T.W. Shannon Tells Us He Isn't Like the Others

Meanwhile here in Oklahoma a gaggle of republicans are running for the seat of retiring Senator, Jim Inhofe. One of them is T.W. Shannon, the former speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. This isn't his first go at the United States Senate. Previously he sought the office when Tom Coburn was forced to retire for health reasons. 

Shannon, who is half Native American and half African American, had a couple of heavy weight endorsements in that race. One was Texas Senator, Ted Cruz, the other came from former GOP cover girl, Sarah Palin.

Neither did him any good. He lost the primary to James Lankford by 20 percent. Whether the loss was due to a difference in politics, or race is up for debate. In either event the disappointing outcome apparently hasn't shifted Mr. Shannon toward the center, but rather even further right than he was.

In his first TV ad he immediately assured us he is, "Conservative, Christian, and a Capitalist." He also touches on the race issue by saying he is living proof that, no matter what liberals say, black people in America can be successful and, "belong," without their help.

It is his second TV spot though that makes sure to hit multiple right wing hot buttons within a precious few seconds. 

First up is a photo of Planned Parenthood founder, Margaret Sanger. We are told ominously Sanger was a devotee of eugenics, a philosophy which was used to weed out people of color and different ethnic backgrounds. The rather crude hint being Planned Parenthood was established to kill off the children of those who the elite deemed undesirable. Ms. Sanger was indeed interested in eugenics--just like H.G. Wells and Henry Ford--but not for the purpose of genocide. That was a Nazi twist to the field which caused it to be shunned. 

In truth Ms. Sanger, was a socialist, who was against abortions unless the mother's life was in danger. She believed birth control devices and meds would prevent them from being necessary. She also helped established the first black staffed and run women's clinic in Harlem, In addition she was admired and liked by Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta, among others in the black community. Beyond any explanation of her views and work it is painfully obvious, or should be, that at this time Margaret Sanger is not running for the senate in Oklahoma.

Neither is Hillary Clinton who appears next in the ad saying she is a proud supporter of Planned Parenthood. Her last political race was in 2016, but it would seem Shannon's people believe Clinton's image alone is enough to send Oklahoma republicans into such a foaming rage they will vote for their candidate.

The ad ends promising us, black lives won't matter until 400,000 aborted fetuses matter. The letters BLM are splashed across the screen in large and lurid red letters.

Talk about firing up the MAGA crowd. Not even fellow candidate Markwayne Mullin's current ad, which features a brief clip of Donald by God Trump himself, bores into the dark soul of the far right like the menace of Hillary Clinton and Black Lives Matter.

Yes it might be unclear to some of us if race was the cause of T.W. Shannon's loss to James Lankford. However with these two pollical spots it is obvious Shannon thinks it was.

Let's face it, that's why he is spending a lot of time and money trying to prove to white Oklahoma republicans he isn't like the others, he is one of them. 

sic vita est

5-4-22