OCPA Officer’s Social Media Post Draws Apology

ocpaRandy Ellis
The Oklahoman

State senators rebuked groups for social media bullying Thursday during heated debate over a bill that would prohibit thousands of Oklahoma educators from paying union dues by state payroll deduction.

In an unusual split among conservatives, Republican state Sen. Greg Treat of Oklahoma City stood on the Senate floor and demanded an apology from the politically conservative Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs for a tweet that “abused the character of one of my colleagues.”

The tweet, put out on social media by Trent England, OCPA’s vice president of strategic initiatives, took a shot at state Sen. Jason Smalley, R-Stroud, for coming out against the bill favored by the majority of the Senate members of his party.

The tweet told Smalley not to worry because the National Education Association and Planned Parenthood “(have) got your back.”

Smalley was upset by the personal nature of the attack.

“For me, I wear a pearl on my lapel to symbolize the loss of my daughter last year,” Smalley said. “For anybody to insinuate that I support Planned Parenthood and the choice of birth is just ridiculous.”

OCPA quickly removed the tweet and apologized for its actions — not just to Smalley, but the entire Republican caucus.


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