Reasoned Remarks From Senator Tom Coburn

By: Les Carpenter III
Rational Nation USA

Senator Tom Coburn, in recent remarks at a small gathering was critical of Democrats, Republicans, Newt Gingrich, and the military industrial complex as well as teacher unions. Reading the article in Tulsa World I found myself in agreement with his remarks.

They sound to me like Senator Coburn is what I call an independent conservative that is speaking truth to power and is deserving of being listened to. For the sake of clarity lets put labels aside and focus on what he said. Excerpts with editorial comment from the news source omitted.:

"The real problem is that America is asleep, America is not involved. I think this election they'll be more involved than they ever have been, and the reason is they're scared." 

"If the conservatives in Congress gain control and don't live up to expectations," he said, "the Republican Party will be dead." 

"I'm not capable of telling you, because I don't have the training, whether we have the forces we need, I can tell you that if you add our forces and compare them to the next 19 nations, ... we're stronger." 

"The problem is, we have allowed the military-industrial complex to make things unaffordable. There's no choke chain. We need a choke chain. When the cost of an F-35 triples during development, something's wrong." 

Gingrich "is a super-smart man, but he doesn't know anything about commitment to marriage, He's the last person I'd vote for for president of the United States. His life indicates he does not have a commitment to the character traits necessary to be a great president."

He said schools "are no longer about kids, they are about teachers' unions", claiming the academic achievement of students has declined since the advent of the Department of Education.

Coburn also said, "no one has ever been hired by a poor person" in his support for tax breaks for corporations who hire people.

One of the attendees at the gathering had this this to say, 'taxes should not be raised for the wealthy and corporations, because they ultimately will be paid by those further down the economic food chain.' 

Another attendee comment, 'success is punished and failure rewarded', by the federal government.

Senator Tom Coburn makes some very valid points. Points deserving of  thoughtful consideration by both sides of the political divide. Those attending obviously are in touch with the issues of today.

You can find the full text of the Tulsa World article here.

Cross posted to Rational Nation USA.


  1. Think what you will about Newt, but Coburn's swipe at him with respect to his 3 marriages was a low blow.

    Without getting into the gory details a close relative of mine is "working" on her 3rd marriage of... 43 years. Two extremely ill-advised young'n'dumb starter marriages early on before she found her man. Not a more dedicated and committed mate alive.

    You're a better man than that, Coburn.

  2. "America is asleep, America is not involved."

    This is very true. Many have woken up, but not enough.

    Coburn is one of only a handful of people in Washington I really respect.

