Emerson beats Parker by wide margin again

Apparently, voters disagree with Bob Parker -- U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson is conservative enough to represent them.

Eight-term congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson of Cape Girardeau has won the Republican primary in Missouri's 8th District, defeating Texas County rancher Bob Parker for the second time in two years.

While Parker promised a victory that would "shock the nation," he didn't even fare as well as he did in 2010, winning just 32.9 percent of the vote compared to Emerson's 67.1 percent. In 2010, Parker garnered 34.4 percent in his defeat.

"I feel good about that," Emerson said. "I'm very pleased and very frankly, quite humbled."

Still, after eight terms, Emerson has handily won each of her elections over the years, and most by sizable margins. When Tuesday's results were final, Emerson received 61,974 votes from Republicans in the 30-county 8th District that covers the state's Bootheel and the southern Ozarks. Parker earned 30,429 votes.

Parker's message was similar to the one he spread in 2010. With the slogan "Take America Back," Parker continued to attack Emerson's conservative credentials, hammering Emerson for her voting record over the years, such as supporting a $700 billion bank bailout, the Cash for Clunkers automobile incentive program and embryonic stem-cell research.

From a gathering spot in Poplar Bluff, Mo., Parker said of course he was disappointed in the results -- especially that the final vote was so similar to the one in 2010. Parker believed he had gained momentum as he worked the campaign trail and earned support from the largely tea party movement.

"It's hard to believe that we're still at that level with the support we've gotten across the district," Parker said. "We're surprised at the numbers. But we love our country and we're still going to work hard to educate the people about what's going on."

Parker said the voters have spoken and he respects their decision. But he added that he wasn't sure they understood the consequences of what he called a fiscal policy that spends more money than the country can afford.

"Eventually, they'll get the connection that voting for people who spend their money irresponsibly isn't the way to go," Parker said.

Parker said he has not decided whether he will run again in 2014.

Emerson maintained Tuesday that she has conservative values and a conservative voting record, but she realizes that constituents of the district want her to work with others to get things done.

"I may not be as conservative as some would like, but I have the ability to reach consensus with members of my party that are more liberal in my party and people on the other side of the aisle," Emerson said.

Emerson noted that, while Parker has labeled her a career politician, she worked many years in the private sector before being elected in 1997, following the death of her husband, former congressman Bill Emerson. One way she was successful in private business, she said, was by reaching goals and solving problems.

"Sadly, there are some who if it's not 100 percent of what they want, it's not good enough," Emerson said. "But if you can beat the other party 85 percent of the time, that's a win."

Emerson will face Democrat Jack Rushin of Poplar Bluff and Libertarian Rick Vandeven of Chaffee, Mo., in the November general election. Both men were unopposed in their party primaries.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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