Jim Inhofe and Oklahoma Values

A recent editorial in The Oklahoman praising U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe shows the fundamental collaboration between the state’s corporate media and its right-wing political cabal.

This symbiotic collaboration continues to hurt the state’s image and obviously damages its economic development prospects, though admittedly these issues are difficult to assess in specific terms. But here’s the basic argument: Oklahoma, in general terms, would be better off if Inhofe didn’t consistently pull calculated political stunts pandering to right-wing extremists. The editorial writers at The Oklahoman obviously think otherwise.

The editorial, “Jim bag: Inhofe statements drive some to shame,” (July 31, 2009), argues incredulously that Inhofe “reflects Oklahoma values.” The editorial never addresses specifically what those values might be, though it does mention Inhofe’s support for “birther” conspiracy theories and his disdain for basic science addressing climate change.

So are racism, the agenda behind the birthers’ screeds, and a lack of basic science knowledge really “values”? Is this what the editorial wants us to believe about ourselves and that this is a good thing for the state?

Here’s the gist of the editorial contained it its last paragraph:

We don’t always agree with Inhofe and we sometimes wince at his pronouncements. But as we said in endorsing him last year, he reflects Oklahoma values better than those who would unseat him. Liberals who have a problem with Jim Inhofe really have a problem with those values.

So let’s list just three of these so-called Oklahoma values Jim Inhofe supposedly reflects.

(1) Intolerance. In a Senate speech, Inhofe once said, “I'm really proud to say that in the recorded history of our family, we've never had a divorce or any kind of homosexual relationship.” Inhofe’s verbal attacks on the gay community and homosexuality have been a bulwark of his campaigns.

(2) Ignorance. Inhofe has infamously claimed scientific claims about global warming are the "greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.” As a tool of the fossil fuel energy industry, Inhofe has mounted a calculated one-senator campaign against basic scientific claims about climate change and ways to address it. His political moves pander to the right-wing extremists who support him, but they also promote general ignorance and misunderstandings about science.

(3) Incompetence. During the deceitful run-up to the Iraq military occupation, Inhofe appeared on Meet The Press and said, "Our intelligence system has said that we know that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction -- I believe including nuclear. There's not one person on this panel who would tell you unequivocally that he doesn't have the missile means now, or is nearly getting the missile means to deliver a weapon of mass destruction. And I for one am not willing to wait for that to happen." Inhofe was obviously wrong, proving his incompetence to research and clarify issues for his constituents.

Do The Oklahoman editorial writers really believe intolerance, ignorance and incompetence are Oklahoma values? If not, then what exactly are those Oklahoma values that Inhofe reflects and how does he reflect them?

The larger issue is that the newspaper IS Jim Inhofe in the sense that it has allowed his election through its editorial support and right-wing bias in its news columns. If through the years the newspaper would have honestly reported on Inhofe’s outrageous comments and its blowback in terms of the state’s image, he would not have been re-elected. If the newspaper would have held him accountable to his bizarre climate change and Irag WMD claims, he would not have been re-elected.

As I mentioned before, it’s difficult to measure precisely how much damage Inhofe has inflicted on the state. How many business owners or highly-skilled, professional people would be appalled at the idea of relocating to Oklahoma because of the way Inhofe depicts the state to the rest of the nation? No one can put a set number on this issue, but to deny the issue doesn’t exist is as absurd and calculated as Inhofe’s political caricature so adored and nurtured by The Oklahoman.