**UPDATE**
The Epic Fail is complete. Moran beats Tiahrt.
**ORIGINAL POST***
Barack Obama's Presidency is on the line this November. Apparently. The proverbial "they" want to know if the general election will be a referendum on his Presidency, sweeping Republicans into power in Congress. But it's a tiny little referendum on the Tea Party, FOX News, Sarah Palin Express going on right now in Kansas, that has my attention.
Meet Jerry Moran, a Republican, First District Congressman and Senate Candidate in Kansas. He is way ahead in the polls of his Republican primary challenger, Todd Tiahrt, Fourth District Congressman. Moran's way ahead mostly because he has the endorsement of Sarah Palin and Karl Rove, and Sean Hannity, all of FOX News, and the Tea Party Express. Wait, what, no? That's the other guy? Oh, right, Tiahrt is endorsed by Palin (via Facebook. Does she do anything outside of Facebook?) and Rove (in a personal appearance), and Sean Hannity via his show.
Why is Tiahrt their pick? The Tea Party Express endorsed him. And why did the Tea Party Express endorse him? Because he is a "movement hero." What the hell does that even mean? Tiahrt (pronounced Tea-Heart. Really.) has even referred to himself as a "Tea Party Hero."
The most recent polling by Survey USA shows Moran ahead of Tiahrt 55% to 33%. The poll was taken June 24 - 27, two months after the Tea Party endorsed Tiahrt, and ten days after Rove endorsed him. Palin chimed in while the poll was being taken on the 24th and Hannity threw in his two cents two days later. And yet, there Moran sits with a 20 point lead.
So what's the matter with Moran? Why does the Tea Party like Tiahrt? Or do they even know? On immigration Tiahrt supported bills that make it easier for illegal immigrants to get driver's licenses and pay lower tuition, Moran didn't support those bills. Moran doesn't like military tribunals and thinks they're unconstitutional, Tiahrt likes them. So what's it really all about? As far as I can tell, taxes. Moran voted against some early procedural votes containing the Bush tax cuts in 2003 but eventually supported them while Tiahrt voted for them all the way. Moran isn't good enough for the FOX News cohorts, either, because they've decided Tiahrt is a true "defender" and "protector" of the Constitution (thanks to Palin and Hannity for deciding who really likes the Constitution and who doesn't). Moran merely swore to uphold the Constitution when he took the oath of office, he didn't say he'd defend it. Or protect it. Or whatever it is Palin thinks he's not doing.
Regardless, the glaring truth that's coming out of this race is that Kansans, Republican Kansans, Red State Kansans, aren't particularly swayed by the crazies. Despite all of FOX News and the Tea Party's efforts, Tiahrt still trails in the polls, Mama Grizzly's endorsement and Tiahrt's internal polling notwithstanding. Moran is the better candidate, and more sensible, and Kansans recognize this. He is heavily supported by those identifying themselves as "moderates." And, ironically, Moran has a higher "favorable" rating than Tiahrt among those who identify themselves as Tea Partiers. (See Survey USA poll).
Come August 3 we'll find out just how impotent the Tea Party FOX News Express is when sensible Kansas voters send tea party boy home and send Jerry Moran on to the General Election.