Definitions Matter

Is The Oklahoman editorial page endorsing Jari Askins for governor in 2010 this far away from the election?

In a Sunday editorial (“Growth of independents could play major role,” June 14, 2008) ostensibly about the growth of independent voters in Oklahoma and the nation, the newspaper makes this argument:

Democratic Gov. Brad Henry’s appeal to independent voters is reflected by his easy re-election in 2006 and in his continued popularity. Among announced candidates for governor, Democrat Drew Edmondson has at times issued blatant appeals to liberal Democrats, many of whom have been critical of Henry, while Republican Mary Fallin consistently appeals to conservative Republicans. The candidate most resembling Henry in terms of partisanship and "soft” ideology is Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, a Democrat.

Leave aside the validity of the Edmondson part of this comment for a moment. Isn’t it interesting the way the editorial frames Askins as the centrist candidate in the mold of Henry while framing Fallin to the right? The implicit argument is that Askins can be just as popular as Henry, a centrist Democrat. Does that not imply an endorsement of some sort from the ultra-conservative newspaper?

The problem here is the issue of political definitions. In most places outside this region of the country, both Lt. Gov. Askins and Attorney General Edmondson would be considered centrist-to-conservative Democrats. U.S. Rep. Fallin plays well to the extreme conservative wing of the Republican Party in the context of national politics, and, of course, it has worked for her in Oklahoma, and it could work again. This is the reality.

Edmondson is a Vietnam War veteran and former district attorney in Muskogee County. In Edmondson’s tenure as attorney general, Oklahoma continues to execute criminals under death penalty laws. He has consistently taken a tough stance on crime and criminals as a prosecutor. It's simply an illogical argument that Edmondson has been blatantly recruiting liberal votes.

In 2000, Edmondson did join an existing lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America for discriminating against gay people, but that decision now seems prescient given the growing cultural acceptance of same-sex marriages and gay rights in other states. Was Edmondson’s decision to join the suit one of the “blatant appeals to liberals”? Even former Vice President Dick Cheney has come out in favor of gay rights. What do Askins, Fallin and The Oklahoman editorial writers think about discrimination against gay people?

I’m undecided about the governor’s race at this point. Edmondson and Askins are excellent candidates and can win in November against Fallin, who appears to be a shoo-in for the Republican nomination. I think it’s important to hear what the candidates have to say as their campaigns get going. Anything could happen in the coming months to change the political dynamic of the 2010 governor’s race.

But The Oklahoman editorial raises this question:

Do the newspaper’s ultra-conservative editorial writers believe Askins would be the best governor or do they think she would be the weaker opponent against Fallin, whom they will endorse in the general election no matter who wins the Democratic primary?