McCain Fundraiser. April 25th 2008

Labels: Decision '08, Frank Keating, John McCain, Sen. Inhofe

Posted at 4/29/2008 07:20:00 AM |

According to the McCain Campaign:

Join U.S. Senator John McCain for a finance reception in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Friday, April 25, 2008. This event will be held at the Skirvin Hilton Oklahoma City at One Park Avenue.

The host committee reception begins at 6:00 p.m., photo opportunities begin at 6:30 p.m., and the general reception begins at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets for the event are $2,300 per person with a Photo Opportunity, or $1,000 per person. Members of the host committee will have raised at least $10,000.

U.S. Senator Tom Coburn and Governor Frank Keating (Ret) are the presidential hopeful's campaign chairmen, while Howard Barnett, Fred and Karen Hall, Ryan Leonard, Aubrey McClendon, Larry Nichols, and Bill Price are co-chairing the fundraiser.

To RSVP for this event, please click here or contact Alex Lawhon at 703-650-5576.

If you can't make the dinner, but want to support the McCain campaign directly, click here.

Labels: Decision '08, John McCain

Posted at 3/24/2008 07:27:00 AM |

OKPNS recently observed that HB 1804, aimed at penalizing employers and landlords that hire and rent to illegal aliens isn't quite having the anticipated effect, because it is not being enforced.

Perhaps, as we suggested, it is because Oklahoma business owners have been intimidated by the threat of being sued at the Federal level for discrimination if they try to obey the law at the local level. Or, perhaps business owners have been listening to Dan Boren:

After the presidential election, I think we're more likely to have federal legislation that will pre-empt a lot of what's going on at the state and local level...I think we're going to see some type of bill like [the one proposed by President Bush]. I think it'll pass the House and Senate and be signed by the president...It's going to be very contentious. I'd like to get this off the table as an issue so we can go forward.

And why not? There are three leading contenders for President of the United States now...two Democrats, and one who is technically a Republican who wants to be a Democrat.

Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY):

I neither support illegal immigration nor the enactment of fruitless schemes that would penalize churches and hospitals for helping the truly needy. That will not fix the mess we are in.

Senator Barack Obama (D-IL):

Millions of undocumented immigrants live and work here without our knowing their identity or their background. We need to strike a workable bargain with them. They have to acknowledge that breaking our immigration laws was wrong. They must pay a penalty, and abide by all of our laws going forward. They must earn the right to stay over a 6-year period, and then they must wait another 5 years as legal permanent residents before they become citizens.

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) with Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) in the McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Bill of 2005:

A nonimmigrant alien...shall not be denied any right or any remedy under Federal, State, or local labor or employment law that would be applicable to a United States worker employed in a similar position with the employer because of the alien's status as a nonimmigrant worker...An employer shall provide nonimmigrants issued a visa under this section with the same wages, benefits, and working conditions that are provided by the employer to United States workers similarly employed in the same occupation and the same place of employment.

Even Oklahoma's Randy Terrill (R-Moore) who wrote OK HB 1804 is now saying that he won't pursue the expansion of the immigration reform, because after the U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed suit, questioning the constitutionality of the bill, support for expanding the reforms is weak in the Oklahoma legislature.

Labels: Cong. Dan Boren, Decision '08, HB1804, Hillary Clinton, Illegal Immigration, Immigration Reform, John McCain, Rep. Randy Terrill, Sen. Barack Obama

Posted at 3/06/2008 06:51:00 AM |

Pop Quiz: Who said,

We will fight this war again, if we don't fight it now...

That was U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, a couple of weeks ago, after returning from Iraq.

Now, who said this?

I will tell you personally that I think it was probably a mistake going to Iraq...

Same Senator, a week later, at a Muskogee Townhall meeting.

The blogosphere on the left and right has gone wild.

Coburn was awarded. Just recently, he has made it clear that he does NOT want to be McCain's Vice President. Many conservative bloggers think that won't be a problem, now.

Recently, Coburn was awarded the conservative Courage Under Fire award, immediately before strongly endorsing McCain at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington D.C..

Labels: John McCain, Sen. Tom Coburn

Posted at 2/25/2008 08:18:00 AM |

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 |

Staunch conservative, Senator Tom Coburn, is strongly endorsing John McCain, causing conservatives in the blogosphere to take another look at McCain.

Below is video of Coburn introducing McCain at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington D.C. yesterday. There are rumors floating around CPAC, and on the social media site, Facebook, that Coburn might be on the short-list of candidates for a Vice-Presidential runningmate to McCain.

The Muskogee Phoenix interviewed Jerry Huffer, Muskogee Republican Club Chairman:

Even though Coburn’s remarks, which came on the heels of Mitt Romney’s announcement made at the same event about his decision to suspend his presidential bid, sounded somewhat like a vice presidential running mate, at least one local Republican leader doubted the rumors.

“I am convinced ... that this is not being considered,” Muskogee County Republican Club Chairman Jerry Huffer said. “I have heard Dr. Coburn say before that he would not have an interest in the position, and we would hope he would run for at least a second term as U.S. senator.”

Huffer said a McCain-Coburn ticket would rally the conservative wing of the Republican party, which has been slow to jump on the bandwagon of someone many see as a political maverick.

Labels: Decision '08, John McCain, Sen. Tom Coburn

Posted at 2/08/2008 11:24:00 AM |

Sentator Tom Coburn (R-OK) will be addressing John McCain at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington D.C. on Thursday, according to the Campaign Standard.

Here is Coburn talking up McCain on FoxNews' Hannity and Colmes:

Most of the McCarville Report's readers are shocked by the endorsement.

Radio personality Rush Limbaugh, who has been critical of McCain is not impressed with the endorsement:

What is a conservative to make of such endorsements? And the answer is, to those of you who have asked me, nothing much.

Senator McCain basically sought the endorsement of anybody Republican, regardless of philosophy or past record, because he's trying to create the impression of inevitability by releasing lists of Republicans who are supporting him, regardless of their views, and he's trying to use various endorsements to justify a nonmainstream record, especially on domestic issues.

Labels: Decision '08, John McCain, Sen. Tom Coburn

Posted at 2/06/2008 11:13:00 PM |

According to the A.P., via KSWO, Lawton:

Attorney General Drew Edmondson orders Republican presidential candidate John McCain's campaign to stop making prerecoded automated political telephone calls to Oklahomans that don't comply with federal law.

[...]

Oklahoma residents had reported that the McCain campaign calls don't provide a telephone number for the originating entity at any time during the call as required by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

"Robo-callers" must provide a telephone number so that Oklahoma residents can contact the source of the call and demand to be removed from call lists. (more)

Mitt Romney apparently does not have a problem with robocalls, in general, because his campaign has reportedly made a bunch of them this weekend. The problem is specifically the fact that the calls from McCains office apparently did not provide a number callers could use to have their names taken off the call list as required by law. There is no word yet, about whether the calls were actually coming from the McCain camp, or if they were so-called "false flag" calls, made by someone other than McCain's campaign for the purpose of annoying McCain supporters.

Labels: Decision '08, John McCain

Posted at 2/04/2008 09:46:00 PM |

USA Election Polls is reporting, based on results from several polls, that Hillary Clinton is exected to beat Barack Obama and Mike Gravel in the Super Tuesday elections among Oklahoma voters, and John McCain is expected to lead by a wide margin over Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Alan Keyes, and Ron Paul.

Because Oklahoma's primary is held on what is often called "Super Tuesday," Oklahomans will not (effectively) have as many options for presidential candidates as the states which held their primaries earlier in the year. Of the Democrats, Bill Richardson, Dennis Kucinich, John Edwards, and Joe Biden, have dropped out. On the Republican side, Tom Tancredo, Duncan Hunter, Fred Thompson, and Rudy Giuliani have dropped out.

Unlike in some states, Oklahomans also do not currently have the option to write-in candidates.

(Updated 2/4/08)

Labels: Decision '08, Hillary Clinton, John McCain

Posted at 2/03/2008 08:33:00 PM |

ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign today announced new additions to its Oklahoma Leadership Team. Chad Alexander and State Representative Trebor Worthen will lead the growing grassroots organization on behalf of John McCain’s candidacy leading up to Oklahoma’s February 5th Primary. Alexander and Worthen join State Chairman, Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn and Honorary State Chairman, Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating.

"There is no greater champion of fiscal responsibility and government reform than John McCain,” said Alexander. "John McCain's conservative convictions and principled leadership are what our nation needs right now, and that’s why I am proud to back him for the Republican nomination.”

“I am honored to work for a man like Senator McCain whose integrity and character is unmatched. Oklahomans, like all Americans, will choose a President who has the experience to lead on day one, and John McCain is that man,” said Representative Worthen. Read more...

Labels: Decision '08, John McCain, Rep. Trebor Worthen

Posted at 1/22/2008 11:45:00 AM |

In a joint statement, Governor Keating and Senator Brownback added: "In this election, with so much at stake, we need a leader who will help transform history to extend and uphold the rights and dignity of each and every child of God. John McCain is that leader."

John McCain expressed his appreciation and stated: "I am very pleased to have the support of this distinguished coalition of Catholic leaders. I am proud to stand side-by-side with Catholics on many of the most critical issues of our day: defending the sanctity of human life, upholding traditional marriage, expanding educational choice, and defending America from the threats that we face around the globe. I have fought my entire life to protect religious freedom and human rights around the world. I look forward to working with these Catholic leaders in the weeks and months ahead as we take our shared values to the White House."

Catholics for McCain will play an active role in educating and communicating with fellow Catholics about why John McCain is the best candidate to successfully promote Catholic values in the upcoming election.

Read More

Labels: Decision '08, Frank Keating, John McCain

Posted at 12/28/2007 10:20:00 AM |

Senator John McCain has picked up the endorsement of former governor Frank Keating, despite McCain's "nuance" of his abortion position since his last presidential run in 2000. McCain is now claiming he is pro-life, and to prove that claim to social conservatives, he will speak at a teenage abstinence rally in South Carolina later today. Keating, who is Catholic, signed a bill in June 2001 to prevent teenagers from having an abortion unless they first received the consent of their parents. The measure also held abortion practitioners liable for "physical and emotional injuries" suffered by a minor if they do not notify or receive consent from a parent prior to performing an abortion on a girl under 18 years of age. Keating also signed a bill in May 2002 authorizing the state's "Choose Life" license plates As we wrote above, McCain's position seems to have changed decidedly since 2000: By Tina Cassidy, Globe Staff, 2/25/2000 "At one point in the campaign, McCain said he would not support the repeal of Roe v. Wade because it would force women to have ''illegal and dangerous operations.'' And during a swing through New Hampshire, he told reporters that if his teenage daughter got pregnant ''the final decision'' about whether to terminate ''would be made by [her].'' In both instances, McCain later said he misspoke." This commentary appeared in a slightly different form on nationalreview.com, February 7, 2001: "John McCain is hawking a book of pro-abortion propaganda to his colleagues. Surprised? Don't be. He's the hero of the story. Richard North Patterson's novel Protect and Defend tells a familiar story: Mean-spirited conservatives, Republicans, and Christian Right anti-abortion fanatics in Washington, D.C., vs. the pro-choice, anti-gun, pro-campaign-reform forces of light. Senator Chad Palmer is twice a hero: once for enduring being kidnapped and held hostage by Islamic extremists, and now for supporting campaign-finance reform even though he's a Republican. Palmer used to be pro-life, until his teenage daughter was able to start turning her life around by getting a legal abortion. And now he has to vote on a controversial nominee to be chief justice of the Supreme Court. The previous one, a hateful old conservative, died of a stroke while giving the oath of office to the new Democratic president. The president names a feminist judge. During her confirmation hearings, this judge writes a decision letting a 15-year-old girl abort her hydrocephalic fetus at seven and a half months over the objections of her parents, who are tyrannical religious zealots. She is bitterly opposed by anti-abortionists with names like Mace and Harshman, as well as by a group called the "Christian Commitment." Eventually a sleazy Washington lobbyist exposes the abortion in Senator Palmer's family. His daughter, distraught, drinks a bottle of wine, gets behind the wheel on an icy night, and dies. So guess who casts the deciding vote in the Senate? And guess which way he votes? Last month, real-life Senators John McCain and Barbara Boxer jointly sent a copy of this book with a letter to every member of the Senate. This evening, McCain and Boxer are hosting a reception and book-signing party for Patterson in the United States Capitol. "

Labels: Abortion, Decision '08, Frank Keating, John McCain

Posted at 2/19/2007 09:09:00 AM |