Texas Democrats commended in Oklahoma House resolution

AP via Salina Journal (KS) ^ | 14 May 2003 | JESSICA DICKERSON

[Stultis]

Posted at 10:05 AM on Wednesday, May 14, 2003

Texas Democrats commended in Oklahoma House resolution

By JESSICA DICKERSON
Associated Press Writer

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma's Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed a resolution Tuesday commending Texas Democratic House members who fled that state to stifle redistricting plans they opposed.

A Republican-supported resolution that would encourage Oklahoma officials to assist Texas officials in returning the errant lawmakers to Texas failed.

The resolution commending the lawmakers, by Rep. David Braddock, D-Altus, came after dozens of Texas Democrats fled Austin, Texas, after discussing ways to derail a Republican plan to redraw Texas' congressional districts.

The absence of 58 Democrats on Monday left the 150-member Texas House short of the two-thirds quorum needed to conduct business.

The rebellious Democrats holed up in an Ardmore hotel.

The House resolution commends the courage of the Texas Democrats who "have decided to defend the rights of the minority and the more pressing needs of Texas families."

The resolution charges that a Texas congressman and the majority leadership of the House are more concerned with adding Republican members to Congress than the educational, health and other needs of Texas families.

The Democrats earlier blamed Republican U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay for interfering with redistricting.

"I don't think they're breaking their oath of office," Braddock said of the Texas Democrats. "I think they're all fulfilling it by trying to meet the needs of those that have no voice."

Some House members were concerned that a similar move could occur in Oklahoma if the House supports the Texas lawmakers.

Braddock responded by saying members of the Oklahoma House are better at working together than their Texas counterparts.

The resolution, HR 1020, passed 47-44.

Another resolution, by Rep. Greg Piatt, R-Ardmore, requested that Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry, Commissioner of Public Safety Bob Ricks, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and other law enforcement officials assist Texas officials in returning the errant lawmakers to Texas.

Braddock commented that he wanted the Texas Democrats to stay in Oklahoma.

"This is economic development at its best," he quipped. "We want Texans coming to spend their money in Oklahoma."

The resolution, HR 1019, failed 50-46.

The resolutions do not have the force of law.

In a humorous moment, Rep. Ron Kirby, D-Lawton, read a proposal to grant Texas legislators political amnesty, welcome them to Oklahoma and grant them the honorary title of "Okie."

The proposal also called for a Cub Scout troop to be dispatched to the Red River to protect Oklahoma's border from Texas Rangers.

The idea met with laughter from most, with an occasional "boo."

Earlier Tuesday, Henry said he welcomed the Texas lawmakers, but was "not going to get embroiled in this political fight."

Republican State Chairman Gary Jones criticized Henry for allowing Oklahoma to become a safe haven for the Texas Democrats.

"These Democrat legislators south of our border are wasting taxpayers' money," Jones said. "They are behaving in an obstructionist manner and it's a publicity stunt, plain and simple. I'm embarrassed Gov. Henry and our Democrat-controlled House of Representatives would condone such a childish stunt."

[CyberAnt]

I'll tell you what gives. This is an ORCHESTRATED event staged by democrats to show they THINK they still rule things. And ... McAwful and his bosses - Hitlery and x42 are behind this.

First of all - I'm astounded how stupid and totally ignorant the dims are of the times we are living in. THE PUBLIC IS FED UP WITH THIS REBELLION ON THE PART OF THE DIMS.

The TX dims think they're protesting an 8-9 seat increase for the repubs. This TOTAL IDIOTIC CHILDISHNESS is going to cost them so big they won't even know what hit them. I'm mad - so mad that I'm going to work for every repub to get elected in the coming election.

If these idiot dims don't have any more regard than this for the voters, why should anyone vote for them.

But ... as usual the left-wing media has buried this story - which tells me THE MEDIA KNOWS THIS WILL NOT SET WELL WITH THE VOTERS, SO THEY'RE TRYING TO KEEP IT FROM ERRUPTING.

I think it's time to get the email and faxes drowning the offices of the congressmen in Washington, D.C. They better put a stop to this rebellion NOW!!!

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

Once again the Democrats go on record as supporting breaking the law if it benefits them.

Someone wrote a brilliant piece in National Review (I think) during the Florida election about the different ways liberals and conservatives view justice.

Liberals believe that it is possible to achieve Cosmic Justice, and when the rules get in the way of that Justice, the rules must be discarded (as Democrats wanted to do in Florida, since Justice obviously dictated that the Democrats should win).

Conservatives recognize that Cosmic Justice is not achievable on Earth, and they believe that the best way to achieve an approximation of justice is to play by a set of known and fairly-applied rules (as Republicans argued in Florida).

Of course, somehow "Cosmic Justice" always ends up meaning "Democratic Victory."

[CyberAnt]

WoW! I don't know what the laws of TX are, but that sure sounds good to me.

However, I think it takes a 2/3 vote to get them out of office to begin with.

[conservababeJen]

Not even a word on Drudge. Weird, I tell ya.

At the very least....... This would fit in nicely in O'Reilly's "most ridiculous item of the day" segment, no?

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm? Have they had any contact with their office ...?? If not, does the law apply which says that if you don't contact your workplace for a period of 3 days, you are assumed to have QUIT!! It probably doesn't apply, but it's interesting ...??

[Diddle E. Squat]

Amazing how many important elections end up turning on the stupidist of issues. So the rural guys said in essence, "I'm gonna screw my state to keep cock fighting legal". And then they wonder why they get made fun of as idiot rednecks.

[danelectro]

Again, this was my question. Even the newspapers. I don't have Lexus Nexus, but using news.google, and searching on "Braddock" (the name of the Rep that introduced the resolution) this AP piece run in a small Kansas paper, is the ONLY hit I get!

both of the major newspapers, the daily oklahoman (conservative) and the tulsa world (liberal) require registration to view the articles. the world requires a paid subscription for all, the oklahoman expires the free content after a week, i believe.

so google can't even get to the content to archive it. it makes it difficult to blog oklahoma news because of this.

[CyberAnt]

This is very clever - I wish they would do this and give these idiots a dose of their own medicine - and then we'll see how much they whine about what the repubs do. It should be the laugh riot of the year.

[Stultis]

Thanks for the info! Hmmm. This seems to be the url for The Daily Oklahoman, but it don't work:

http://www.oklahoman.com/

[Mister Magoo]

The only thing worse than a Democrat is a Democrat from Oklahoma. Lord, Okies are useless.

[CyberAnt]

FOX has been talking about it all day!

[Not A Democrat]

Oklahoma tends to be the opposite of the coasts, in that the urban areas are more conservative (like suburban Dallas or Houston), while rural areas lean toward populist-style Democrats. The GOP in OK has come a long way, and does well in statewide races, but has not quite gotten over the hump in a lot of local races, leaving the legislature in Dem hands.

Henry's election to the governorship was a freak accident, caused by a strong Independent candidate and a weak campaign by Largent. Henry's governorship is eerily similar to what happened in SC and AL in 1998: Democrats ran on a platform of expanded gambling (lottery...SC later approved it, AL voted it down), scored surprise wins to governorships, and were both booted out of office after one term. I'd be shocked if Henry were re-elected.

As a whole, though, the Dem party is stronger in OK than it is in TX. The rural white Democrats have not abandoned the party in OK in droves as they have in TX. Still, a Republican presidential candidate would have to be caught in bed with a live boy or a dead girl to lose either state.

[Graewoulf]

Ping.

[conservababeJen]

we want PRINT!

[Diddle E. Squat]

I should add, similar silliness has decided many a Texas race.

[Graewoulf]

As a former Okie, at least I have the good sense NOT to ever capitalize the word democrat. It is the most sincere form of disrespect that I can give to the democrat National Committee.

[ALS]

Well I've lived in Texas and Oklahoma both and I can tell you that there are plenty of people in both states that don't find this as funny as the heathens in the Oklahoma legislature do.

This also dispenses with any wonderings if this was pre-meditated. Which also makes it quite illegal.

I might have to tell my boy to move the hell out of okiehoma if this crap don't stop.

[danelectro]

I should add, similar silliness has decided many a Texas race.

i think this was a classic case of rural oklahoma voting with their pocketbook. the cockfighting industry added some extra money to people's bank accounts, in areas where extra money is awfully hard to come by. they voted against the ban, and for the guy who was against the ban.

for what it's worth, there is an injunction against enforcing the ban, although i'm not sure if it's statewide or just a few counties. i believe a dem legislator got it before a judge.

[sunshine state]

Are people really upset over this? Or are the Dems seen as the good guys? I haven't heard much here in Florida and I was wondering how it's playing with the 'man on the street' in Texas and Oklahoma.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Dontcha think it would be a good idea for the TX GOP to spend a little money making sure one of these is parked outside every Texas Democrat gathering for the next year and a half?

Especially in Austin, perhaps even for the special session, and certainly at the Cotton Bowl each October. The 'Sooner Party' needs to be really hounded about this atrocity. New Mexico or Lousiana would have been far more palatable.

How about a plane towing a banner "Democrats for OU" flying over the Cotton Bowl?