2014 OK Senate debate: on Principles & Values


James Inhofe: Judeo-Christian values established our government framework

Question topic: Efforts to bring Islamic law (shariah) to America do not pose a threat to our country and its Constitution.

Inhofe: Disagree

Question topic: Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.

Inhofe: Strongly Agree.

Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Oklahoma Senate race Sep 30, 2014

T.W. Shannon: AdWatch: I'm guided by my faith; let's renew our values

Shannon: "My grandparents brought our family to this church more than a half-century ago. This is where I learned my values and developed my faith."

Narrator: "T.W. Shannon is a sixth-generation Oklahoman. T.W. is guided by his faith. Raised by working class parents, T.W. Shannon learned that success comes from hard work, not hand-outs. And it's those values T.W. and his wife, Devon, are teaching their two kids.

Shannon: "Washington, D.C., is broken, and our government is out of control. Generations to come will inherit crippling debt, limitless spending, and a health care system run by bureaucrats, not doctors and patients. I still believe we are one nation under God, and with his favor we can save our country. If conservatives here in Oklahoma and across America will unite and send the right leaders to Washington, we can restore prosperity. We can renew our values. And we can reclaim our destiny. With conservative leadership, we can fix what's wrong with our country.

Source: OnTheIssues AdWatch on 2014 Oklahoma Senate race Mar 4, 2014

T.W. Shannon: Will remain as Speaker during Senate primary

Oklahoma's Republican House Speaker T.W. Shannon told colleagues Tuesday that he will run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated early by U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn but remain speaker "for the time being."

"I want you to know that I will remain Speaker for the time being. I am not stepping down immediately because I want to ensure a smooth transition that does not disrupt the important business of the state, nor distract from the legislative goals of our caucus," Shannon wrote.

Shannon, who previously worked as congressional field director for former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts and current U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, was first elected to the Oklahoma House in 2006. He was the first Republican to represent District 62.

He won a close race for House speaker with the help of the Republican caucus' right wing, and he has staked out several conservative positions that occasionally rankle GOP leaders in the state Senate and governor's office.

Source: Associated Press on 2014 Oklahoma Senate race Jan 29, 2014

T.W. Shannon: "Recovering attorney" with JD from Oklahoma City University

Shannon, who earned his bachelor's degree at Cameron University and a law degree from Oklahoma City University, has jokingly described himself as a "recovering attorney" who currently works as a public relations and human resources consultant. He previously worked as chief administrative officer for Chickasaw Nation Industries.
Source: Associated Press on 2014 Oklahoma Senate race Jan 29, 2014

T.W. Shannon: Rights are endowed by God, not by politicians

The men who wrote our Constitution were very clear about where those rights come from. They said we are "endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights".

They didn't say we are endowed by our government. They didn't say we are endowed by the courts. And they didn't say we are endowed by politicians.

You see, the freedoms and rights we have as Americans are recognized in our Constitution as coming from God. That is the firm foundation on which our nation is founded. At the core of those rights is that which the human heart desires most:

I used to believe our freedom was so deeply woven into the fabric of this country, that nothing could ever put it at risk. But over the past six years, much has changed.
Source: Fundraising press release on 2014 Oklahoma Senate race Jan 29, 2014

James Inhofe: Flying is his passion, but lost his son in plane accident

Q: For Senator Jim Inhofe, flying is his passion. He got his pilot license as a young man, and he is known to fly himself to campaign events. That skill, he says, got him into the US Senate. A love passed down to his son Perry. But last month, a family tradition turned tragic. Perry Inhofe crashed while flying a twin engine plane outside Tulsa. He was one day short of his 52nd birthday. He had a lot of training just like you?

INHOFE: He had a lot more training than me. My other son and I are not quite as meticulous as Perry has always been about flying by the numbers, doing everything right. He was 100%.

Q: When you go through this kind of personal loss, you recognize that you've got some support around you. Talk a little bit about that.

INHOFE: I have gotten at least as many communications from some of my Democrat friends. And so something like this happens, and all of a sudden, the old barriers that were there, the old differences, those things that keep us apart just disappear.

Source: Meet the Press 2013, on 2014 Oklahoma Senate race Dec 22, 2013

  • The above quotations are from 2014 Oklahoma Senate debates.
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  • Click here for more quotes by James Inhofe on Principles & Values.
  • Click here for more quotes by Matt Silverstein on Principles & Values.
Candidates and political leaders on Principles & Values:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 06, 2018