Oklahoman: If Tom Coburn’s A RINO, Then That’s A Problem For Republican Party
The Oklahoman Editorial: If Tom Coburn’s a RINO, then that’s a problem for Republican Party
Published: October 1, 2013
SOMEWHERE along the way during his nine years in the U.S. Senate, Tom Coburn has gone from being a darling of Republican conservatives to being considered, by some, a RINO — a Republican In Name Only. Really?
It’s true. Coburn, R-Muskogee, has earned his reputation not only as one of the leading fiscal hawks in Congress but as someone who isn’t afraid to stand his ground when he thinks he’s right. But he also has been willing to try to broker compromises now and again — to at least discuss other ways of doing business with those in the Senate who view things differently.
This has made Coburn a target of some conservative groups that wanted President Barack Obama’s health care law defunded. If that didn’t happen, then these groups wanted not just Coburn but all Republicans to be willing to vote to shut down all government spending. Coburn is among a good number of GOP members (including others in the state’s congressional delegation) who can’t stand Obamacare, but also realize that shutting down the government isn’t the answer.
Groups such as Heritage Action and the Tea Party Patriots don’t want to hear that. They used the “defund” strategy as a litmus test for Republicans — and woe to those who didn’t get on board.