LiberTea Rally For Ron Paul Excludes Gerhart?

Today's scheduled "LiberTea Rally For Ron Paul" apparently does not include controverial Sooner Tea Party leader Al Gerhart, but it does include a representative of the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee.

Gerhart, known for his intemperate outbursts, attacks on others and extreme positions, recently criticized OCPAC leader Charlie Meadows, indicating a rift in the ranks of the ultra-conservative movement.

The list of speakers for this afternoon's event does not include Gerhart.

The keynote speaker is Adam Kokesh, a veteran of the Iraq War. Other speakers include Rep. Charles Key (R-Oklahoma City), former Senator Randy Brogdon, OCPAC Vice President Richard Engle, and Young Americans for Liberty UCO Chapter Vice President Kyle Platt.

Attempts to reach rally planner Lukus Collins for comment on Gerhart's exclusion were unsuccessful.

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The Constitution's Editor Responds To Gerhart

Steve Byas

 Earlier this week. we reported on Al Gerhart's attacks on the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee's leader, Charlie Meadows, and The Oklahoma Constitution newspaper, which annually publishes a rating of all members of the House and Senate.

Gerhart, using his Sooner Tea Party newsletter, criticized Meadows and The Constitution, leading some to conclude there's a rift in the ultra-conservative ranks.

Today, The Consitution's respected editor, Steve Byas, responded to Gerhart's criticism: "I think that Gerhart is consumed by his own self-importance. One of the frustrating things for me the past few years is the tendency of some folks to call the Conservative Index the OCPAC Conservative Index. Of course, it is not. We use them as judges, and they no more own the Index than Perez Hilton owns the Miss USA pageant. Charlie Meadows certainly does not pick the issues used. He can make suggestions, as do others, including legislators. However, Ron (McWhirter) and I decide which issues to submit to the group for a vote, to narrow it down to 10. We also reserve the right to modify things, or take it back from OCPAC's input altogether. For example, we strive to have a broad range of issues, and not let the Index be overloaded with one type of issue. Generally, the final ten votes are the top ten of the OCPAC vote, but we might put #11 into the Index, if #10 is an issue that has already been covered by another issue in the Index.

"We try very hard to have an accurate Index, an Index that truly represents the broad range of conservative principles. Obviously, we don't have anything on foreign policy or national defense, because these are STATE issues on our Index."

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Blog: Take A Breath, Al

From The Oklahoma Truth Council ~ The stress of constant, political intrigue may have finally gotten the best of Al Gerhart. The leader of the Sooner Tea Party came out with his weekly thoughts on recent Oklahoma politics, and chose to make some insinuations that may reflect Al’s need for a vacation, or to at least to step back and take a breath.

To start, Gerhart decided to attack Speaker Kris Steele for emailing legislators and notifying them of a birth in the “House Family.” Rep. Skye McNeil (sic) has recently welcomed another child into the world. Gerhart went so far as to imply that the child might be deformed or at the very least “bullied” for the child’s name. He also infers that the child’s paternity might be in question due to the child’s middle name.

Seriously? Have we gotten to the point in Oklahoma politics that we attack newborn children for the crime of being born? Can’t we patiently wait until they marry rich scarf aficionados and start their own indie rock band?

We understand, first hand, how difficult it is to process all the rumors, rifts and rants that circulate around 23rd and Lincoln, but Gerhart may want to adopt a policy of “trust but verify.” While the House may provide most, if not all, of his information, he should remember that certain legislators like to color history to improve their showing. The House Freshman can try to lay claim to stopping the Fallincare Exchanges, but true credit goes to Sen. Bill Brown who put his foot down and President Pro Tem Brian Bingman who joined him.

Gerhart is on the front lines of political activism, and it is an exhausting place to be for an extended time. It is easy to see demons behind every bush, but it is important to remember perspective.

For example:

Mike McCarville may not be a fan, but he is from another era of politics, one where political activists were businessmen or single issue conferences, not anonymous blogs, tea parties or mass citizens gathering at the Capitol with petitions.

Skye McNeil (sic) was most likely not passed over for Speaker due to her ideology, but her gender. Oklahoma has never had a female Speaker. Jari Askins was in line for it but the Republicans took control that year, and Askins became the first and only female Oklahoma House Minority Leader. When it comes to Oklahoma Speakers they are following the same trends as the presidency, a black man had to come before a woman.

Oklahoma is well served when its people are informed and engaged in the political process, but that can only happen when its leaders, spokespeople, and commentators are refreshed and ready to do the job at hand. Rushing to judgement, attacking infants and carrying the water for a certain Representative’s personal agenda is beneath the capabilities of one of Oklahoma’s most outspoken organizations.

We hope that Gerhart and the Sooner Tea Party take this joyous season to have a Merry Christmas and relax, refresh and renew for the battles that are sure to come with the New Year and new Session.

Congratulations to Rep Skye McNeil (sic) on the addition to her household, may she be a blessing to your family!

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Gerhart Mocks Steele Disability

Kris Steele

Al Gerhart's loathing for House Speaker Kris Steele has resulted in Gerhart mocking Steele's physical disability. It's the newest attack by Gerhart, who claims Steele is a "Republican in name only" and isn't conservative enough.

Skye McNiel

Gerhart's latest diatribe against Steele actually came in an attack on Rep. Skye McNiel, who just gave birth to her daughter, named Sami Steele McNiel.

Writing in the Sooner Tea Party newsletter, Gerhart refers to McNiel as "perennially pregnant" and said the birth announcement, coming from Steele's office, was "even more than a little bit creepy, approaching appalling...."

And then Gerhart writes: "The parents named the baby after Speaker Steele...as in Sami Steele McNiel. Did the baby, God forbid, have a bad leg or something? Is she now destined to be shot with a Daisy BB gun by one of her friends resulting in a six figure settlement? Perhaps Speaker Steele might reconsider those caps on legal damages if his namesake might have to walk, uh, hobble in his footsteps."

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Al Gerhart And Charlie Meadows Buddies? Not!

You'd think Charlie Meadows and Al Gerhart would be buddies, soldiers-in-arms against liberals and moderates who don't agree with their ultra-conservative agendas.

But today, there's evidence of a rift that some speculate could erupt as time passes.

Al Gearhart

The evidence comes from the combative Gerhart's Sooner Tea Party newsletter, in which he attacks Meadows, of the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee, for his selection of House and Senate votes in the The Oklahoma Constitution's Conservative Index and paints Meadow, in words and a cartoon, as a goofball who doesn't know what he's doing.

To some, it appears there's a battle between the two over which is the bearer of the ultra-conservative label and the perceived power that might accrue to the one with that label.

Charlie Meadows

Meadows has held that title for years, railing against liberals and "RINOs," or "Republicans In Name Only." Meadows often is unpleasant in his attacks on those with whom he disagrees, but there's uniform agreement that he's become the de facto leader of a group of dedicated conservatives who belong to OCPAC. And love him or hate him, Meadows, longtime member of the John Birch Society, has become a force in GOP politics and the group's endorsement has carried weight in some GOP primaries. Meadows, unlike Gerhart, has been a GOP activist for many years.

Gerhart is a relative newcomer to the public political wars, and to the Republican Party. Until December 2009, he was a registered Independent. He's parlayed his dominance of the Sooner Tea Party into some degree of public awareness and relentlessly pounds those who don't measure up to his "standard" of conservative thought, including some fellow Tea Party activists.

Unlike Gerhart, Meadows doesn't label virtually every Republican legislator a RINO. Gerhart puts about three-fourths of GOP legislators in that category, targeting some for special scorn.

And now, it appears Meadows and the venerable The Oklahoma Constitution are among his latest targets.

'This isn't about conservatism. It's about power.'

"This isn't about conservatism," said one observer, a GOP official known as a conservative. "It's about power. Charlie has it, Al doesn't and he wants it. This is part of the schism in the arch-conservative ranks over 'how conservative is conservative?' and who decides the answer."

A second long-time GOP activist and worker said The Oklahoma Constitution has been the "benchmark" for conservatives for more than 30 years. "It's been around as long as The McCarville Report," she quipped.

She said she's mystified by Gerhart's attack on Meadows and The Constitution, edited and managed since shortly after its inception by Steve Byas of Norman.

"We've thought that 2012 would see the continuing battle between the arch conservatives and those they label as RINOs, which is the House leadership. Now, it looks like the battle's going to be among the arch conservatives. Al Gerhart may have started something he can't finish. In the long run, Charlie will have him for lunch."

Meadows may have provided the spark that set Gerhart off; writing in his regular email newsletter, Meadows calmly discussed the Tea Party and wrote that while it is most viable in rural areas, it's not much of a force in the state's two largest cities. If that was meant as a put-down of Gerhart, it was low-key and much kinder than Gerhart's subsequent attack on Meadows.

This isn't Gerhart's first public battle. His penchant for promoting a militia through the Tea Party and attacking then-GOP Chairman Gary Jones caused several groups that had affiliated with him to cut their ties. Gerhart's been described by some as a bully using the Tea Party label to further his personal agenda.

Gerhart's latest diatribe against Meadows and The Constitution alleges "Charlie dropped the ball this session when the Index was corrupted, allowing RINO legislators to claim conservative values for the upcoming 2012 elections, and harming some good solid conservatives by labeling them as RINOs."

He then goes on to tout his own rating system, the prelude to which indicates Gerhart has input from a member, or members, of the Legislature. The knowledge displayed of bills obviously comes from an insider in the legislative process.

In presenting its Index, The Constitution reported, "This issue of The Oklahoma Constitution presents the 33rd annual Oklahoma Conservative Index, rating our state legislators. Members of each house of the Oklahoma Legislature were rated on ten key votes. A favorable vote on these issues represents a belief in limited government, individual liberty, free enterprise, constitutional government, and traditional standards.

"After taking suggestions from many conservative leaders, the staff of the Oklahoma Constitution submitted bills to a vote of the membership of the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee (OCPAC) for recommendations of the ten key votes."

Gerhart's scorn isn't restricted to Meadows.

In the newsletter, he excoriates Rep. "Amnesty George" Faught; Faught's son, Jamison, Muskogee blogger and Muskogee Tea Party leader; and Rep. Glen Mulready, who's just drawn an opponent touted by Gerhart.

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