Mullin officially says he's running for 4th term, breaking term limits pledge

2nd District Congressman Markwayne Mullin released a video today announcing his plans to run for re-election in 2018, acknowledging his intent to break his term limits pledge.

The video was "moderated" by former KFAQ radio host Eddie Huff, and featured Mullin and his wife Christie talking about his decision.



I've been pretty vocal with my disagreement regarding Mullin, but I take no pleasure in seeing a man so flippantly break his word. I have a difficult time respecting someone who repeatedly pledges one thing, and then turns around and does the opposite. That's the problem grassroots conservatives have had with the powers-that-be in Washington, who pledge their adherence to conservative principles only to betray us at every turn.

He says in his video that the "easy decision was not to run again". I disagree. The easy, DC-motivated political decision was to run for a fourth and consecutive terms with the power of incumbency. The hard thing, politically, is to keep a term limits pledge (like Tom Coburn did in 2000).

Former Congressman J.C. Watts spoke to the Muskogee GOP in 2010, and during his speech he said that his biggest regret from his time in politics was when he was seduced by the applause and broke his term limits pledge.

I remember speaking with one of the big figures in Oklahoma Republican politics who was there, and he told me that it was the first time he'd ever heard Watts publicly say that. Watts said that he had made a pledge before God and to his constituents, and when he broke it that fourth term became his worst time in office politically and with his family.

I can't say I'm surprised at Mullin's announcement -- I've said before that I fully expected this -- but I am disappointed and saddened to see yet another elected official break a clear and repeated promise to his constituents.

Keeping one's word is out of style and not political expedient, but it's always the right thing to do.