Former Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) on Thursday ticked off the reasons not to vote for essentially the entire 2016 GOP field on Thursday with one exception: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).
In an interview with Sirius XM radio Coburn offered his critique of the field. Coburn’s comments were flagged by Buzzfeed.
On former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Coburn said, “I don’t think that America will elect another Bush president.”
Coburn said Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) “scares me to death” when it comes to foreign policy. Coburn added that he “would not vote for him for president.”
About Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R), Coburn said the midwestern governor isn’t “ready for prime time in my opinion.” He added that Walker didn’t overcome the 2012 recall election, rather “Republicans around the country did it for him.”
The former Oklahoma senator said he had a “personal bone to pick” with neurosurgeon Ben Carson “on integrity.” Coburn said Carson’s infamous criticism of President Barack Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast was “nothing but an attack on the president” despite Carson being asked not to criticize him at the event.
In Coburn’s opinion, former New York Gov. George Pataki is “probably smart enough” but lacks the sufficient level of conservatism. Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Coburn said, isn’t “capable” at the presidential “level. The other 2016 presidential candidate from Texas, Sen. Ted Cruz, Coburn said was also “not ready for primetime.”
Likewise the White House isn’t “within his reach” concerning former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA).
Coburn lightened up with a few candidates —somewhat. Coburn said he likes that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie “answers questions directly” and he called former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina “smart, savvy, and experienced.”
But the review was much better for Rubio, of whom Coburn said, “of all that are out there right now, probably my favorite.”
Whew! Thank heaven he got delusional at the end: I was beginning to think that I’d found a thoughtful Republican.
I’m loving that the GOP is so fractured and disjointed and the Dems aren’t.
It smells like… Victory.
Yeah, he was going down a list and there’s no enthusiasm for any of them. Even the praise was lukewarm. He was an obstructionist while he was in the senate, but he’s talking sensibly here.
You tell 'em, Tom.
Well, I don’t despise Rubio either, especially as much as I do some of the others. Rubio seems like a clueless, cool kid that I would hate to have as a boss but wouldn’t bother me as a less than bright neighbor.