[Note: The effort by Ron Paul supporters to take control of the Republican Party in the state has become a significant development that thus far remains under-reported by the traditional news media. This is another story illustrating the controversy, as one former county chairman lashes out and another defends.]
Oklahoma County Republican State Committewoman Cheryl Williams has accused other Oklahoma County GOP officials of “lying, deceiving and manipulating the delegate lists” as the conflict between party officials and Ron Paul supporters escalates.
On her Facebook page, Williams (also a former county chairman), writes about the recent Oklahoma County GOP Convention: “All of the wrangling and procedural votes at the County Convention, I believe, are a direct result of the MISTRUST of the County Chair and the ‘expert’ who have a history of lying, deceiving, and manipulating the delegate lists to benefit the elitists and establishment. Most of the good people who attend these conventions only want the BEST for our nation, our state, and the Republican party and don’t attend to fight!
“Now what????? It is vital that everyone attend the remaining county, district and state Republican conventions AND stay involved. If we want the Republican Party in Oklahoma to be the conservative party that leads the efforts of restoring our nation and state to traditional values, we must stay involved. BUT, it also means we must hold all of our elected party officials accountable for their actions. If they are lying, cheating, using smear campaigns, or causing dissention (sic), we must stop it. Our future is at stake…our children’s future is at stake….
“I’m sure this NOTE will cause some to be uncomfortable, that is not the intent. I am standing up for what is RIGHT and finally trying to connect the dots for everyone on what was really going on at the county convention. Yesterday’s convention was a mess because of a few who tried to manipulate and ‘keep small’ the party in order to ‘keep it all’ to themselves. Their motives are not to build the party, but to limit who can be involved in their little clique. The Oklahoma Republican Party is not a social club or a country club! Membership includes all Oklahomans who decide to be registered Republican voters. Participation in the party activities is encouraged and welcomed (State Party Rules).
“I may be maligned for my stand, but I will be able to sleep at night knowing that standing up for what is RIGHT will always be the right thing to do.
“P.S. Thank you to the many Republicans, both ‘new’ and ‘old’ for being a part of the future of our party. Together we can make a difference.
Cheryl Williams
State Committee Woman
Oklahoma County Republicans”
Read all of Williams’ comments at http://www.facebook.com/notes/cheryl-williams/convention-chaos-what-was-going-on-at-the-okla-county-republican-convention-on-m/360917127263834
Another former Oklahoma County GOP Chairman, DeWayne McNally, believes Williams is “out of line” wtih these remarks.
Read his comment below.
I’m very sorry Cheryl took this approach. I feel she is out of line. I know Matt Jackson, the Oklahoma County GOP Chair, very well. Matt has bent over backwards to be fair. I preceeded Matt as County Chair. Even though I also tried to be as fair as possible, there were similar statements as Cheryl’s made about me. Matt is doing an excellant job, but you are always going to flamethrowers and malcontents. Many of these have a singular goal they hold higher than they hold what’s best for The Republican Party and the nation.
It seems to me that Ms. Williams and those aligned with her have a goal that they feel very strongly IS best for the Republican Party, and critically so for the nation. I am certain that you are similarly convinced of the virtue of your own intended path. There is obviously some disagreement about what actually is best, but I don’t think anybody is intentionally pursuing an agenda against the interest of their party or country.
Note that DeWayne McAnally didn’t deny any of the details and facts asserted by Cheryl Williams. Stating that he is “sorry Cheryl took this approach” is inadequate as a former Ok. Co. GOP Chairman. Referring to objectors as “flamethrowers and malcontents” fails to address the substance of you rather detailed narration. No person or party deserves implicit support when it actively conceals its activities like has been done in the Ok. Co. GOP.
This discussion needs to get out of personalities and intentions and talk about what really happened. If Matt Jackson “bent over backwards to be fair” then why did he not see that the delegate list for Oklahoma County was posted 10 days before the convention. Or send Emails to the delegates elected at the precinct meetings? Or allow about 50 delegates for OK county to be removed from the list and replaced by the choices of the central committee. The thing speaks for itself. This is not a case of honest misunderstandings among well intentioned people. This is the intentional disenfranchisement of American Citizens and the undermining of representative government in our republic.
I am so sorry to hear that there were problems at the OK County Convention. I was born in Oklahoma County in 1963 and graduated High School at Putnam City West in Oklahoma City. I have been living in Cleveland County in Norman since 1993.
The GOP delegates in Cleveland County, (including the fervent Ron Paul-supporting delegates) all worked hand in hand to prepare for the next crucial step in Paul’s Valley at the District 4 Convention!
Great GOP Patriots like Lori Steen, Lisa Shrieves, Les White, Bobby Cleveland and Joe Love (Precinct 32 Chair) all worked in unity of purpose to strengthen our Platform and rules in order to present them in Paul’s Valley and then again in Norman at the State Convention in May. Cleveland County GOP are quite a mix of characters, however I am convinced they all share in the NOBAMA2012!! tactical effort! Boomer Sooner! ~Craig A. Corbin, Cleveland County Precinct 32 Vice Chair
I can assure you that what Cheryl said was true.I heard the same thing from several others who were there.If I had not been on bedrest I would have been there and a lot of the credentials shenanigans would not have happened as I have worked every credential committee (til this year) and anyone who knows me knows I am not only fair,but am well versed in party rules and procedure.Kind of makes me wonder why I wasn’t asked to serve.(hmmmm)I know I have people that maybe we don’t agree on everything,but one thing they will tell you is not only am I fair,but so is Cheryl.