The Best Of Today’s Political Insight
~ http://newsok.com/now-in-control-oklahoma-gop-lawmakers-face-challenges/article/3687221
~ http://newsok.com/now-in-control-oklahoma-gop-lawmakers-face-challenges/article/3687221
Rasmussen Reports
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows Mitt Romney attracting 48% of the vote, while President Obama earns 43%. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, and another three percent (3%) are undecided.
The president picks up support from just 35% of white voters overall. That’s eight points below the 43% of the white vote he won in 2008. Among white Democrats, 17% currently plan to vote for Romney.
Just 33% now believe the president is doing a good or excellent job when it comes to the economy. That’s down from 41% at the beginning of May.
Gun Owners of America today announced its endorsement of Rep. George Faught in the 2nd Congressional District Republican primary.
Gun Owners of America Vice Chairman Tim Macy said in an email to members, “Gun Owners of America Political Victory Fund is proud to endorse George Faught in the Republican primary in Oklahoma’s Second Congressional District. George is a pro-gun leader who backs up his words with actions. He completed the GOA questionnaire 100% in favor of your gun rights, and he compiled a perfect voting record as a state legislator.
Faught has also been previously endorsed by the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association and was given their “Patriot of the 2nd Amendment” award in 2011.
Paul Blair has filed a lawsuit against Senator Clark Jolley in the contentious Senate District 41 primary in Edmond.
Blair said he filed the lawsuit on Thursday afternoon in Oklahoma County District Court against Clark Jolley, the Coalition for Oklahoma’s Future, Inc., and members of the Political Action Committee. Blair alleges advertisements prepared by the group contain lies designed to damage him. He included Jolley, he said, because Jolley has refused to urge the group to stop using the ads. Jolley says he can’t do that since he had nothing to do with their inception.
Today, Blair received the endorsement of Labor Commission Mark Costello, Edmond Republican Women’s Club President Kathy Kaaiohelo, Edmond business leader Victoria Wood and Edmond Dr. Angela Plant.
Michael McNutt is out with an interesting political piece in today’s issue of The Oklahoman.
Ah, those lawyers….
Three political action committees with conservative-sounding names funded mostly by trial attorneys have given $40,500 to five Republican challengers opposing GOP legislators who voted last year for a bill that capped the pain and suffering damages that could be awarded in lawsuits, records show.
Harold Hamm
Mike McCarville
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney raised more than $2 million last May at a fundraiser in the home of his national energy adviser, Harold Hamm, an email reveals.
The success of that event prompts another, this one in Tulsa on August 14th.
An email from fundraising consultant Somerlyn Cantrell Cothran of Ada has the details:
“Thank you all again for helping to make our first Romney for President event in Oklahoma such a success back in May at the home of Harold and Sue Hamm. We were able to send the campaign over $2 million! Our 2nd Oklahoma event for Romney Victory will be a luncheon at the downtown Doubletree Hotel in Tulsa on August 14th. US Senator Marco Rubio and Mitt Romney’s brother, Scott Romney, will be the guests of honor representing Governor Romney. This will be the official ‘Romney Victory’ event.”
Mike McCarville
Al Gerhart has claimed for months that a Sooner Tea Party “investigation” of Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater would result in revelations of all sorts of unethical behavior by Prater.
Today, Gerhart’s “investigation” stands exposed as filled with half-truths, outrageous conclusions, outright lies and a hidden agenda.
Gerhart’s hidden agenda, no secret here, is his defense of Rep. Randy Terrill, subject of a Prater criminal investigation.
Gerhart’s “investigation” appears to have consisted of spoon-fed misinformation and disinformation, coupled with unproven allegations and illogical conclusions. Who spoon-fed Gerhart the misinformation? Don’t be surprised if we learn public officials were involved.
Gerhart circulates such material through his Sooner Tea Party newsletter and now, is circulating numerous tabloid newspapers that attack those he describes as “RINOs.” Included are numerous Republican legislators.
The multicounty grand jury probing the controversy not only cleared Prater, it defended him and accused his accusers of everything from signing a false statement to deliberately contriving a scenario that made Prater appear to be involved in a questionable fundraising dinner.
Gerhart, a carpenter who was removed as state leader of the Ron Paul campaign following numerous complaints about his aberrant, abusive and rude behavior, was listed as a witness before the multicounty grand jury.
Mike McCarville
June 26th’s Republican primary elections will be a test of the strength of Al Gerhart’s Sooner Tea Party (STP).
The group has invested heavily in efforts to defeat candidates it describes as “RINOs” and in some legislative districts, is circulating a “newspaper” attacking incumbents and promoting their chosen candidates.
Paul Blair
Clark Jolley
Perhaps the hottest race involving a Sooner Tea Party candidate is in the Edmond Senate race, where incumbent Senator Clark Jolley faces an onslaught from minister Paul Blair. This campaign has taken a decidedly nasty turn, with barely-credible allegations being made by both and by an independent group funded by local energy interests and others. It’s alleged Blair’s been involved in several businesses that went belly up, implying that he’s financially irresponsible. Blair denies the allegation and offers evidence from his accountant to the contrary. Jolley’s accused of being in the pocket of business interests, while he campaigns as a conservative to counter that label used also by Blair.
Incumbent Rep. Guy Liebmann in northwest Oklahoma City faces the challenge of Mike Turner.
Midwest City Rep. Gary Banz is opposed by A J Bailey.
Elise Hall
Northwest Oklahoma City Republican first-term Rep. Elise Hall and Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel, a Democrat, also are under attack.
In House District 39, incumbent Rep. Marian Cooksey faces the challenge of Bob Dani, a Sooner Tea Party activist and one of the founders of the conservative “High Noon” club that meets regularly at H & H Gun Range in Oklahoma City.
Other STP targets include Tulsa Senator Mike Mazzei, Rep. Glen Mulready (HD68, Tulsa and Creek counties) and Senator Dan Newberry of Tulsa.
Mulready faces Sooner Tea Party candidate Darren Gantz and the allegations have been flying as primary election day nears.
Observers believe some of the STP candidates will be successful, others not so much. Given the emphasis it has placed on the race, some believe the Blair-Jolley Senate race in Edmond is the STP’s chief campaign. The backing of Gerhart for Blair may be a two-edged sword; Gerhart’s reputation as a blowhard bully is cited as a reason.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Ron Paul has given up on becoming president, but loyal supporters are promising to promote the libertarian-leaning Texas congressman’s principles at the Republican national convention this summer, a potential complication for Mitt Romney’s goal of a peaceful coronation.
Paul backers have taken over state Republican conventions Nevada and Maine, and had a strong showing this weekend in Iowa, aiming to increase their voice and clout at the nominating convention in Tampa, Fla.
“We want to send Ron Paul-inspired folks to that convention to show we’re not going away,” says Iowa Republican David Fischer, a top Paul backer in the state.
Prater: Cleared
A state multicounty grand jury has cleared Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater of any wrong-doing in the funding of a post-election party in his honor.
The report found fault with Prater’s accusers instead.
Read the grand jury report: interim%20report%2014.pdf
