50-State Strategy: Oklahoma
Posted by on September 21, 2006 at 04:44 PM
The Oklahoma Democratic Party is doing an amazing job motivating Democrats in America's heartland. Chair Lisa Prior has embraced the 50-State Strategy and the results are tangible.
Hundreds of Oklahoma Democrats turned out for their
Democratic Reunion event on July 29th.
From the Oklahoma Gazette:
“I’m not a member of any organized political party, I’m a Democrat!” —Will RogersThe Oklahoma Democratic Party has decided to make Will Rogers into a liar. All indications are that, for the first time ever, a viable and organized Democratic Party is present in the Sooner State. And it is the presence of organization combined with dedication among the activist base and a stiff political wind blowing against the right that has Democrats thinking heady thought toward November.
The Democrats are finally emerging from a long, dark tea time of the soul that has seen their registration and identification advantages among voters collapse, culminating in the loss of majority in one legislative chamber, control of a single congressional seat and a minority party governor who had the good fortune to run against a pious star athlete and an attorney gifted in the art of political destruction. When Republican candidates ran up 60 percent-plus totals statewide and a huge party debt, political observers two years ago wondered if the party’s prospects would ever rebound or if they’d just follow the socialists into Sooner politics oblivion.
The good news for Democrats is that legislative Republicans proved to be good at cutting taxes and sharing credit with Brad Henry, while also being even more eager than Democrats to expand government spending. Republican lawmakers and statewide candidates have a hard time criticizing the popular Henry because they are complicit in his victories. Henry walks outside the shadow of allegations of legislator misconduct that dog the Republican Party majority leadership in the House….
…The danger for the state GOP is that, in pursuing Henry, Republicans will have to opt for an unfortunate politics of personal destruction or try to play scare cards on security and immigration. The national political campaign again turns to what one friend in Washington, D.C., called the “time to scare the shit out of the country again strategy,” beating war drums to mobilize the GOP base. While such a strategy has worked in the past, it could prove to be one visit too many to the new edition of the bloody shirt of American politics.
Democrats in Oklahoma know that. And they have unity in message, organization and desire, which is something they’ve lacked for a long time. And they won’t get fooled again.
Oklahoma Democrats 2006 Dream Team
Oklahoma Democrats are on a roll, and they aren't stopping anytime soon. Check out one of the many events they have scheduled for The 50-State Turnout.
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