An action by the Patrice Douglas for Congress campaign today apparently prompted Congressman James Lankford to issue a statement disavowing any assertion he has endorsed her in her race with Steve Russell. Lankford made it clear he has not endorsed Russell, either.
A Facebook posting first gave indication of the controversy: “Patrice Douglas has sent out a mailer today that shows James Lankford with his arm around her and saying that his integrity is at stake in the district 5 race. James has sent Steve a text stating emphatically that he did not know about this, and he is outraged over it. He has not endorsed anyone.”
The item does not contain the word endorsement; it does, in the eyes of some, imply an endorsement.
Russell said Lankford had assured him he had not endorsed Douglas.
Later, Lankford issued this statement: “Several candidates across the state and in the 5th District have recently used my name and photo in robo calls, mailers and discussions. I want to make it very clear that I am NOT endorsing any candidate for the Tuesday runoff election. I encourage each voter to make their own decisions and I respect the people of Oklahoma to make smart choices on the many great Republican candidates.”
Meanwhile, some in the Douglas camp are calling attention to Labor Commissioner Mark Costello’s telephone calls. One wrote The McCarville Report: “I got a call from Costello that sounded like they were saying Lankford endorsed Russell.. MAYBE- this is a 2 way street. I’ve already voted for Russell, cause I’ll always support men or women who have served the country. So that was the Robo call, I haven’t got anything from Particia but I’m sure a call will come anytime… It isn’t JUST 1 Candidate- it is both.”
How stupid does she think people are? This is blatant dishonesty and deceit. We need Steve Russell who can lead with conviction…not lead by deception (Patrice Douglas).
Her consulting group should be shamed out of politics in this state. I think Chicago would be more fitting for AH Strategies.
Patrice Douglas’ handlers have told lies and half truths in their dirty campaign against American hero Steve Russell. This should be the straw that lights a fire of opposition against the Douglas platform of straw.
Based upon informed principles, VOTE FOR STEVE RUSSELL!
I was threatened by the Douglas camp a few weeks back. General Rita Aragon was as well. We had been told that if we are women, we need to support women. EXCUSE ME, I vote for the right candidate. I will not vote for coercion, corruption or criminal activity – this is exactly what Douglas and her henchmen are engaging in. It is ridiculous to send any more dastardly individuals to Washington – my vote goes to Steve Russell, a man of integrity, grit, class and character!
I was told that Senator-elect Lankford approved the use of his photo on the piece that was mailed. It doesn’t say “endorse” and he didn’t.
If he didn’t approve it then it would be dishonest. As he did, then it is a fine piece.
Just got home from the movie, looked at the mail and saw Patrice Douglas’s latest ad that IMPLIED she was being endorsed by James Lankford. I thought that this was really late for him to do that. I then thought I smelled a rat, and read the mailout very carefully, and decided that James Lankford has NOT endorsed her. A casual reviewer of the mailout would have been very impressed by having James Lankford as a supporter – a clever, but unethical tactic, in my opinion.
I was not sure who to vote for (we went to the debate Thursday night), but I am now. I cannot vote for someone who would do this. It makes me wonder if there are other issues that she just might be misleading the voters about.
Cheryl: I got that same mailer today on the heels of another dirty one yesterday. She stated in that one that Steve Russell had taken thousands of dollars from “Lawyers and Lobbyists” trying to imply he was paid off by those bad people. But when I looked up the source (stated on the mailer), I found that she had taken TWICE AS MUCH from Lawyers and Lobbyists! How pathetic that she and her handlers would be so misleading… probably didn’t think anyone would check out their source.
So the Patrice campaign has spiraled down into one of deception and lies on the part of her and her handlers. Shameful!!!!!
I’m praying that a majority of the voters in the 5th district on Tuesday will be as disgusted as I am with these dirty campaign mailers and ads and vote for Steve Russell. We need to make it a point that mudslinging doesn’t work any more.
The US Chamber is not for the people, but big corporations that are crony capitalists. They recruited and funded a candidate against Cong. Justin Amash in Michigan. They have endorsed and helped fund Douglas. So a vote for Douglas is a vote for business as usual on Congress. She will be beholden to Big Money, not the People.
Douglas’ choice of Turner’s ex crew, and A.H. has created this scorched earth policy they seem to be embracing at the last minute. As the investigation into A.H. get’s closer to them, you can almost smell the desperation. Patrice must be going nuts right now after all the money they’ve wasted on this crap. We will most likely see her and A.H.’s name in the headlines sooner or later. Probably sooner.
The overriding lesson from this election will be two fold: 1. We are sick and tired of being lied to as a nation by an expert and his administration of progressives. 2. We know when we see and smell lies, and are going to do something about. Just wait til November when all Democrats with a newly found case of “conservatism” discover they couldn’t quite convince us, and it serves them right.
It’s all about trust, and Patrice Douglas doesn’t pass the test.
Surly no one is surprised by her actions. The knowledge that she used her appointed position on the Corporation Commission to cut her required work hours by 60%, with no cut in tax-payer funded salary, should have been a harbinger of what she is capable of doing. This is what someone with no ability beyond politics, no class, and no integrity will do to achieve a goal. Lord help us if someone like that reaches that goal.
Does anyone know when and where the photo of Patrice Douglas with James Lankford was taken? I can’t find it with an internet search. Did James Lankford ever have his photo taken with Steve Russell?
I am SO outraged by the political consultant generated lies in this year’s political campaigns! The implication by the Patrice Douglas campaign that James Lankford is supporting her is beyond bad! I am ashamed of this misleading effort and believe that the State GOP should take action against the campaign.