The Tea Party Express, a national tea party group that earlier chose Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick as its only Democratic congressman to endorse, today announced it's endorsing Raul Labrador over Minnick. The group said it endorsed Minnick earlier "in light of his independence in standing up to significant items in President Obama's agenda." Minnick ended up rejecting the endorsement after the group's head made racially charged statements on a blog.

In today's announcement the group said, "Since then, Congressman Minnick has engaged in a pattern of behavior which shows he is more responsive to the Democrat Party's establishment than he is the voters of Idaho." Among its complaints: That Minnick "refuses to say he will vote against" Nancy Pelosi as speaker in the next session of Congress, and hasn't backed a full repeal of health care reform, though he voted against the bill. "In light of his errant actions we are announcing that we are joining the Boise Tea Party and endorsing Raul Labrador for Congress in the General Election," the group said today; click below to read its full news release.

Labrador issued this statement in response to the endorsement: “I’m delighted to receive the endorsement of the Tea Party Express, an organization that brings a voice to people in America who previously felt they had no voice.  The Tea Party Express and its members are sick and tired of the business as usual attitude and actions of Washington insiders like Walt Minnick.  They are tired of candidates who do nothing to stand up and fight against the status quo.  When I am elected to Congress, I will fight to bring the voice of the people to Washington and not the voice of special interests.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 22, 2010

Tea Party Express Endorses Raul Labrador Over Walt Minnick in Idaho

The Tea Party Express (website: www.TeaPartyExpress.org) is pleased to announce we are endorsing conservative Republican Raul Labrador for Congress (Idaho) in his race against Democrat incumbent, Walt Minnick.

During the Primary Election campaign the Tea Party Express had endorsed Congressman Minnick for re-election in light of his independence in standing up to significant items in President Obama's agenda.

Since then, Congressman Minnick has engaged in a pattern of behavior which shows he is more responsive to the Democrat Party's establishment than he is the voters of Idaho.

Congressman Minnick has refused to support the repeal of the ObamaCare government-run health care plan.

Congressman Minnick has received the endorsement of ultra-liberal House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, after he voted for her in his first term.  He refuses to say he will vote against her in the next session of Congress despite how abundantly clear her liberal agenda has become to everyone it seems but Congressman Minnick.

And on July 19th he "declined" the endorsement of the nation's largest tea party organization, the Tea Party Express, after receiving significant pressure from the Democratic Party's leadership.

The Tea Party Express has spent the past three month's evaluating Congressman Minnick's disappointing behavior, and in light of his errant actions we are announcing that we are joining the Boise Tea Party and endorsing Raul Labrador for Congress in the General Election.

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