I love Oklahoma...I really do!
Oklahoma Ping!
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Freepmail me.
Posted on 09/10/2004 9:08:14 AM PDT by cashion
Oklahoma Democrats called on Republican Tom Coburn Thursday to apologize for remarks he made during a town hall meeting in Altus last month.
Democratic Party Chairman Jay Parmley said Coburn should be held accountable for saying economic development in Oklahoma was stymied by "a bunch of crapheads in Oklahoma City that have killed the vision of anybody wanting to invest in Oklahoma."
Coburn campaign spokesman Aaron Cooper said the Muskogee doctor and former congressman was referring to the state Legislature's attempts to address lawsuit abuse and worker compensation reform.
Coburn made the remarks at an Aug. 21 town hall meeting in Altus after a constituent asked Coburn what he would do to help bring development to southwestern Oklahoma.
Coburn and Democratic Rep. Brad Carson are campaigning for the U.S. Senate seat of Republican Sen. Don Nickles, who is retiring after 24 years in office.
Coburn's statement, as well as an anecdote of a conversation he had with House colleague Dick Armey where Coburn used an expletive to describe what kind of person it takes to be a senator, was tape-recorded by a Democratic supporter who attended Coburn's meeting, Parmley said.
"Basically Tom Coburn showed what kind of campaign he's going to run," Parmley said at a news conference Thursday. "These comments are divisive and somewhat bizarre."
Coburn was busy with campaign calls and meetings Thursday and was unable to comment on the issue, said Cooper, who called the Democrats' criticism nothing more than election season rhetoric.
"Every poll is showing that Brad Carson is losing the race. I guess it's not a surprise that the Democratic party is making an issue of a single word that Dr. Coburn used in a town meeting 19 days ago," Cooper said.
"Rest assured, Dr. Coburn will keep talking about the issues that matter to Oklahomans, and he'll do it in the honest and candid manner for which he's known for."
A poll commissioned by The Oklahoman in late August showed Coburn leading the race by a thin margin.
In the months leading up to the Nov. 2 election, Coburn hasn't been shy in criticizing his opponents or opposing viewpoints.
In debate earlier this month, Coburn characterized his race with Carson as a battle of good versus evil.
In a July interview with The Associated Press, Coburn said he favored the death penalty for "abortionist and other people who take life."
Parmley likened Coburn's glib manner to that of former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating.
"This is not silly," Parmley said. "We spent eight years with a Republican governor who talked bad about Oklahoma teachers and went around bad mouthing the state. We don't need this same behavior in the Senate. He needs to apologize."
Keating, known for his shoot-from-the-hip style, once remarked that "homicide," was the best way to deal with the state's teachers' union and called voters in Tulsa "very dumb," after his wife Cathy Keating finished second in the Republican primary for the First Congressional District.
Don't apologize, Tom.
The liberals want all Americans on the PC plantation.
Don't go.
I love Oklahoma...I really do!
Oklahoma Ping!
If you want on
or off this list
Freepmail me.
He must be talking about Turpin.
Yeah, that one's really gonna hurt.
Next Parmley's gonna compare Coburn to Jesus chasing the money-changers from the temple.
Our state has had a dysfunctional relationship between the legislature and it's taxpayers and the only people who have benefited from this are the ambulance chasers and special interests favoring the Democrats.
It's time to put an end to the corruption culture come this November. We need to change the leadership in the legislature.
Simply put, it's time to throw the bums out.
BTTT!!!!!!!!
Just more of the double standards they take for granted. They should be allowed to say and do anything, yet still think they are the guardians of the moral high ground for those who actually have standards.
Jay Parmley = Mr. Haney on "Green Acres".
A group of politicians is a shame.
With or without quotes.
that's my plan
The essence of what he said is 100% on point, and there's nothing to apologize for about that.
BTTT!!!!!!
Coburn offered the following appology this morning:
"I'm sorry that economic development in Oklahoma was stymied by a bunch of crapheads in Oklahoma City that have killed the vision of anybody wanting to invest in Oklahoma."
[;^)
What? I'm supposed to be so offended that the candidate used the word "crapheads" that I vote for BRAD CARSON? Brad's platform and agenda is far more offensive than any curse word. I for one am glad to see Coburn has his own opinions and stands by them.
BTTT!!!!
It's quite telling if you watch Carson's ads how the Democratic party is currently playing in Oklahoma. From the ones I've seen, Carson has yet to declare himself part of the Democratic Party. Maybe he thinks he can fool the metro-area folks that don't know anything about him (as he is relatively unknown anywhere but the 2nd Congressional district)? I anxiously await the debates.
Ha!
Imagine the uproar if he had called them a bunch of "Poopy Pants"!
Franks for Governor in 2006, President in 2008? 2012? 2016?
General Franks certainly has the leadership experience. I'm sure he'd learn the ropes of domestic policy quickly. Low taxes, ... oh, yeah, and he's NOT AN ATTORNEY. What an advantage.
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