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.
I'd vote for this guy based on that recording.
BTTT!!!!
make up some campaign buttons.."CRAPHEADS FOR CARSON"...
Republicans are ahead of the game all around this election year. They shouldn't do anymore apologizing. We GOP's should make the Dems apologize every time they say a word we don't like. We should get all offended. We should make McAwful pay for the lies that he spreads. I'm sick and tired of Gop's always being the ones to apologize. turn the tables on the mofo's.
Thats a great idea!
Don't worry. He won't apologize. When he hears of this...he'll probably say it again.
for sure
Oklahoma has crap heads too? I thought the Illinois legislature had all of them.
De nada..they should sell well..when you get the first batch..FReepmail me..you can send me one..
I'm gonna make a ton of em!!!!
What's with all this apologizing stuff? Are we officially now a nation of sissies and pansies?
HE didn't apologize. And HE won't.
The Democrats call for apologies all the time.
Governor Crap Head Blagojevich - Dem, Illinois
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