Armes: 'They hate everything we represent'

By Nolan Clay, Staff Writer, The Oklahoman ~ A legislator blames "the liberal media” for the negative publicity about lawmakers' tax problems, writing to fellow House Republicans "they hate everything we represent.”

Republican Representative Claims 'Liberal' News Media 'hate the fact that we control the House'

Rep. Don Armes called the media the enemy and wrote "they absolutely hate the fact that we control the House.”

Armes, of Faxon, was one of five legislators who got warnings last month from the Tax Commission for failing to file state income tax returns.

The Oklahoman on Jan. 20 reported on the warnings.

Armes acknowledged in the letter he should have done a better job of tending to his personal business. He wrote the letter before House Speaker Lance Cargill stepped down from the leadership post. Armes declined comment Friday.

"We are all under the microscope, and the media will stop at nothing to tear us apart,” Armes wrote. "They want us and our leader. Plug in any name or face you want into that speaker's chair. The attacks are not going to stop.”

Armes urged House Republicans to "saddle up,” put aside their differences and fight to keep control of the House. He wrote Republicans had started to make changes in the state and should keep building.
"We have to put our egos aside and fight like crazy to make sure the bigger goal is realized,” Armes wrote. "We are all elected officials, rock stars, big dogs, whatever. Oh, and I almost forgot, we are all going to be Governor.”

Another legislator affected by the tax scandal also had complaints. Rep. Gus Blackwell, R-Goodwell, withdrew from the speaker's race Thursday because he was repeatedly delinquent in paying his property taxes.

Blackwell on Friday criticized the "Pharisees” in the House who claim there has to be a higher standard of conduct for elected officials.

He told K101-FM, a Woodward country radio station: "We have in the House, quite frankly, people who have marital problems, people who've had drinking problems, people who have drug problems, people who are openly homosexual, people who have all sorts of problems. And they represent the cross section of the voters who put them there. ... If the qualification for office is that your property taxes are paid on time, then we're going to have sad leadership in the state.”

Blackwell also said, "I have done nothing ethically wrong, morally wrong or legally wrong.”

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