The Tandy Executive Speaker Series hosts prominent business leaders to disseminate leading-edge thought to Metroplex business professionals, Neeley MBA students and faculty in order to improve the practice of business. Mr. Watts gives his thoughts on this year's elections.

Labels: J.C. Watts

Posted at 5/28/2008 08:56:00 AM |

J.C. WATTS

The media have become an interesting institution over the past 10 years. Journalists more often let their feelings or their editorial comments infiltrate news reports, not just op-eds or editorials.

There are exceptions, but the media in general are great at building people up and then tearing them down. Interesting thing is, so many people are intrigued by it. Some actually love it.

It would be wise for all elected officials, pro athletes and Hollywood types to remember what one of my football coaches once said: "When people put you on a pedestal, that's their fault. If you believe it, that's your fault."

Labels: Decision '08, J.C. Watts, Press Bias, Sen. Barack Obama

Posted at 5/13/2008 08:33:00 AM |

Hat tip: My Urban Report

Labels: J.C. Watts

Posted at 5/02/2008 08:48:00 AM |

Can I get fries with that? What a strange quote!

“You can see Democratic establishments having a very difficult time dealing with Barack Obama. I do think he’s got such a special sauce, I do think it’s going to be even more challenging for Republicans to figure out how to deal with him. I do think that John McCain – I said this a year ago – John McCain does give Republicans a chance to win.” J.C. Watts

Labels: Decision '08, J.C. Watts, Sen. Barack Obama

Posted at 4/28/2008 02:35:00 PM |

Black Television (www.btnc.tv) News Channel (BTNC), the nation's only African-American news network, scheduled to launch in 2009, today announced a multi-year carriage agreement with Comcast, the country's leading provider of cable, entertainment and communications products and services. Under the agreement, BTNC expects that it will be added to Comcast systems in the following key African American markets: Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Baltimore.

BTNC will be a 24/7 cable news network that provides original news programming with a distinctly African-American perspective, and therefore helps fill a major gap in today's media. BTNC is the endeavor of J.C. Watts, Jr., former U.S. congressman from Oklahoma and celebrated athlete, and broadcast and cable news veterans.

"Our unique and vast content partnerships with African American newsmakers will provide our viewers LIVE access to the stories and people in whom our viewers have a special interest," said Watts. "With this agreement, Comcast continues to demonstrate its commitment to working with independent programmers with diverse points of view."

BTNC will construct the first coast-to-coast all high-definition television newsgathering infrastructure with its network operations center located in Washington, DC.

Labels: J.C. Watts

Posted at 4/22/2008 01:25:00 PM |

Hat tip: Blogs for McCain:

Here is an interview with Sen. John McCain done last night, March 6, 2008, by Atlanta station WXIA-TV. Just click here to go to the interview. McCain is asked about his coming Vice-Presidential Choice and other issues such as tax cuts and containing pork barrel spending. Interestingly, McCain himself mentions the names of Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and J.C. Watts of Oklahoma in the discussion of Vice-Presidential possibilities. That's the first I have heard him do that.

Labels: Decision '08, J.C. Watts

Posted at 3/07/2008 01:24:00 PM |

According to a poll conducted by Right-Wing News, answered by 1300 readers, The top three of McCain's popular rumored options for a vice presidential runningmate were Fred Thompson, J.C. Watts, and Duncan Hunter. Oklahoma's Senator Tom Coburn ranked 16th out of 20.

The blogosphere is abuzz with the prospect, as is the main-stream media. This blogger is collecting signatures for a petition to John McCain.

Even Canadian Bloggers are asking, "Who Will McCain Choose As His Running Mate: The Charmer Or The Quarterback?"

RedStater Mat Pruitt summarizes much of what is being discussed online about Watts' suitability as a runningmate for McCain, which is that this duo would represent good strategy for the Republican Party, regardless of whether or not they are successful in winning the WhiteHouse:

I have three main criteria that I hope Senator McCain will follow in picking a running mate:

1. That the individual be from the South;
2. That they be able to consolidate both religious and economic conservatives, and;
3. That they be able to bring new voters into the fold and expand the Republican base.

[...]

He is an unapologetic social conservative, a former pastor, former Oklahoma Corporate Commissioner and Congressman, former college football star, and currently a successful business man, national pundit, and a board member of such organizations as the Boy Scouts of America. More importantly, JC is a true believer in free market economics, and consistently for more defense, less government overall, and lower taxes. Watts can speak to the Huckabee, Romney, Thompson, and McCain voting blocks with out batting an eye, and without having his sincerity questioned.

I'd be lying if I said that I didn't appreciate the fact that Watts is an African American, I do. I am against affirmative action, but believe it makes sense for Republicans to recruit minority candidates....(more)

No word, yet, on whether J.C. Watts or McCain are as excited about the prospect of a McCain-Watts '08 ticket, as Watts' fans are.

Labels: Decision '08, J.C. Watts, John McCain

Posted at 2/18/2008 03:05:00 PM |

Recently, OKPNS reported that J.C. Watts was being considered as a runningmate for then-Presidential hopeful Fred Thompson.

The Draft J.C. Watts for Vice President blog points out that John McCain has recently stated what he believes are the criteria for a running mate:

The fundamental principle behind any selection of a running mate would be whether that person is fully prepared to take over, and shares your values, your principles, your philosophy and your priorities...I think that's the first and only real criteria for the selection of a running mate.

The internet buzz for this nomination is growing, but will this influence the decision of the Republican nominee? Only time will gell.

This makes two prominent Oklahomans who are on the shortlist for consideration; the other, as OKPNS reported recently is Senator Tom Coburn.

Labels: J.C. Watts

Posted at 2/11/2008 11:51:00 AM |

Labels: Decision '08, J.C. Watts

Posted at 1/28/2008 01:16:00 PM |

Thompson-Watts in 2008? (UPDATED)

Here's your wild rumor of the day: "OKPNS also received a telephone call from a source close to former Congressman J.C. Watts and the talk of him being a V.P candidate is even more rampant throughout the Beltway and Thompson campaign."

UPDATE: One of the Thompson Associates, who says he has never talked to Richelieu, that anonymous wise man on another campaign blog, writes in:

"While the energy the Thompson campaign is experiencing right now in South Carolina is, well, energizing, no one is putting the cart before the horse re: running mate chatter. Who knew that “Richelieu” was posting on obscure blogs in Oklahoma too?" Read more... (4th story)

Labels: Decision '08, J.C. Watts

Posted at 1/15/2008 11:16:00 AM |

"I define Fred Thompson as AC, what's AC? All class. He's a great guy and understands how intense and important this war is."

Labels: Decision '08, J.C. Watts

Posted at 1/14/2008 11:31:00 AM |

By J.C. Watts

In my role as a cable television political analyst and as a political junkie, my take on the results in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary is simply this: The political establishment on both sides of the aisle took a punch in the nose.

Many of us sensed this developing as early as last August, on the occasion of the Iowa GOP straw poll in Ames. I attended the straw poll as a neutral observer and was struck by what I saw.

For those who may need a refresher course, the Iowa straw poll is a concoction of the Iowa Republican Party to fill its coffers every four years. Attendees pay for the right to cast a vote for their candidate in a non-binding political beauty contest to which the media gives an extraordinary amount of coverage. Candidates pull out all stops to get their supporters there.

The relevance of the event is debated every four years. Phil Gramm tied Bob Dole in 1995, and was an early casualty of real voting in the primary season months down the road. This year, John McCain tallied all of 101 votes, outpacing only a guy named John Cox. Yet it is perceived as an organizationally mandatory stop on the way to the nomination. Read more...

Labels: Decision '08, J.C. Watts

Posted at 1/13/2008 02:42:00 PM |

For the second time in as many months, former Rep. J.C. Watts of Oklahoma, who when first elected in 1994 became only the second black Republican in the House since 1928, is critical of his party's presidential candidates because they "don't show up" for black voters.

"Republicans want to say we reach out. But what we do instead is 60 days before an election, we'll spend some money on black radio and TV or buy an ad in Ebony and Jet, and that's our outreach. People read through that," Mr. Watts said in an interview with the publication the Ripon Forum, which takes its name from Ripon, Wis., the birthplace of the Republican Party. Read more...

Labels: Decision '08, J.C. Watts

Posted at 1/03/2008 05:13:00 PM |

Californians for Mitt Ronmey:

"Besides winning our Vice Presidential poll question 3 times, there are many reasons for the Romney-Watts ticket. In the classical political sense, Watts helps Romney get votes he otherwise wouldn't get. Watts allows Mitt to run with a former Baptist preacher (not named Huckabee), and gives him a running mate with rock solid conservative credentials. He also brings in what is likely to be an unprecedented percentage of the black vote for the GOP, forcing the Dems to spend money in places they otherwise wouldn't have to. After he's in office JC would be the natural person to put in charge of Romney's education reform policies that include: school choice vouchers, more testing, and more emphasis on math and science.

Read more...

Labels: Decision '08, J.C. Watts

Posted at 12/21/2007 09:18:00 AM |

By Hon. J.C. Watts I’m proud to call Oklahoma home because my homefolks may just lead the nation in common sense. I give you the following letter to the editor written by Marguerite in Weatherford, Oklahoma, in one of the statewide newspapers. Marguerite noted a story about a U.S. senator who “wants to check out all the ‘big’ televangelists to see if they’re spending donor money correctly. We (the public) donate to whomever we choose and if (the senator) wants to check out anything, it should be congressional spending habits! Our tax dollars are confiscated from us and he wants to make sure we’re getting our money’s worth from free donations? What a crock! Heartland common sense. Kudos to Marguerite. The arrogance of Congress never ceases to amaze me. I’ve yet to see a call for an investigation of Congress when a member of Congress falls, be it financially, morally or otherwise. Not once have I heard of a call for every member of Congress to bring forth their financial statements or campaign statements in response to the actions of one bad apple. I’m a little bit perplexed how Congress is so quick to stick its nose into different places. Televangelists driving expensive cars and living in fabulous homes may seem incompatible to some peoples’ interpretation of the scriptures. But I suspect this is more about Uncle Sam not getting what he perceives is his fair share of the offering plate. This is puzzling for several reasons. These ministries might be misusing parishioners’ tithes or offerings. But while we can all speculate on what is or isn’t going on in the faith world, we don’t need to speculate on what’s happening in financial world. Congress is sticking its nose into speculation of some evangelists’ matters, while everyone in Congress has the facts lying before them regarding the financial shenanigans of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Read more...

Labels: Congress, J.C. Watts, Oral Roberts

Posted at 11/19/2007 07:58:00 AM |