. I am with him in his re-election all the way!"
Nonetheless, you can tell from comments McDaniel makes that he views
himself as a conservative hero -- "I was Trump before Trump" he says -- and a major player on par with Senators Ted Cruz,
Mike Lee, and Rand Paul. As recent as last November, he was touting his connection
to Trump strategist Steve Bannon. Now, he distances himself from the disgraced
Bannon. "It's very clear that I'm not a Bannon candidate," he said.
But, it appears McDaniel will have ample funding from Bannon's money
group to wage his latest crusade. A super PAC called "Remember
Mississippi" reported it had raised over $1 million to support McDaniel.
Funded primarily by right-wing mega donors Robert Mercer of New York
($500,000), Bannon's financial godfather, and Richard Uihlein of Illinois
($500,000), the super PAC as of December 31, 2017, reported contributions of
$200 or more from 13 individuals, none from Mississippi.
The total raised was $1,099,745 with $247,657 already spent for political
consultants, financial consultants, and media services. Among the expenditures
was $9,500 to former State Sen. Melanie Sojourner of Natchez for political
consulting.
"Mississippi deserves a constitutional conservative who holds the
same values as Mississippians and is a consistent and strong voice for them in
Washington, D.C.," said Tommy Barnett, treasurer of the PAC.
Can't you just picture Mercer and Uihlein sitting around, counting
their gold, and saying how concerned they are that Mississippians have a voice?
Prior to his announcement, McDaniel told Mississippi Today, "You know
the great thing about Robert Mercer is I've dined with him on many occasions
and he's never asked me for anything. And it's really a remarkable thing for a
politician not to be asked for anything."
Bless his heart. What's remarkable is McDaniel apparently does not
realize that there is nothing a billionaire like Mercer might want from a lowly
state senator of little accomplishment. The ask, more likely the tell, would
come only if McDaniel gets elected. That's when mega donors like Mercer look
for a return on their investment.
Crawford (crawfolk@gmail.com)
is a syndicated columnist from Meridian.
31 comments:
Bill Crawford selective outrage column #3971.
What a misguided and one sided hit piece. When is Bill Crawford, the self annointed expert of MS Politics, going to publish a review of Cochrans side and their dirty tricks and lies? Where is his review of the website that's wickers campaigned launched to trash McDaniel and spread more lies? See how easy it is to be a political hack on social media? How do I get paid for doing it like Mr Crawford? Lol
Glad the author typed 'successful US Senator' early on. I could stop then without reading further into the drivel, hit piece. McDaniel has anointed himself as anything. He simply qualified and filed to run.
What a low down biased piece of crap. Crawford is obviously on the RINOs payroll. The only truth that he tells in the article is that it was a dirty, underhanded campaign, but he fails to mention that the dirt came from the Cochran camp. Wicker thinks he is “king Roger” and can vote with the democrats and that the little people ( that’s us ) are too ignorant to understand what he is doing. Guess what Roger, payday is coming and hopefully you will get your just reward and be sent packing when we elect U.S. Senator Chris McDaniel.
Bill Crawford is an old die hard Socialist who loves dreaming of spending other people's money to save the children because he never got enough attention as a child. Quite simply.....a loser. Seriously. Roger Wicker had done nothing but advance the tired old Lott/Barbour machine from the Oxford plantation's Sigma Nu Snakes. The State of Mississippi deserves far better.
I was going to vote for Wicker, but after reading this pile of manure, I will vote for McDaniel.
6 for 6 so far with the McDaniel crazed trolls above.
Impressive effort, but terribly obvious. They already sound like they did 4 years ago.
Idiots, every one. And I’m not even a Wicker fan.
Ha! Looks like some of McDaniel's $247,657 went to someone to monitor and comment on blogs. The Delusion Express is picking up speed!!!
I too will vote McDaniel. I remember the Barbour boys and old boss HOGG paying the preachers to get dems to vote REPULICAN. The radio ads in Canton. Wicker is a McConnell shill. Chris won the Republican vote last time. No we are not crazed trolls, just tired of the same old a$$ kissing in DC.
5:12 If these few paragraphs are enough to sway you to vote for the idiot McDaniel, I've got a 3 paragraph sales pitch for a 2 acre plot in west Jackson that will really grow on you!
5:35
Like you, I have no affiliation at present. However, because of your chest-thumping and calling McDaniel supporters idiots, I will should probably lean in that direction. Anyone who vehemently calls others idiots without knowing them personally is certainly not one with whom i would align myself. Your value of your opinion is greatly overestimated.
I'll bet both of your friends already know that.
6 for 6 so far with the McDaniel crazed trolls above.
Versus the tens of tens of pro-Wicker, pro-Cochran, pro-MSGOP crazed trolls on other JJ stories? Versus the hundreds of "I've [fill in the blank] in the past but this time I'm voting for Jim Hood" crazed trolls? Crazed like that?
The Republican Party left me with all the wing nut loons. I’d vote for a GOP moderate if there was one. Wicker is weak and ineffective and McDaniel is too far to the right to represent the majority. McDaniel lost my vote over pandering the flag. David Baria will get my vote in the general election.
I've used condoms in the past but this time I'm going unprotected and voting for Jim Hood.
Looks like the comment-factory got busy but on this post. How are things in Moscow?
Looks to me like Mississippians are finally waking up. Not that this blog or it commenters are necessarily a viable representative sampling of the state's voters (or are they?), but it's high time the truth about Wicker be plastered across the billboards of the internet.
His advertisements spewing fake accomplishments and meaningless statements of support for '57 Chevys, babies in line to be kissed and moms in wheelchairs hosting bake-sales has gotten beyond sickening. He's running scared and so are his Rino-minions.
Wicker knows that Meridian and Columbus military institutes need to be closed and resourses used in better strategic locations.
The great majority of Wicker fans, are of course, Ole Miss fans. They love calling everyone "idiots" because they're not rebels. Such losers, people are really tired of it.
He lost me at "successful".....
Oh me, oh my!
The children in the McDaniel's class are acting up again. If only they could be expelled so we wouldn't have to deal with their bad behavior.
Geoff Pender:
Cochran's team in the three weeks between the primary and the runoff hit upon another idea for victory: Get Democrats to vote for Cochran in the GOP primary runoff.
.....
Most of the effort was focused on black communities in Hinds County and throughout the Delta. Historically Democratic volunteers and workers started canvassing black neighborhoods and churches.
.....
On June 24, 2014, Cochran narrowly defeated McDaniel in the runoff, 51 to 49 percent, with obvious help from Democratic voters — particularly African-American voters.
How dare they allow African-Americans to vote in the Republican primary. Next thing you know they'll want to vote in all elections... where will it end?
Blacks Dems voted for Cochran because McDaniels reached out to the far right bigots in Mississippi. Plus there weren't any Dems running for the spot, so it was an easy choice.
This go round, David Baria is running and they will vote in the Democratic Primary. Wicker is own his own because he leans to the bigots in Mississippi too and even if there weren't any Dems running, it's hard to see blacks coming out to vote just to save Wicker from McDaniels.
Black Dems voted for Cochran because the Barbour Kkklan provided them the incentive$$$ to do so.
Like it or not, black voters would never willingly and of their own accord decide to vote republican unless there were special incentives to do so. One or two of the blind men above actually want me to think it was a critical thinking process that led to black democrat voter cross-over. Oh...and I'm supposed to feel a special sort of inner guilt for suggesting black folk might want to 'vote in all elections'. Got me there - NOT.
Barksdale sold quite a few Escalades following the Cochran victory.
I don't think Democrats will only be voting in the democratic primary. They won't be voting for Wicker, but after Alabama's last senate race they may just think they can setup a repeat. There is no way either Democrat nominee can beat Wicker. However, if they vote for McDaniel in the primary they could just setup the only way a Democrat can win a U.S. Senate seat in Mississippi. They could also just really screw the state if they lost to McDaniel, but the question is if they are willing to take that risk.
You aren't saying anything new 12:56. We already know that in a McDaniel vs Democrat general election the MSGOP RINOs will either stay home or vote for the Democrat. The MSGOP is as close to the mindset of plantation owners as you'll find. They don't give a shit about Mississippi, they don't give a shit about conservatism and they sure as hell don't give a shit about the will of the voters.
Stop pointing that finger at me, Chris. And quit with the doubled-up fists. You're scaring us (not).
"One or two of the blind men above actually want me to think it was a critical thinking process that led to black democrat voter cross-over."
And this is the general mindset that rules the Mississippi Republican Party!? To insult black voters in Mississippi at every opportunity they get and that is why a majority of black voters in Mississippi do not support it.
The primary between Cochran vs. McDaniels was eerily similar to general Senate election between Doug Jones vs. Roy Moore in Alabama.
The motivation was simple, either hold your nose and vote for Cochran or send a politician that panders to the racist element in Mississippi.
That was a no-brainer for black voters in Mississippi in that primary.
"I was Trump before Trump was Trump". The arrogance of McDaniel will be his down fall and his misguided supporter's are going to get their feelings hurt. McDaniel's supporters are completely blinded by this clown.
I just saw a McDaniel attack ad. I find it apt that Wicker’s people have increased McD’s head just bit in the ad. Clever
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