A PRINCIPLED REPUBLICAN FROM OKLAHOMA SPEAKS OUT

Yesterday we ran a post about Sally Kern, the state legislator who is on a personal jihad against gay people, probably because of the emotional breakdown she suffered after disowning a gay son. She happens to represent an Oklahoma City district. Several friends from Oklahoma-- progressive allies-- were offended because they felt the piece was a knock against their beloved state. It most certainly wasn't. We emphasized that another Oklahoma City-based state legislator, state Senator Andrew Rice was appalled by Kern's hate-filled outburst.

I have since heard that a number of conservative Republicans in Oklahoma, although unwilling to do anything to discipline or even censure Kern publicly, have distanced themselves from her and her crackpot positions. The Democratic governor of the state, Brad Henry told local media that he doesn't think Kern's remarks represent Oklahoma, "and I would just urge all public officials in Oklahoma to cool the rhetoric. Think before you speak, and be respectful of all people," Henry said.

Today another conservative Oklahoma Republican says he has noticed a radical-- and dangerous-- shift in his political party. Edwards represented OK-05 (most of Oklahoma City) for 16 years starting in from 1977 and was part of the House GOP leadership and a founder of the right-wing Heritage Foundation and the Chairman of the American Conservative Union. Speaking today at the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, Edwards chastised Republican rubber stamps who have abdictated their constitutional responsibilities to march lockstep behind Bush's extremist and degenerate agenda. Feel free to watch him on this eight and a half minute video. He is very harsh on his fellow conservatives' unwillingness to do their most fundamental jobs.

“When the Constitution was adopted in 1787, when it was written in 1787 rather, we faced both Britain and France with the power, had they decided to focus on the United States, of strangling this country in the crib. They could have wiped us out. And we had a great man about to become president, George Washington. And with George Washington about to assume the presidency, and two countries ready to wipe us out if they so chose, the Founding Fathers said we are still going to withhold from the presidency the powers that kings have traditionally held. So that’s why the Constitution is not vague about who declares war, not vague at all. In fact, if you look at the Constitution and I’m sure you do, it even includes giving the Congress authority over treatment of prisoners, which people here seem to have forgotten. So let me just close with this: I’m partisan. I’m a Republican, I was Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee when I was in the House, part of the Republican Leadership. I prefer Republican policies. But political party loyalty cannot trump the Constitution. Loyalty to a president of your own party, when it violates the Constitutional principles, is acquiescence in something that violates the oath of office every Member of Congress takes. There is no excuse for taking the oath, saying ‘I’m going to uphold the Constitution’-- we all did that right?-- ‘I’m going to uphold the Constitution.’ You take loyalty to the United States and this Constitution, not to a president. And we have seen to often a tendency of Members of Congress to line up with the quarterback instead of lining up with the Constitution.”

Oklahoma should be proud. In fact, Oklahoma Republicans should be proud. Mary FallIn, who holds Edwards' old seat should think long and hard about his words, as should James Inhofe, probably the absolute worst rubber stamp for Bush and Cheney in the entire Senate, even willing to put in grave jeopardy the well-being of America's military personnel so he can keep his voting record in sync with Bush Regime policies. We asked Andrew Rice, the Blue America-endorsed candidate running for the Senate seat held by Inhofe-- and an admirer of politicians who can put the good of the country ahead of the good of a political party-- to comment on Congressman Edwards' testimony.

Former Congressman Edwards belongs to the reasonable and principled wing of the Republican party in Oklahoma that Jim Inhofe has done his best to marginalize and shove underground for many years. There is no better way to describe Inhofe other than "he puts party before good government," again and again and again. Oklahoma would be much better served if, like Edwards said today, we had people who were loyal to the constitution rather than just to the donkey or elephant. As the next junior Senator from Oklahoma, I will always do what I feel is best for Oklahoma, whether it is politically popular or not. Converesely, Jim Inhofe has always done what is best for his political party, regardless of whether it is consistent with the constitution or not.