Exclusive: Conflict and Confusion - Will Gary Johnson be on Oklahoma's ballot?

Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, erstwhile GOP-candidate-turned-Libertarian-Party-nominee, missed out on making the ballot in Oklahoma when the Oklahoma Libertarian Party failed to submit enough validated signatures to receive a ballot access. However, the story may not be over yet for Johnson and his Oklahoma Libertarian Party supporters.

Americans Elect successfully waged a ballot access campaign in Oklahoma earlier this year, with the intention of nominating a presidential candidate through their unconventional online voting process. The venture ultimately failed, as no candidate met their stated criteria, and thus the group did not nominate a candidate, after getting on the ballot in over 30 states.

All political parties had until August 8th to submit their nominees for president and vice-president (technically, they submit electors pledged to their party nominees).

On August 7th, Rex Lawhorn (Oklahoma state chairman of Americans Elect) submitted electors to the State Election Board for ballot certification. These electors were pledged to Gary Johnson for President and James Gray for Vice-President, the Libertarian Party candidates.

Americans Elect - State

But in a letter dated August 6th, the national Americans Elect organization wrote to the State Election Board intending to dissolve their status as a political party in Oklahoma.

Americans Elect - National

I contacted the State Election Board to ask some questions about the situation, and received a response from State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax.

"Attached are PDF scans of conflicting correspondence to the State Election Board from the national Americans Elect organization and an in-state group that says it is the Oklahoma chapter of Americans Elect. This is a very unusual situation, so we are seeking legal advice from our counsel at the Attorney General’s office about how to proceed," Ziriax told me in an email.

When there is an update to this story, I will post it.

Gov. Fallin to speak at Republican National Convention

Governor Fallin Selected as Headline Speaker for Republican National Convention

Pinnell: "another reminder that Governor Fallin is a national conservative leader"

(Oklahoma City)- Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Matt Pinnell today congratulated Governor Mary Fallin upon the announcement that she has been selected as a headlining speaker to the Republican National Convention later this month in Tampa, Florida. The exact time and date of Governor Fallin's speech will be announced at a later date. Governor Fallin also spoke to the 2008 Republican National Convention in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

"I'd like to congratulate Governor Fallin on being selected as a headlining speaker at the Republican National Convention later this month," said OKGOP Chairman Matt Pinnell. "This is yet another reminder to us Okies that Governor Fallin is a national conservative leader who is taking Oklahoma to new heights. We are proud to call her OUR Governor."

In 2010, Fallin became the first female elected Governor of Oklahoma. Prior to that, she served as the first female Lt. Governor of Oklahoma from 1994 to 2006. In 2006, Fallin was elected to the United States Congress from Oklahoma's Fifth District. Fallin was the first female to be elected to Congress from Oklahoma since the 1920's.

Governor Fallin has been lauded by national publications as one of the "Most Popular Governors in America," noting her 69% approval rating. Under Governor Fallin's leadership, Oklahoma has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation at 4.7%, a full 3.6% below the national average. Governor Fallin has been a leader in advocating for America's energy producers and against President Obama's decision to reject the full Keystone XL Pipeline.

"The election this November is about much more than politics. It is a decision we have to make about the direction of America - are we going to continue to tax and spend and grow government far past the point of sustainability, or are we going to restore fiscal sanity to Washington, D.C. and force government to live within its means? In Oklahoma, we work to make government serve the people and not the other way around. Our next president has to share this same commitment and that is why I am so proud to be a part of the Republican National Convention to officially nominate Mitt Romney," said Governor Fallin.

The 2012 Republican National Convention will be held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum August 27-30, 2012. Nearly 50,000 visitors are expected to come to the Tampa Bay area for the event, including delegates, alternate delegates, media and other guests. For more information about the 2012 Republican National Convention, visit www.GOPConvention2012.com.

Chick-fil-A and Free Speech

Chick-fil-A, one of America's most successful fast-food restaurants, has come under fire in recent days for statements made by Dan Cathy, president and COO of the company, in defense of the traditional family unit.

Cathy was interviewed by BaptistPress, and the lengthy article ended with this:

"Some have opposed the company's support of the traditional family. "Well, guilty as charged," said Cathy when asked about the company's position. 

"We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that."

His comments have sparked a firestorm, with the homosexual movement and their liberal allies slamming Cathy and Chick-fil-A as "homophobic" and "bigoted" (my, how predictable...), and launching smear attacks, boycotts and protests against the company, which is one of the most high-profile Christian-led corporations in the nation (Chick-fil-A is closed on Sundays, and donates to many Christian ministries).

In an appalling and tyrannical abuse of power, the mayor of Boston and a Chicago alderman have publicly indicated that they will use their governmental authority to deny Chick-fil-A from opening restaurants in their respective jurisdictions, solely based on Cathy's exercise of his First Amendment right to Free Speech, both personally and with his business. None of their opposition is based on concrete actions, like Chick-fil-A denying service to homosexuals, or firing employees for differing views on political/religious issues. Accusing Cathy and Chick-fil-A of "discrimination" and "intolerance", these elected officials are themselves the ones being discriminatory and intolerant.

In their haste to pay homage to the militant homosexual movement, these despotic elected officials are sending a chilling message to business owners in their area: Submit to my views, or else. Instead of welcoming new business to their cities, and creating jobs (Chicago has an unemployment rate of 9.8%, Boston is 5.7%), they would rather abuse their authority in a dictatorial manner. Some in the blogosphere are calling this fascist behavior, and I'm inclined to agree.

In response to the attacks, Mike Huckabee has called for August 1st to be "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day", inviting people to dine at Chick-fil-A in support of the company:

I have been incensed at the vitriolic assaults on the Chick Fil-A company because the CEO, Dan Cathy, made comments recently in which he affirmed his view that the Biblical view of marriage should be upheld. The Cathy family, led by Chick Fil-A founder Truett Cathy, are a wonderful Christian family who are committed to operating the company with Biblical principles and whose story is the true American success story. Starting at age 46 Truett Cathy built Chick Fil-A into a $4 billion a year enterprise with over 1600 stores. At 91, he is still active in the company, but his son Dan runs it day to day as CEO.It's a great American story that is being smeared by vicious hate speech and intolerant bigotry from the left.

The Chick Fil-A company refuses to open on Sundays so that their employees can go to church if they wish. Despite the pressure from malls, airports, and the business world to open on Sundays, they still don't. They treat customers and employees with respect and dignity.

I ask you to join me in speaking out on Wednesday, August 1 "Chick Fil-A Appreciation Day.” No one is being asked to make signs, speeches, or openly demonstrate. The goal is simple: Let's affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick Fil-A on Wednesday, August 1. Too often, those on the left make corporate statements to show support for same sex marriage, abortion, or profanity, but if Christians affirm traditional values, we're considered homophobic, fundamentalists, hate-mongers, and intolerant. This effort is not being launched by the Chick Fil-A company and no one from the company or family is involved in proposing or promoting it.

There's no need for anyone to be angry or engage in a verbal battle. Simply affirm appreciation for a company run by Christian principles by showing up on Wednesday, August 1 or by participating online – tweeting your support or sending a message on Facebook.

In closing, here is another quote from Mr. Cathy's interview: "We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."

I support Chick-fil-A.

What do you think about this? Post your thoughts in the comments section.

Big Government Helps Buddies

Big Government Helps Buddies

by Dustin Siggins

On June 13, Heritage Foundation Senior Fellow in Labor Policy James Sherk released a paper analyzing how the Obama Administration’s auto bailout could have cost the taxpayer nothing in the long run if the United Auto Workers (UAW) had received normal bankruptcy treatment. Instead, they were provided special treatment which violated numerous aspects of traditional contract law, and were given approximately $3.5 billion more in treatment than the total cost of the bailout. In short, according to Sherk, the taxpayers were charged $26.5 billion on their maxed-out credit card.

On Tuesday, Ed Carson wrote in Investors Business Daily that taxpayer losses may be worse than Sherk calculated, given General Motors’ continuing drop in stock price. From Carson’s op-ed:

General Motors (GM) shares fell to a fresh 2012 closing low of 19.57 on Monday. The stock hit 19 in mid-December, the lowest since the auto giant came public at $33 in November 2010 following its June 2009 bankruptcy. 

Normally you might say, tough luck investors. But this is Government Motors. The Treasury still owns 26.5% of GM, or 500 million shares… 

Those shares were worth about $9.8 billion as of Monday. That would leave taxpayers with a loss of $16.6 billion. 

But that's not the full tally…[T]he administration essentially gifted $45 billion in write-offs (book value $18 billion) to GM. So when GM earned a $7.6 billion profit in 2011…it paid no taxes. 

Include that $18 billion gift, and taxpayers' true loss climbs to nearly $35 billion.

Regardless of whether you look at Sherk’s or Carson’s numbers, the losses dealt to the public as a result of special treatment for the UAW are significant. While admittedly only one percent of this year’s expected deficit, and a much smaller fraction of the totality of deficits since the auto bailout was first initiated nearly four years, it is another reminder that big government will always help out its buddies and special interests first. This assistance flourishes under both parties, whether it’s by protecting farm subsidies and defense contractors, bailing out banks via TARP, giving the insurance industry a generation of guaranteed customers via the individual mandate, providing college students further taxpayer subsidization in an election year, or giving a bailout to the UAW.

With Democrats controlling most of Washington during a period of the largest deficits in the history of America, including Congress under the last two years of the Bush presidency, it’s easy for Republicans to claim such government favoritism is a problem mostly confined to the Democratic Party. However, this ignores the history just prior to 2006, when then-record deficits were brought by Republicans, and ignores that many Republicans have supported the individual mandate, farm subsidies, TARP, and student loan subsidization over the years, and have defended the defense industry to the hilt. Mitt Romney, for example, has taken four of these five positions in the last couple of years alone.

Big Government is a bipartisan problem, and conservatives would do well to remember this as we head into the fall elections and the potential for a Republican sweep in Washington. Voting for a party won’t prevent us from falling off the fiscal cliff we are heading towards – voting for a number of candidates might.

Dustin Siggins is a policy and politics blogger who regularly contributes to HotAir.com, HotAir.com’s Green Room, Race42012.com, and RightWingNews.com. He is the co-author of a forthcoming book on the national debt with William Beach of The Heritage Foundation.

New Faught TV Ad: Mullin in his own words

In His Own Words: Mullin Advocates for
Single-Payer Healthcare

New Faught Ad Reveals Explosive Video 

Muskogee, OK – The George Faught for Congress campaign launched a new television ad this week, sharply contrasting the differences between he and his runoff opponent Markwayne Mullin on healthcare.

Titled "Repeal ObamaCare," the ad highlights Faught's record of leading the successful fight to defeat the first wave of ObamaCare in Oklahoma – the $54 million federally funded health insurance exchange – and his commitment to fully repeal and defund ObamaCare in Congress. The ad also features video of Markwayne Mullin in his own words advocating a single-payer healthcare plan. On August 16, 2011 at a McIntosh County GOP meeting, Mullin publicly stated: “I think a single-payer, single-pay system would be the best.” The ad began airing Tuesday.

Script for "Repeal ObamaCare:”

Voiceover: I'm George Faught and I approve this message.
When it comes to supporting government-run, single-payer healthcare, Markwayne Mullin and Barack Obama agree:
Markwayne Mullin: "I think a single-payer, single pay system would be the best."
Barack Obama: "I happen to be a proponent of a single-payer universal healthcare plan."
Voiceover: We need to repeal ObamaCare, not elect Republicans like Mullin who support single-payer health care.
George Faught led the fight that killed the first wave of ObamaCare in Oklahoma and he’ll repeal it in Congress. 
Markwayne Mullin: "I think a single-payer, single pay system would be the best."

To view the ad click here.

George Faught made the following statement about the campaign’s new ad:

"The stakes are too high for Republicans to nominate a candidate who is on record advocating government-run universal health care. Oklahomans have a clear choice in this runoff election: a conservative with a proven record of standing up to Obama or an inexperienced candidate who, despite a slick media campaign designed by consultants to create an image, declares in his own words his support of a plan to allow the government to take away our freedom of healthcare choices. This issue along with other swirling controversies demonstrates that Mullin is a flawed candidate who cannot win." 

Staunchly pro-life, pro-business, and pro-limited government, George Faught has been endorsed by Gov. Mike Huckabee, Oklahoma State Auditor Gary Jones, Gun Owners of America, David Barton, the Oklahoma 2nd Amendment Association, Family Research Council Action PAC, Concerned Women PAC, Eagle Forum and Phyllis Schlafly, Citizens United Political Victory Fund, and many other conservative groups and individuals.


Longtime owner and operator of a successful carpet cleaning business, Faught and his wife of almost 30 years, Becky, live in Muskogee, and are the parents of three grown children - all born and raised in Muskogee.  In 2006, Faught became the first Republican ever elected to the State House in his Muskogee-based district. You can learn more about George and his campaign by visiting his website, and by following him on Facebook and Twitter.

J.C. Watts supporting Brooks Mitchell

The race for Corporation Commissioner is always a quiet affair (the exception being Dana Murphy vs. Jim Roth in 2008), but this year's race between incumbent Bob Anthony and Brooks Mitchell has been even more of a sleeper.

Until now.

I just received a robocall from the Mitchell campaign, with former Corporation Commissioner and Congressman J.C. Watts endorsing Mitchell, and voicing the call. I don't have a transcript, and have not found audio or a transcript of the call from the Mitchell campaign, but I have a request in. Watts talked about Mitchell being a social and fiscal conservative, and about Anthony being a "career politician".


I will update this when I receive more information. 

UPDATE: I contacted the Mitchell campaign for a transcript of the call, and Communications director Stephen Rhymer said, "While the campaign did provide input on the text of Cong. Watts' call, the script is pure Cong. Watts and we don't have a printed copy."

Brooks Mitchell's official comment on the call: "The phone call from Cong. Watts to Republican voters sends a strong message to all Oklahomans that he actively supports me in my race to unseat Bob Anthony. Watts realizes that by electing me, Oklahoma will get real leadership and the work ethic, drive and determination to do what's best for all Oklahomans at the Corporation Commission."

Hello, Summer!

Adding insult to injury, after the Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder for the NBA Championship, heat is about the only thing in the weather forecast...

Joking aside, Summer officially began on Wednesday, and it looks like we'll be getting some hot temperatures in the upcoming week. Are you ready for the heat?

Faught endorsed by Gun Owners of America

Gun Owners of America Endorses Faught

Muskogee, OK – Gun Owners of America, an influential national gun-rights group has announced their endorsement of George Faught in his race for Congress in Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional District.
The organization issued a statement saying they were proud to endorse the Oklahoma State Representative and touted his experience of standing up for gun owner rights in the state legislature as their basis for endorsing him in his primary for the GOP nomination on June 26th.

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.

A lifelong resident of Muskogee and small business owner, George is not a career politician; he’s a true citizen-legislator who will stand up for your Second Amendment rights.  I urge all defenders of the Second Amendment to vote for George Faught for Congress in the June 26th Republican primary.”

"I am honored to have received the endorsement of Gun Owners of America," Faught said.  "GOA is committed to protecting our second amendment rights guaranteed us in the Constitution. I will continue to be a steadfast supporter of gun owners and it is humbling to have such a respected group join the growing list of those who are supporting my candidacy."

Faught has also been previously endorsed by the Oklahoma Second Amendment Association  and was given their “Patriot of the 2nd Amendment” award in 2011.

Will you vote the values that will stand the test of fire?

In this crucial time in our nation's history, it is more important than ever for Christians to be involved in the political process, and to vote for Biblical values and the candidates that stand for them. Many self-identified believers don't care for politics, but if the people of God would just vote, imagine the difference that could be made. This short video speaks to this issue.

Faught launches new television ad

The George Faught for Congress campaign launched a new television ad this week, his second ad to air districtwide in the run up to the 2nd Congressional District GOP primary on June 26th.

Click below to view:





Staunchly pro-life, pro-business, and pro-limited government, George Faught has been endorsed by Gov. Mike Huckabee, Oklahoma State Auditor Gary Jones, David Barton, the Oklahoma 2nd Amendment Association, Family Research Council Action PAC, Concerned Women PAC, Eagle Forum and Phyllis Schlafly, Citizens United Political Victory Fund, and many other conservative groups and individuals.

Longtime owner and operator of a successful carpet cleaning business, Faught and his wife of almost 30 years, Becky, live in Muskogee, and are the parents of three grown children - all born and raised in Muskogee.  In 2006, Faught became the first Republican ever elected to the State House in his Muskogee-based district. You can learn more about George and his campaign by visiting his website, and by following him on Facebook and Twitter.

Introducing my feathered "friend"

Readers, allow me to introduce you to my feathered friend, Mr. Owl. This bird likes to sit outside my window every night, and "serenade" me to sleep with a perpetual question: "Who?"

Mr. Owl has thwarted my every attempt to see him, but this morning, my sister managed to snag the elusive creature on camera - in daylight, no less!

Can any of you birdwatchers identify what kind of owl this is?

"Mr. Gorbachev..."

25 years ago today, in a speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin, President Ronald Reagan delivered one of his most famous lines ever...