Rep. Labrador's office has confirmed that he doesn't know what he is doing.
"Ever wonder exactly what our congressman, Raul Labrador, is planning?" says the Idaho Democratic Party.
Does he have an end game?
Raúl Rafael Labrador has been the U.S. Representative for Idaho's 1st congressional district since 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. His district is located in the northern and western portions of the state and includes the southern fourth of Boise as well as the cities of Meridian, Coeur d'Alene, Moscow, Sandpoint, Lewiston, Bonners Ferry, McCall, Caldwell, Nampa, Emmett, Parma, Weiser, and Eagle. Labrador previously represented District 14B in the Idaho House of Representatives.
The young Congressman from our district, Rep. Raul Labrador, ran on a very idealistic platform that essentially boiled down to "America was a much better place in the 19th century, and we should return to that" -- basically, straight Tea Party doctrine.
The analysis above is from blogger Joel Kennedy, written in April of 2011:
Idealism Meets Reality.
But does Labrador actually believe many of the thigs he says to get ... and to stay ... elected? Funny things can happen when idealism meets reality; and when opportunism runs into our rapidly changing world; especially when one's paycheck is based on a career in the ever-unpredictable Beltway.
Check out this transcript excerpt from the Hugh Hewitt radio show, from June:
HEWITT: Big change in the race to succeed Eric Cantor as Majority Leader. Congressman Raul Labrador of Idaho has thrown his hat into the ring to square off against Congressman Kevin McCarthy of California. I’m pleased to welcome Raul Labrador back to the Hugh Hewitt Show. Congressman, good to talk to you, thanks for joining me.
LABRADOR: It’s great to be on your show, Hugh.
HEWITT: Are you going to win?
LABRADOR: I am going to win. You know, I’m already getting a lot of calls from people who are telling me that they’re switching their vote, that they’re excited about having a choice in this race, and that they want a different direction for the conference. They want more conservative leadership in the House.
When he challenges Speaker Boehner, the iconoclastic representative guarantees that Idaho will have no clout. When he then runs for the second spot without any support, he reminds other Republicans why they don’t like him.
Shirley Ringo, one clear goal: Serve Idaho's people.
In an interview with Boise State Public Radio, Labrador’s new press secretary, Dan Popkey, shed light on the baffling maneuvers of Labrador:
Popkey says it’s unclear what Labrador will do in the future; whether it’s run for governor, the U.S. Senate or a higher office. “I think I’m reading him correctly, he does not know what he’s going to do,” Popkey adds. “To suggest that working for Raul Labrador is an assurance of long term professional success, I think he’s a little too unpredictable for that.”
"Yes. Mr. Popkey looks like he’s reading him correctly," acccording to the IDP. "Labrador has never behaved like a man who knows what he’s going to do. He’s been so unpredictable that none of his constituents or his peers can trust him enough to work with him."
That doesn’t hurt Mr. Labrador. He’s doing fine as the Beltway’s favorite TV lightning rod – it just hurts Idaho.
Let’s send Mr. Labrador back to private life as an immigration lawyer where he can while away the years ineffectively like he did before he fell into Congress.
The IDP website encourages people to "
Vote for Rep. Shirley Ringo and get someone in there who will make a plan with the interests of Idaho at heart … and stick to it."