Jones: GRDA Problems During Easley Era

Auditor & Inspector Gary Jones is out with a report on the Grand River Dam Authority under previous manager Kevin Easley that raises serious questions.

Read Pat McGuigan's comprehensive story at www.capitolbeatok.com or Peter J. Rudy's report at www.oklahomawatchdog.org.

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Documents Link Oklahoma Democrats, ACORN

By Jerry Bohnen/NewsRadio 1000 KTOK ~ Even as ACORN faces more allegations of wrongdoing nationally, claims are leveled against the organization by Oklahoma Republicans that it received possible illegal help from the State Democratic party in targeting GOP legislators for defeat.

The allegations come from state GOP chairman Gary Jones and Republican State Representative Mike Reynolds of Oklahoma City.

A spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Democratic party declined to comment to the claims.

Jones and Reynolds maintain that documents gleaned from an abandoned ACORN computer in south Oklahoma City are the basis for their allegations.

Reynolds, a computer expert, obtained the computer after ACORN abandoned the office and left behind a computer and hundreds of files and papers. The office landlord was going to trash the materials but referred them to Reynolds, as KTOK reported last year prior to the November elections. Now Reynolds has managed to retrieve the files from the computer and they reveal what appears to be a direct and close-working relationship between ACORN and state Democrats.

In one document, ACORN planned to target five different Senate and House seats and wanted to defeat Republican legislators and elect Democrats. View PDF Document. The districts in question were Senate Districts 33 and 43 and House Districts 85, 87 and 93.

Another document indicated ACORN's plans to take control of city halls in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Still another under ACORN letterhead was a letter sent out under the name of an Oklahoma City Democratic State Senator (Andrew Rice).

"The route to power is two fold," said one ACORN document. "First, build powerful city organizations in Oklahoma City and Tulsa that can control these municipalities."

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SPR: Boren Challenge A Non-starter?

By Hastings Wyman/Southern Political Report ~ “I think they’re whistling Dixie” says veteran Oklahoma political journalist Mike McCarville about the GOP’s targeting of three-term US Rep. Dan Boren (D) in Oklahoma’s 2nd District (Muskogee, etc.). McCarville, who writes “The McCarville Report,” points out that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) targeted Boren based on McCain’s strong showing (66%) in the district, “but Boren carried the district by even more (73%).”

University of Oklahoma political scientist Keith Gaddie echoes this sentiment.

“If (US Rep.) Tom Cole (R-OK) was still running the NRCC, he would tell them not to bother.”

Gaddie points out that some 40% of the registered Democrats in the state are in the 2nd district, which encompasses the area known as “Little Dixie;” moreover, it is the fourth poorest rural congressional district in the United States, so it is especially prone to vote Democratic during economic recession.

Oklahoma Democrats are confident that Boren will win.

“Boren really listens to the needs of the 2nd District,” says Karina Henderson, communications director for the state Democrats. “They are very satisfied with him.”

Boren’s strength has several sources. For starters, he comes from a high-profile political family. His father served as Oklahoma’s governor and US Senator, and is currently president of the University of Oklahoma.

For a Democrat, Congressman Boren has a strongly conservative record. As of 2006, the National Journal rated him an average of 49% liberal, 51% conservative. He is a member of the Blue Dogs group of right-leaning Democrats, is on the board of directors of the National Rifle Association, and in 2008 declined to endorse Obama. Moreover, Boren has a whopping $1.2 million in his war chest, while none of his opponents has demonstrated any significant fundraising ability.

But Gaddie doesn’t think the GOP is totally off the wall in targeting Boren. “The reason the NRCC is targeting the district is to keep Dan Boren and the other Blue Dogs honest,” i.e., to keep the pressure on Boren and others so that they don’t back all of Obama’s liberal domestic initiatives.

Despite the widely held perception that Boren is unbeatable, five candidates are competing for the Republican nomination to oppose Boren next year. And while none are A-list -- i.e., have the sort of political experience and/or financial prospects that make for a winning candidate -- it is a sign of deeply held resentments here about the Obama Administration and its policies that five upstanding citizens are challenging the incumbent Democrat.

Moreover, there is some evidence that they have already had an impact on the strong-as-onions Boren. He has now decided he will hold a town hall meeting, where health care will be the hot topic. This after one of the GOPers, Dan Arnett, blasted Boren for planning to have a “phone-in” meeting rather than come face-to-face with voters on the issue. Arnett planned to hold his own meeting in front of one of Boren’s district offices.

The five candidates, all of whom espouse a conservative viewpoint, include:

Dan Arnett, 25, was born and raised in Henryetta in the district. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history and political science at Oklahoma Christian University, where his studies included a semester in Vienna, Austria. He is now in his final semester of law school at Drexel University. He has worked with the Public Defender’s Association in Philadelphia and with the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office. Arnett filed with the FEC on April 30, but has not yet filed a financial report.

Dan Edmonds was born and raised in the district, where his family was involved in the horse and cattle business. He has a master’s degree in agriculture and is working on his doctorate from Oklahoma State University. He served as an intern on farm policy with several state and federal lawmakers and has traveled around the world working with local farmers on agricultural practices. He is active in church and civic affairs. He filed with the FEC on August 7.

Bert Fisher was raised in Tulsa, received a bachelor’s degree in engineering from West Point, and served in Vietnam. After receiving an MBA from Ohio State University, he returned to Oklahoma, where he has worked in finance, manufacturing management, petroleum engineering, and sales engineering. He has not yet filed with the FEC.

Howard Houchen recently completed a 1,100-mile meeting, greeting and speaking tour of the district. He is a small businessman (All American Garage Doors, Inc.) and contributing writer to several conservative publications. He also served on the Hugo City Council. He was raised in the district and in Asia, where his stepfather worked for a US oil company. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Oklahoma and a master’s in National Security Studies from American Military University. Houchen has filed with the FEC, but as of July 7, had not raised the $5,000 minimum that requires a financial report.

Charles Thompson is a veterinarian who was born and raised in the 2nd District. He served in the military. Although he has not formally entered the race, he is appearing around the district.

“These have stepped up on their own,” says Oklahoma Republican state chairman Gary Jones; “They were not recruited.” Jones noted that they are all well-educated “and are people that could truly represent the district.” He added that the party is “not actively out there” looking for other challengers, although the NRCC has indicated that it is talking to other contenders.

A potential sixth contender, state Rep. Tad Jones (R), a six-term legislator who is term-limited in 2010, is not expected to run. Jones would have brought some political heft to the race, although he would still have been an underdog to Boren.

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Gary Jones Wins Resounding Reelection Victory

State Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones won reelection today by a margin of almost 4-to-1 over challenger Cheryl Williams, who sought to move up from the vice chairman's seat.

Convention delegates also voted overwhelmingly to keep the party's presidential primary instead of replacing it with a caucus system, Jones said.

Senator Tom Coburn urged delegates to oppose the switch to a caucus, saying it will dilute the party's message and result in divisions among Republicans in the state.

Coburn also deflected criticism of his vote in favor of a federal bailout package, saying it was the right vote to cast for the security of the nation's financial system.

"If that's the only vote you've got against me, you're in trouble," Coburn said after a convention delegate chastised him for his support of the bill. "To do the right best thing for the country, rather than the right best thing for the politician, is a good way to lead this country."

Coburn also renewed his criticism of a federal report on right-wing extremism by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent this month to law enforcement officials that suggest military veterans and Americans with certain conservative beliefs could be potential terrorists.

"It's a signal of how disconnected Washington is from society," Coburn said. "Dissent is the purest form of patriotism. "The people she (Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano) was describing fits the description of every one of our founding fathers."

Senator Randy Brogdon, who said today he will join Congresswoman Mary Fallin in seeking the GOP nomination for governor, was given a warm reception by those in attendance.

Fallin told that she can be the conservative leader who moves Oklahoma forward. She said she shares the frustration of other conservatives over the Obama administration’s support of higher taxes and bigger government. With the president and Congressional liberals pursuing a series of “misguided” initiatives, Fallin said Oklahomans should not look to Washington for help.

“It is up to us on the state level to enact the reforms that will help insulate us from the misguided policies of the Obama administration and do what Oklahomans have always done: roll up our sleeves and do the right thing,” said Fallin. “Now is the time to put our state on the path to long-term economic stability and prosperity. It is up to us to get Oklahoma moving again, out of recession, out of stagnation, out of the past and into the future.”

Fallin listed the economy, education, health care and tort reform as some of the issues the state needs to focus on.

Former Speaker of the House Todd Hiett said he liked what he heard. “Mary is going to be a great governor,” said Hiett. “She has been serving this state for over 19 years, and she has always been an effective advocate for Oklahoma. She’s got what it takes to move this state forward.”

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GOP Convention Addresses Primary, Leadership

This weekend's Republican state convention in Oklahoma City could generate considerable heat.

With a contested race for chairman and a battle to change the GOP's presidential primary system, interest in the event has grown.

The two issues are intertwined; the group pushing the change from a primary to caucus presidential system includes many of the same who seek to oust incumbent Chairman Gary Jones in favor of challenger Cheryl Williams.

The group includes arch-conservative Republicans, including national committeeman James Dunn; Rep. Mike Ritze of Broken Arrow; Rep. Charles Key of Oklahoma City; and Charlie Meadows, a Guthrie house painter and leader of the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee.

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GOP Convention Faces Leadership Contest

Former congressional field representative and Norman attorney L. Don Smitherman has announced that he will seek the Vice-Chairman slot for the Oklahoma Republican Party at the Republican State Convention on Saturday, April 18.

Party rules require the Chair and Vice Chair to be of different gender. Smitherman will team with current State Vice-Chair Cheryl Williams in her campaign for chairman.

Incumbent Chairman Gary Jones is seeking reelection.

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Angie LaPlante Seeks No. 2 GOP Spot

Veteran Republican activist Angie LaPlante of Edmond will run for vice-chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party as part of a ticket with Chairman Gary Jones, who is seeking reelection.

LaPlante is the current First Vice-President of the Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women (OFRW). She served as President of the Edmond Republican Women's Club (ERW) from 2004-2006. During that time membership increased over 400%. She helped set up and run the Edmond Republican headquarters and their 72-Hour "Elephant Stampede" Program in 2004, where they distributed over 40,000 pieces of campaign literature. Her efforts paid off with every Edmond legislator winning their elections.

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GOP's Jones Says He'll Seek Reelection

Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones said today he'll seek reelection.

Jones has been chairman during the GOP's historic increase in power, winning control of the State Senate and solidfying its control of the House. In 2008, Oklahoma was the only state in the nation where every county went red for the McCain-Palin presidential ticket, helping Oklahoma down ballot candidates, Jones said. McCain's 65.4% share of the vote in Oklahoma was the highest in the nation.

Senator Tom Coburn applauded the announcement by Jones: "Chairman Jones has put together a good team at the Oklahoma Republican Party that is proven and ready to lead us in the critical 2010 elections. Our statewide wins in 2008 helped take the majority in the Oklahoma Senate for the first time in state history, and we will need this type of leadership going into the 2010 election cycle. I wholeheartedly support Chairman Jones in his re-election," Coburn said.

Jones was instrumental in publicizing campaign finance irregularities in the campaigns of former Auditor & Inspector Jeff McMahan, who subsequently was convicted on multiple felonies in federal court and now faces nine years in prison. Jones opposed McMahan in the 2002 and 2006 general elections.

Jones will face a challenge from party vice chair Cheryl Williams, who said many Republicans doubt Jones will be able to resist the urge to run for auditor again in 2010, this time against appointed incumbent Steve Burrage. Jones said he will not run.

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Jones Claims Roth, Fina Violate State Law

Republican State Chairman Gary Jones (pictured) says today that Democratic Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth and his top aide, Mike Fina, are violating state law that prohibits political activity by Commission employees.

Jones said, "Mike Fina is a familiar sight at Jim Roth campaign events assisting Roth wherever he goes. He was recently seen in a YouTube video where Roth asks him to assist him escape a persistent young student reporter who questioned Roth about the large amount of contributions from special interest to the Jim Roth campaign. Problem is both Roth and Fina are breaking the law."

Jones cited Title 17 of Oklahoma Statutes. He said Chapter 9, Section 180.4, reads, No employee of the Corporation Commission in the unclassified service, shall, directly or indirectly, solicit, receive, or in any manner be concerned in soliciting or receiving any assessment, subscription or contribution for any political organization, candidacy or other political purpose; and no employee of the Commission in the unclassified service shall solicit or receive any such assessment, subscription or contribution from an employee in the classified service. No employee of the Corporation Commission in the unclassified service shall be a candidate for nomination or election to any paid public office, or take part in the management or affairs of any political campaign, except to exercise his right as a citizen privately to express his opinion and to cast his vote.

Jones said, "This week Roth was caught violating the law by having and distributing campaign material at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and now we find he and his press secretary are further violating.... Roth, an attorney, must think that laws are something everyone else has to live by, not him. Oklahoma voters might see it a little different November 4th."

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Roth's Campaign Materials In State Office

Why does Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth keep campaign materials in his state office?

The question comes as Republican State Chairman Gary Jones rips Roth for passing out a business card with information about Roth's campaign on it.

Jones says he sent a party staffer to Roth's Corporation Commission office to see what cards Roth was handing out at his state office.

State ethics rules forbid distributing campaign materials in a state building.

Roth spokesman Mike Fina says the incident was a mistake when a receptionist picked up the wrong stack of cards after a visitor asked for Roth's business card; Fina did not explain why campaign materials were in Roth's state office.

Roth faces Republican Dana Murphy in the Nov. 4 election.

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Lerblance: 'Slap an L on my forehead'

Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones said today that he agrees with State Senator Richard Lerblance on one important issue: Lerblance is a liberal.

"Richard Lerblance has turned campaigning as a conservative and legislating as a liberal into an art form," Jones said. "I must agree with Richard Lerblance's statement on opea.org," the website of the Oklahoma Public Employees union.

"He is a liberal."

"I've been called a 'liberal'...slap an 'L' on my forehead," Lerblance proclaimed, defending his big-spending record on opea.org.

"Richard Lerblance claims in his campaign materials to hold positions that he knows the voters in his conservative district prefer," Jones said, "but while pandering for the votes of the 450 state employees living in Senate District 7, he gladly boasts about his liberal, big-spending voting record.

"I'm sure he thought this stark admission would be maintained in the privacy of a website that few voters would ever visit, but Richard Lerblance has exposed himself as the liberal his fellow Senators know him to be," Jones continued.

"The jig is up, Senator. Not only will we follow your advice and slap an 'L' on your forehead as you suggest, but the voters of District 7 will slap an 'L' for 'loser' on your record on election day."

Lerblance faces Republican Kenny Sherrill.

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Jones Cites Roth's 'Pure campaign propaganda'

Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones today chastised appointed Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth for turning a recent case before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission into pure campaign propaganda in order to present himself as a "'White Knight' riding in to save Oklahoma ratepayers from those 'Evil Other Commissioners and Commission Staffers,' whom Roth described as 'rubber stamps for special interests.'

"The problem is that Jim Roth’s comments are long on political rhetoric and short on facts. Calling an agency like the Commission a rubber stamp infers that as a whole, it is in the pocket of some special interest," Jones said. "One has to wonder what special interests that he is referring to, as his own campaign seems to be very familiar with special interests.

"Jim Roth's statement has the fingerprints of chief political advisor Pat Hall all over it. When Hall is not acting as Roth's political advisor, he is a lobbyist for the very companies Roth regulates," Jones continued. "Roth's rather lengthy statement appears to satisfy Hall's clients, both political and corporate.

"Who is Jim Roth to question the integrity of other Commissioners like Bob Anthony, a true champion for all Oklahoma citizens? For Roth to imply that Jeff Cloud, Denise Bode, Ed Apple and Cody Graves did not properly represent Oklahoma citizens is an insult to those Commissioners and the employees of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission as a whole," Jones concluded.

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RNC Corrects Oklahoma Delegate Vote

The Republican National Convention's official tally of Oklahoma's 41 votes has been changed to show 39 for John McCain and 2 for Ron Paul, State Chairman Gary Jones was notified today.

An RNC official told Jones of the change, prompted by the earlier erroneous listing of all 41 delegate votes for McCain.

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Coffee Joins Call For Probe Into Donations

Republican Senate leader Glenn Coffee today joined Republican State Chairman Gary Jones in calling for an investigation into donations that go "well beyond moral and legal limits."

Said Coffee: "The evidence presented today by Chairman Gary Jones shows a disturbing lack of regard for the spirit and the letter of Oklahoma Ethics rules and campaign law. The 18 PACs that were formed -- several within hours of the June 30 deadline for PAC-to-PAC contributions -- and received maximum donations from the Working Oklahomans Alliance PAC just prior to that deadline, are evidence of a clearly orchestrated effort on the part of a significant and affluent segment of the opposing party's campaign apparatus to assert influence on the election process that goes well beyond moral and legal limits.

"This is a very complicated matter. When one starts peeling back more layers of this onion, this thing could smell even worse.

"Considering the slow pace of justice, I trust that the appropriate authorities -- both at the state and federal levels -- will not let this matter fester, and will launch immediate investigations into this egregious breach of the public trust."

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Jones Seeks Ethics Panel Probe, Says 18 PACs Used To Funnel Workers Comp Donations

From The Oklahoma Republican Party ~ Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones said today that it’s time to quit playing politics with the issue of campaign ethics violations in Oklahoma and called on Oklahoma Democrat Chairman Ivan Holmes to join him in putting a stop to illegal contributions and ensure that no Oklahoma elections are determined with the use of illegal or unethical contributions.

“Several months ago I asked Chairman Holmes to join with me for the purpose of making Oklahoma elections fair and equitable,” Jones said. “If Chairman Holmes truly wants fair elections he will work together to help put a stop to the sleazy politics that have plagued our state’s past.

“In 2002 I had an election stolen from me with over $150,000 in illegal contributions to my opponent. It wasn’t until after the 2006 rematch that the majority of my opponent’s contributions were confirmed as improper,” Jones said. “I don’t want to see any other candidate, Democrat or Republican, have an election stolen as a result of illegal funding.

“Chairman Holmes stated he has concerns that he wants looked at. I, too, have concerns,” Jones continued.

“Let’s both just lay our concerns on the table and demand that the rules be followed.”

“Recent on-line reporting and internet access to contribution reports has allowed Oklahoma citizens to view reports and closer scrutinize those contributions,” Jones explained. “It was that access that helped make the connections that led to the indictment and conviction of many who violated campaign laws and violated the public trust.

“I am alarmed by the funds received and distributed by the Working Oklahomans Alliance PAC. The funds are collected from injured workers by their workers compensation attorneys; recent articles in the Oklahoman say the contributions could total over $1,000,000 and many supposed contributors say they didn’t know they were making political contributions,” Jones said. “Funds from the Working Oklahomans Alliance have been funneled into at least 18 other political action committees.

“These practices appear to be unethical and possibly criminal as well,” Jones asserted. “It is imperative that the Oklahoma Bar Association investigate this activity and the attorneys involved be held responsible, and possibly disbarred if appropriate.

“I call on the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to immediately open an investigation and a put a stop to this before any candidate gets elected with illegal or unethical funds,” Jones said. “Any candidate who has accepted these funds should immediately dispose of these tainted contributions.

“Recently Attorney General Drew Edmondson made a gift from his campaign funds to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. Chairman Holmes has been asking for more funding for the ethics commission. I hope he will join me in asking anyone who has accepted a contribution from anyone tied to this scheme give that as a gift to the Ethics Commission to investigate this and any concerns Holmes or others might have,” Jones concluded.

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Jones: MoveOn.org Attacks Boost Fallin

State Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones today said radio commercials from the far left MoveOn.org, funded by ultra-liberal George Soros, attacking Fifth District Congresswoman Mary Fallin will only boost her campaign for re-election.

“Thanks, Move On,” Jones said. “All you are doing is reminding Oklahoma voters that Mary Fallin has been a key leader in the House for alleviating our energy crisis. These silly ads will backfire on the left and the George Soros-Hollywood crowd that financed them.

Jones said the commercials, which accuse Fallin of supporting “big oil” by calling for more drilling, ignore her sponsorship of the American Energy Act, which would also strengthen conservation efforts and fund aggressive research and development of alternative energy sources- an approach called “all of the above.”

“Move On called General David Petraeus, the leader of the American military forces in Iraq, 'General Betray Us' because he wanted to win the war and disagreed with their calls for immediate surrender,” Jones said. “They are a voice for the far left, and they are so far out of touch with the beliefs of Oklahomans that their ads will simply make most people mad at them.”

Jones said five Move On representatives delivered a petition to Fallin’s Oklahoma City district office this week.

“They came in cars,” he said. “They really should have been there thanking Mary Fallin for working to relieve high gas prices. Their time would be better spent asking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to stop blocking a vote on the American Energy Act to allow our country to move on all fronts to increase domestic energy supplies from all sources.”

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Jones: Was Murphy Promised Judge's Seat?

Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones (right) said today that Governor Brad Henry, Senate Democrat leaders, and former judge Robert Murphy should provide the public a full accounting about whether former Murphy was promised a judicial appointment if he loses the race for the open Senate District 21 seat.

A few weeks ago Murphy resigned his elected position as Associate District Judge to seek the Senate District 21 seat, but now Murphy has filed paperwork with the Judicial Nominating Commission to be reinstated to his former position.

"Murphy’s attempt to get his judgeship back while in the middle of a State Senate campaign is a very fishy development. It doesn’t pass the smell test," stated Jones. "The people have a right to know whether Bob Murphy was promised his judgeship back after losing the State Senate race. The governor, Senate Democrat leaders, and Mr. Murphy owe the people a complete disclosure and a full accounting of what commitments were made to convince Murphy to run for the State Senate," he said.

If Murphy is selected as a finalist from among the applicants for the judgeship by the Judicial Nominating Commission, Henry could then appoint Murphy to fill the vacant judgeship that Murphy resigned in June, Jones said.

With Murphy now seeking a judgeship in addition to running for a Senate seat, Jones also urged Murphy to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest by returning contributions made to his Senate campaign by trial lawyers.

"In his prior statements to the press, Bob Murphy has said, ‘we need a state senator who isn't beholden to any special money interests.’ But since that time Murphy has done the opposite, getting almost 70% of all of his funds from the trial lawyer lobby," said Jones. "I'm sure there are members of the trial bar who would be concerned about refusing to donate money to Murphy’s Senate campaign given the very real possibility that he will be presiding over their cases again after the election."

Murphy, Jones said, is "no stranger to conflicts of interest. While serving as Associate District Judge, Murphy was removed by the Oklahoma Supreme Court as the presiding judge in the criminal trial of convicted Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols for allowing a conflict of interest to develop between himself and a law firm.

"You would think that once you were disqualified publicly by the Oklahoma Supreme Court for an apparent conflict of interest, you would do your best to never allow for any allegations of that to be made in the future," said Jones. "Accepting trial lawyer money in such huge amounts when you very well could be presiding again over their court cases doesn't cut it."

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Jones Calls For Alliance Investigation

Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones said today an official investigation is needed into the secretive Working Oklahomans Alliance, whose donations to Democrats were revealed on Sunday by The Oklahoman.

Jones' remarks came today during an interview with Reid Mullins on KTOK. Jones said he's called for an investigation into such activities for more than a year.

The Oklahoman reported, "A secretive organization has raised close to $1 million throughout the last decade for political purposes, mostly from injured workers who sometimes don't even know they've donated."

The paper reported that some injured workers listed as political donors to the Working Oklahomans Alliance "were represented by Norman attorney Richard Bell, a key figure in a campaign corruption scandal in the 1990s involving then-Gov. David Walters."

Jones for years called for investigations into the funding of Jeff McMahan's campaigns as auditor and inspector. McMahan, who twice defeated Jones for the post, and his wife now face prison terms on federal felony counts.

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Republicans Win Top Ballot Spots

Election Board Secretary Mike Clingman supervised a drawing on Monday that placed the names of Republican candidates first on the November 4th general election ballot.

“We’ll take it,” Republican Party Chairman Gary Jones said as Kitti Asberry, vice chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, opened a sealed envelope to determine which party’s candidates would be listed first.

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LGBT Leader Apologizes For 'Iwo Jima' Ad, Says Candidates Are 'Blameless'

By Michael McNutt/Capitol Bureau, The Oklahoman ~ The co-chairman of a state political organization apologized Tuesday for an ad supporting several Democratic candidates that depicted four shirtless men posed similar to the famous photograph of five Marines and a Navy corpsman raising the American flag on Iwo Jima during World War II.

Jones Says Ad 'Reprehensible'

"We did not have permission from the candidates whose names appeared in the ad and they did not approve the ad beforehand,” said Steve VanHook, co-chairman of the Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats. "They are blameless in this. ... I'm really sorry if this creates a problem for any of our candidates.”

VanHook said his group used the photograph in other ads for more than a year, but last week's ad that appeared in two weekly Oklahoma City newspapers was the first time it was used in supporting Democratic candidates.

"We apologize as well not only to the candidates but to any veterans who took offense at the ad,” VanHook said.

[Jones' comments added by TMRO.] Republican State Chairman Gary Jones said, "I was surprised to see Michael McNutt's article today in The Oklahoman titled, 'Reference by Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats to Iwo Jima improper, some say' and not see a response from any Republican. McNutt called me yesterday for my comments and I responded that this was way over the line, that this is trash and any candidate that accepts support from any group that would do this will pay the price come November.

"Simply calling this in poor taste is not enough. Jim Roth's comment about appreciating the support of the Stonewall Democrats will be remembered by Oklahomans that find the comparison of 'their struggle' to those who gave their lives and blood sacrificing for our freedom is nothing less than reprehensible.

"Roth, Rice and the others endorsed by this group should denounce the organization, return any financial contributions and disassociate themselves. Those you associate with do matter and Oklahoma voters believe that, too. This November Republican, Democrat and Independent voters will express their choices at the polls and yes, they will remember."

VanHook, whose organization is a branch of the national Stonewall Democrats, which defines its objective as striving for equal rights for all people regardless of sexual orientation, said he found the picture of the four men raising a banner on the Internet. The picture won't be used by the group again, he said.

The intent of the picture was to show "the nearly insurmountable odds of our struggle for equality,” VanHook said. It also was intended to open discussion on the group's opposition to the military's "don't ask, don't tell” policy, which prohibits any homosexual or bisexual person from disclosing his or her sexual orientation.

Robert A. Manchester III, an Oklahoma City attorney who co-founded the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial Flag Detail, said he came across the ad Tuesday morning while waiting for his wife to get ready for work.

"It was improper,” said Manchester, whose organization works to ensure an appropriate flag is always flying in Washington over the statue depicting the Iwo Jima flag raising — one of the most famous events of World War II. "I was offended by the caricature. I was startled that they would do that. It was a misuse of a heroic event.”

Ivan Holmes, chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, said the ad was not in good taste, and he faulted the group for not first contacting the candidates.
"It makes it look like they're all a part of that,” he said.

Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth, who is seeking a full six-year term, said he's thankful for the Stonewall Democrats' support, but wished they would have "voiced it in a more appropriate way.”

Voters likely won't hold it against him or other candidates in the ad when they go to the polls. Roth said.

"Oklahomans are fair-minded people,” he said. "They listen and weigh the candidates on what they say themselves.”

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