Sometimes fiction is not far off from fact.
In the case of U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), apparently fighting and biting are unapologetic parts of his game.
During a committee hearing with International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien this past week, the senator challenged the union boss to a physical fight over some very important and consequential tweets in which O’Brien hurled insults in Mullin’s direction. Isn’t that what Twitter, now X, is for?
I hardly know what to say about the entire exchange. Of all people, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I/D-Vermont) — the chairman of the committee — had to break up the kerfuffle, although he wasn’t wearing a referee jersey at the time.
In subsequent interviews, you might have expected Mullin to act like a senator and an adult by apologizing and moving on with business. Instead, he doubled down, telling a podcast that he is willing to fight and isn’t afraid to bite.
“And I don’t care where I bite, by the way,” said Mullin, a former pugilist and wrestling enthusiast.
The implications are interesting, and Mullin is now risking some pretty pointed nicknames, especially after a former Republican congressman from Michigan emailed Politico with a story of Mullin putting his finger up the noses of colleagues and their spouses in 2015 on a trip to Israel.
In an interview with KOCO, Mullin justified his actions with O’Brien by talking weirdly about former President Andrew Jackson’s duels, saying of O’Brien’s tweets, “What was I supposed to do, sit there and ignore it?”
The answer to that question is “Yes,” always.
All of this is fairly on-brand for Mullin, so perhaps these events don’t come as a surprise to many Oklahomans. At this point, I suppose you either laugh or cringe about it.
Past Sundaze comics
Stitt antes up for February fight on sports betting
Bad luck Halloween: The rainy trick spoiling your treats
New OKC Thunder arena election may not be a layup
The water meter spins at the Edmond aquatic center
Ryan Walters explores new math with budget request
Endless consumption: Pac-Man popular in Oklahoma
Cheers to 8 years of (sometimes political) cartoons
What to do when there’s no room at the Edmond inn?
Behold, OU students: Lindsey Street tailgating returns
PAC 12 implosion continues conference realignment
The Earth must be quite a pothole for UFOs
American Heartland Theme Park raises some eyebrows
Sick of Stitt hammering the machine, Drummond seeks a spin
Introducing a Razr-thin margin of plausible deniability
Bright future: OKC Thunder rookies ready to get to work
Blockbuster: Oklahoma weather presents DVD-size hail
Uncommon ground in Edmond: No art of compromise?
Stitt knows how to get, how to get to Override Street
Former Justice Steven Taylor broke open a tie ballgame
Welcome to the whirlwind of graduation season
All aboard? Coordinating an Edmond, Norman, OKC commuter rail vote
Dunkin’ on each other for ‘Donuts with the Governor’
Oklahoma’s turnpike expansion plan faces road blocks
Easter Sundaze: Trying to save a dime in the egg aisle
Preserving Hafer Park memories: Welcome to paradise
Oklahoma’s Broadband Office and the mystery of missing meeting minutes
March Madness 2023: So your bracket is in shambles
Will the Oklahoma House lock in Daylight Saving Time?
SQ 820: We’ve got another election on our hands
Cockfighting fight turns back time at Oklahoma Capitol
Valentine voting: For the love of democracy
Last week on This Old Attorney General’s Office
Budget hearing previews the last ride of Mark McBride
Plenty of cooks in the Oklahoma education kitchen
Here’s looking at you, me: The two jobs of Ryan Walters
Compared to recent years, 2022 seemed tolerable
‘This is a BFD’: The romance of nuclear fusion heats up
Weird local rules mean extra Edmond elections
2022 World Cup draws cause cultural comparisons
Straight party voting throws quite a rager in Oklahoma
An ‘I voted’ sticker is the prize for enduring all these ads
Halloween can be a tough time to mind your diet
Answer the question? The art of political dodgeball
How hideous can the Ugly Season get before it’s over?
Down goes Dumpty: OKC Egg Church has a great fall
Many options for brand synergy in the OKC film industry
This season includes new adventures in OU tailgating
