Head Lunatic

On the same day The Daily Oklahoman editorial page argued Gov. Brad Henry should veto state Rep. Randy “The Terrible” Terrill’s draconian illegal immigration bill, it carried a story about how U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe wants similar strict actions on a federal level.

The newspaper has consistently supported Inhofe despite the senator’s outlandish and bizarre statements about global warming, the Iraq occupation, and individual rights, and now it seems to contradict itself. The Inhofe story, of course carried no refutation or opposing views of the senator’s claims and supposedly it’s “news” not an endorsement. But did The Oklahoman interview anyone in the state who would argue against the tyrant Inhofe? No. We’re not allowed to speak in the state’s largest newspaper. Inhofe, meanwhile, gets to use the newspaper as his free, personal public relations firm.

The illegal immigration issue is an obvious political ploy by Inhofe who faces a tough re-election in 2008 no matter what the conservative pundits are saying about all his money and connections to oil companies. What’s the difference between a state bill and a federal bill that does the same thing? Well, this is something the great minds of the newspaper will never address honestly. Of course, they might say the illegal immigration issue is a federal issue, a point with which I agree, but they also clearly want to protect business and corporations which employ undocumented workers.

This is classic, contemporary GOP strategy: Whip up the base into a frenzy over some empty cultural wedge issue, and then lie, distort, contradict, and never look back. The Oklahoman perfected its style and sold its editorial soul during the Reagan years, and it has been lying on its editorial pages and in its news columns ever since.

The tyrant Inhofe is not only a beneficiary of this political strategy but also the GOP’s most vivid example of what type of lunatic such a strategy can produce. He is the head lunatic of all these GOP lunatics who, in their ignorance and hubris, want to accelerate the destruction of the planet.

The Oklahoman is directly responsible for the power of right-wing extremists here and their misguided views on illegal immigration, climate change, and other divisive issues. It could have been articulating moderate and intelligent positions about the illegal immigration issue for years, for example, but it’s been too busy supporting freaky extremists who will do its bidding—tax cuts for rich people and big corporations—here in the state and on the federal level.

The owners of the newspaper and those who carry their torch simply have no credibility, short of capitulation, about any issue that has been manipulated by the Republicans in recent years. They could say, “Hey, we were wrong before. Now we’re going to allow real debate and discussion in the newspaper about all the political issues of our time.” But they won’t.

Nonetheless, Okie Funk once again calls on the newspaper to renounce its closed-door editorial policy and allow for diverse views on its editorial pages and in its news columns. Okie Funk also calls on the newspaper to withdraw its support for Inhofe, who has made the state a laughingstock during the Bush administration.

But there is a larger issue at play. Do Oklahomans want to trade away their children’s futures for one man’s political career? Inhofe is a dangerous kook with corporate power, especially oil power, behind him. He argues on his campaign Web site that he is a man willing to stand up against the tide, but we all know he is the most public corporate sycophant and Bushbot in Oklahoma right now. Listen. Inhofe is ironic. Whatever he says, it’s just the opposite.

Inhofe is a man who will never in his life stand up for regular people and the truth. He is bought and paid for by big oil. He is a great embarrassment to this state. Why doesn’t he just go and work for Exxon or Chesapeake or Devon? He could be a main spokesperson for any of these companies.

How much money, how many residents, will this state never see because of Inhofe’s ego and his bizarre comments about the “hoax” of global warming? Billions of dollars? Millions of people?

People want change here. They rejected the creep Ernest Istook in 2006. They will reject the creep Inhofe in 2008. Istook and Inhofe are creeps in a pod.

When The Oklahoman disavows Inhofe’s political shenanigans, then we’ll know things can change in this place. Until then, it’s all just boring, contradictory static by a monopoly newspaper.

(Here are the citations for The Oklahoman’s articles: “Border line: Henry should nix immigration bill,” May 3, 2007, “Inhofe offers immigration legislation,” May 3, 2007. The links above will go dead in a few days.)