| Sean Murphy of the Associated Press just published a bombshell report on how the Oklahoma House Republican leadership plotted to destroy their own Conservative Platform Caucus members in their own primary elections. This, all the while leaving many liberal democrats unopposed and granted new terms in the legislature. 10 Democrats (about a third of the total democrat seats) already have another term in office without a November election. But in about 10 seats there is now a new Republican who will vote to raise significant new taxes in a manner befitting a Democrat narrative. Here's what Sean Murphy said;  OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — When voters booted a dozen Oklahoma Republican legislators from office in the primary, the common thinking was that educators angry about classroom funding were behind the ousters. But there were forces at work beyond just agitated teachers. A top GOP House leader actively participated in a plan to take down several hardline members of his own caucus, a move that went far beyond what former President Ronald Reagan once called the 11th Commandment: never to speak ill of a fellow Republican. |  5-term Republican legislator, Dr. Mike Ritze was defeated in his primary runoff by an advocate for radical tax increases. House leadership funded that opponent. |
The leadership team of Speaker Charles McCall worked with McCall's old campaign consultant team members, Fount Holland & Trebor Worthen, to find and fund campaign efforts which would put new candidates in office who were committed to raise the taxes that McCall's team has been advocating.
Of the many suspects, Rep. Josh West of the Grand Lake area did admit his involvement. So did Rep Chris Kannady of the OKC metro southside.
These developments underscore the long-held suspicions that the OKGOP has been subverted by liberal, tax-raising, govt. growing, opportunists who are funded and controlled by corporate interests which stand to benefit from having control of state govt.
Consultants often take money from powerful and well-funded industries and associations and use that money to shop for candidates who need the funding to succeed electorally. But after the elections these same consultants may flip the narrative and the candidate may become the product which the corporations & associations have 'purchased' and those newly elected officials may find themselves highly expected to perform. The legislative leadership may inform that legislator of a bill which the freshman is going to sponsor.
Sure, that freshman will be told that they are already a new member of the leadership team. They may already be a vice chair of a committee. Freshman Republican, Tammy West, is now the Education committee chair. Freshman Rep. Kevin McDugle, whose sexual scandals make disgraced former Rep. Dan Kirby look more like a boy scout, is poised to become chair of the Govt. Accountability Committee.
All this makes the grassroots Republicans irate and clamoring for strong fundamental changes in how the Republican Party bestows their endorsement upon a candidate bearing their standard. Several County Republican Committees are already holding 'endorsement conventions' in the weeks prior to the June primary elections. Many other state Republican & Democrat parties have do so for decades. It's essentially the same process that the GOP has always used for selecting a US presidential nominee.
That move may not hold legal power to replace the primary elections. The reason why is that these same legislators took that power away from the parties by law. It may take a landmark court ruling in order to give private political organizations the power to select their own nominees.
Read all of Sean Murphy's investigative journalism at his website.
Of the many suspects, Rep. Josh West of the Grand Lake area did admit his involvement. So did Rep Chris Kannady of the OKC metro southside.
These developments underscore the long-held suspicions that the OKGOP has been subverted by liberal, tax-raising, govt. growing, opportunists who are funded and controlled by corporate interests which stand to benefit from having control of state govt.
Consultants often take money from powerful and well-funded industries and associations and use that money to shop for candidates who need the funding to succeed electorally. But after the elections these same consultants may flip the narrative and the candidate may become the product which the corporations & associations have 'purchased' and those newly elected officials may find themselves highly expected to perform. The legislative leadership may inform that legislator of a bill which the freshman is going to sponsor.
Sure, that freshman will be told that they are already a new member of the leadership team. They may already be a vice chair of a committee. Freshman Republican, Tammy West, is now the Education committee chair. Freshman Rep. Kevin McDugle, whose sexual scandals make disgraced former Rep. Dan Kirby look more like a boy scout, is poised to become chair of the Govt. Accountability Committee.
All this makes the grassroots Republicans irate and clamoring for strong fundamental changes in how the Republican Party bestows their endorsement upon a candidate bearing their standard. Several County Republican Committees are already holding 'endorsement conventions' in the weeks prior to the June primary elections. Many other state Republican & Democrat parties have do so for decades. It's essentially the same process that the GOP has always used for selecting a US presidential nominee.
That move may not hold legal power to replace the primary elections. The reason why is that these same legislators took that power away from the parties by law. It may take a landmark court ruling in order to give private political organizations the power to select their own nominees.
Read all of Sean Murphy's investigative journalism at his website.
