This photo of the Republican Women’s Legislative Caucus was taken the night of Brogdon’s call.
By Mike McCarville
Tulsa Today reports, and The McCarville Report confirms, that Republican Party Chairman Randy Brogdon recently focused his anger over the TC Ryan controversy on a female member of the Oklahoma House as other members listened.
Tulsa Today reports: “…multiple sources report that Brogdon exploded during a phone call with the OK Republican Women’s Legislative Caucus – shouting over speaker phone to these elected women leaders, ‘You women think you run the Republican Party, but you don’t.'”
It’s another signal of how divisive the Ryan controversy has become.
Brogdon’s conversation was with Rep. Pam Peterson, who at the time of the call was with other members of the Caucus at an end-of-session dinner.
Brogdon talked to Peterson in response to her privately-stated position that Ryan, with a domestic abuse guilty plea in his background, should not be employed by the Party.
Peterson listened and, when Brogdon raised his voice, those present say, Peterson hit the speaker button on her phone so the others could hear what he said.
The contentious call is another incident in what has become a troubling public saga for Brogdon and the Party.
Brogdon’s supporters have taken to issuing threats towards GOP office-holders they describe as “RINOs” and insulting social media commentators who argue Brogdon should remove Ryan from any Party leadership position. Some have issued a “talking points” email giving Brogdon’s backers specific words and phrases to use in their combined attacks. They also have questioned the motives of those who have spoken out against Ryan, claiming they are all part of a “RINO” plot to get Brogdon orchestrated by the State Chamber of Commerce to undo his election two months ago. Some of them question the motives of the chairmen of the Oklahoma and Tulsa county parties, both of whom have been critical of Brogdon’s position in refusing to dismiss Ryan and both of whom have spoken out.
There also is word that several members of the congressional delegation have made it known they will not help Brogdon so long as Ryan remains his second-in-command.
Brogdon supporters have downplayed the importance of the domestic abuse incident; several have inferred it was a minor squabble caused more by the victim than by Ryan and it happened long ago. Several of Ryan’s most vociferous defenders flatly allege it was the victim’s fault, not Ryan’s. The victim said she was left with bite and bruise marks; the incident happened in front of her 5-year-old son. Ryan was charged with domestic abuse/assault and battery and interfering with an emergency telephone call in 2012 and he entered two guilty pleas to the misdemeanor charges in 2013.
All of this plays out against the backdrop of the looming meeting of the Party State Committee, set by Brogdon for Saturday in Tulsa, when the controversy may come to a head.
It’s probably impossible to wipe the grins off of Oklahoman Democrats right now.
Now we see why Brodgon has gone so far to defend Ryan. He believes his gender is superior. As Republicans — either “establishment” or those fresh to the party, we cannot allow this to continue
” several have inferred it was a minor squabble caused more by the victim than by Ryan and it happened long ago.” If that is not disturbing to even the most conservative members of the Republican party then something is wrong. Whether is was unintentional or not, the fact is Ryan beat a woman Unacceptable unless uou apparently are ISIS. Brogdon’s narcissistic behavior will lead the Republican Party to its demise
Forget Brogdon, If Ryan was even half the man his supporters say he is, he would have already stepped aside for the good of the party and for the good of the state.
Agree. There is something wrong in the party, more than this issue. Not at all happy with rep. leadership during this last session. This makes the party look even worse.
He tried to resign when the story first broke. Brogdon refused his resignation.
The chairman appears to be a bit tetchy on this subject. I’d appreciate it if he’d spend more time getting rid of TC Ryan and less time yelling at female Republicans. Sheesh.
It is truly tragic that it has come to this. There was a time when Randy Brogdon was considered a man of sound principles. One that stood up for victims and for the values of a truly conservative party. Now, he’s the voice for domestic abusers instead of victims. He minimizes the pain and trauma that these women face.
What’s next? Can he really double down on this with the whole State Committee and believe there is a victory? Even if his appointment survives the meeting, the long term damage to the Party and to his own credibility will be devastating.
Even if he wins, he loses…
Okay, I’ve had it! And I’m not alone…Republicans in this state have had it up to their EYEBROWS with this garbage already, but this latest episode is a new low bar. “‘YOU WOMEN’ think you run the Party,” Brogdon says….? Well excuse me, Pal, but “THOSE WOMEN” happen to be some of our elected Republican legislative officials—you know, people the rest of us trusted enough to put into office–deal with it! The libertarian faction of this outfit thinks IT runs the Party as well–and it doesn’t–welcome to the rude awakening!
We are sick and tired of this CONSTANT insinuation that unless you’re a Republican libertarian, then you’re just a lousy “establishment RINO”. Newflash Braniac: There are a lot of goodhearted conservative activists in this party who are NOT libertarians, but who are just as concerned as you are about “establishment” do-nothing Republicans who won’t grow a backbone and actually stand on principles…and too many of those good people worked too hard for too long to build this party to sit idly by and watch it be destroyed by a bunch of presumptuous clods with more chutzpah than common sense, bulldozing their way in and trying to run everybody over while railroading their agenda right down our throats. And all of us–from our Republican women in the legislative caucus right across the board have a message for you: you’re either going to LISTEN to our concerns, WORK with us, and give us some consideration (not to mention courtesy and respect), or you can go join the Democrats you more closely resemble…but we’re not taking this sitting down anymore.
Whoa Troy… The Democrats don’t want him either and it’s insulting you think Democrats support abusers and bullies.
You said it well, Troy. Brogdon is looking more and more like BHO. A real unifier isn’t he? If you disagree with him, he will insult, belittle and try to humiliate you. He’s in way over his head, or else, like BHO, his goal is to destroy the entity he is supposed to be leading.
Appalled, ashamed, disgusted, sickened,…oh the list of words could go on and on! And we wonder why trying to grow the party, overcome the stereotype of being the Old White Man’s Club isn’t happening. Unless and until we take back OUR party, demonstrate that we will not allow ourselves to be represented like this, we will become known not as the reddest state in the nation but as the red, black and blue state!
The irony is that Brogdon had no problem attending every Republican Women’s Club group he could get into to campaign. Exalting about how the backbone of the party, the real go getters are the Republican women. Hypocrite! Two faced! Actually has proven to be nothing more that a two bit con and liar!!
This Republican woman, domestic violence survivor, will not contribute another second of time or cent of money to the Republican party while this man, and I use that term very loosely, is in any position of power.
OK Gal is right. Chairman Brogdon has borrowed tactics from “Rules for Radicals”, which substitute ad hominem attacks for rational discourse. I was also taught that a true conservative [that is, one who conserves traditional values] does not hit women, nor does he defend those who do.
I teach high school. Due to their immaturity and lack of experience working with people, I expect KIDS to show a lack of wisdom about how decisions look or how they will be received. I’m not surprised when teenagers show an inability to work respectfully with people who disagree or attempt to solve problems by high-handedly throwing their weight around–they’re kids, and they have to learn. I also expect cliques and an unwillingness to forge cooperative ties with other factions when working with immature teenagers. I do NOT expect this sort of thing out of our Republican Party leadership. I don’t expect it out of people who should have already acquired the maturity, the people sense, and the political acumen to demonstrate effective leadership without dismissively walking rough-shod over people who express their concerns.