Askins or Edmondson?

Two well-known Oklahoma Democrats, Attorney General Drew Edmondson and Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins, have indicated they plan to run for governor in 2010.

Both Edmondson and Askins have name recognition and are certainly competent for the job, but the dwindling number of liberals here in Oklahoma should note both candidates are centrist to conservative Democrats like current Gov. Brad Henry.

Askins even used the word “conservatively” in a letter to her supporters announcing her decision. In the letter, she writes the state needs to avoid its "unfortunate history of boom and bust without doing nearly enough to make sure state government operates conservatively and wisely in good times and bad."

Was “conservatively” a deliberate word choice to appease those right-wing Oklahomans who like to identify themselves as centrist or Democrat for some strange conflicted reason? You make the call. One can only wonder how more conservative the Oklahoma government can be these days?

On the other hand, Askins did talk about her support for education in her letter. She wrote: "We need to make college more affordable, not less." She also wrote, “"Far too many Oklahoma children are without health care and going to be hungry. There are tens of thousands while even one is too many."

Edmondson, to his credit, has faced the ridiculous and disingenuous right-wing noise machine. The Oklahoman, for example, published a ludicrous Sept. 3, 2008 editorial ("Nancy/Drew: Edmondson's rhetoric echoes Pelosi's") tying Edmondson’s views to those of President-elect Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

“The more he reflects the views of Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi, the more Edmondson's political ambitions will die on the vine,” according to the most conservative newspaper in the nation.

Anyone who brings the wrath of the Oklahoma corporate oligarchy upon them through basic political positions deserves some extra credit. Here is Edmondson’s Wikipedia profile.

What do you think? Is Askins or Edmondson the best Democratic candidate? Someone else? Vote on a poll about the issue. Feel free to leave a comment.