OK Dem Chair attempts censorship of party leaders
by Rob Howard
Associate Editor
On February 3, Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair Mark Hammons sent out a troubling email to party officials. Two days after the Oklahoma legislature convened, and only a few days after Freedom Oklahoma announced that there were 27 anti-LGBTQ bills being considered, the email outlined what the party’s focus is for the legislative session. And then carefully outlined what is not part of its focus. That part begins:
DO NOT ISSUE RELEASES ON THE FOLLOWING AND REMOVE FACEBOOK POSTS ON THE FOLLOWING:
A. Tax credits or tax solutions to the revenue shortfalls or methods to solve educational funding. Our leadership is letting this position evolve. No more comments on sale tax increases at present.
B. Sexual orientation bills, abortion, Planned Parenthood. Similarly, no gun control, 2d Amendment issues. No statements on farm/agricultural bills without House/Senate prior okay.
The Gayly received a copy of the email on March 7. Freedom Oklahoma Executive Director Troy Stevenson was outraged. When contacted by The Gayly, Stevenson said, “I felt when I read this it was the Democratic Party of Oklahoma throwing up the white flag of surrender. It was them saying that they are not going to advocate for progressive or populist ideals, that they are not going to stand up for women or minorities, not going to do anything.”
The email explained that the Chair didn’t want these issues, and others, to be discussed because, “The Republican strategy is to try to nationalize the local races and our priority must be to focus only on the local issues outlined” as the party’s focus. “We can’t fall into the Republican trap of making this Republican/Democrat issues.”
Stevenson’s response to that was, “I think a lot of them shouldn’t be partisan issues, but at the end of the day, these folks say they don’t want to fall into the trap of national politics, and yet they are bending over backwards to be delegates to conventions and to greet national politicians when they come into town.
“It seems like the only thing that the Oklahoma Democratic party decided to do this session was be the welcome wagon for presidential surrogates as they came into town. That’s really not their job.”
Although listed in eight points, the main focus of the party was to be the state’s budget crisis, school consolidation, and making sure that the state’s response to earthquakes would be local, rather than consolidated, in the Governor’s office.
In fact, on the major school issues facing the state – teacher pay, the ranking of Oklahoma as among the lowest states in education expenditures, and how to finance public schools – the Chair wanted to “let this issue evolve.”
The email also directed “No party statements of position on death penalty, [or] marijuana issues,” even though the ODP Vice-Chair, former state Sen. Connie Johnson, who is strongly in favor of marijuana legalization, was not invited to the meeting where these topics were discussed.
Sen. Johnson said, “I felt that it was tying our hands when it came to sexual orientation, marijuana, justice reform. I just felt it was a disconnect for us as the party when it comes to reaching out to people who form our base, whether LGBTQ, women, marijuana reform advocates, people opposed to the death penalty or immigrants."
As to the list of “reactionary” issues, the Chair said, “We may (and should) offer private support to opponents of these reactionary bills and access to what resources we can.”
Stevenson praised both Republican and Democratic legislators who helped head off all the anti-LGBTQ bills introduced, but criticized the Party, saying, “we had a lot of luck with Republican legislators who were working behind the scenes, and Democratic legislators that were working behind the scenes. But nothing from any organized political party. It was as though they just went totally silent.”
Stevenson said of the Party’s lack of effort, “They’re ignoring opportunities right and left in order to try and hold on to an outdated way of thinking.” Noting the results of the Democratic Primary support for Sen. Bernie Sanders in the state, he said, “I think that’s another thing that they are missing.
“At the same time that they are ignoring populist Oklahomans and Democratic principles, you’ve got the youth of Oklahoma, a whole new generation, stepping out and voting for a progressive populist.
“What it says to me is that they are a party of opposition that wants to remain a party of opposition because they are not offering any solutions. They have no answers, they have no solutions.
“They want to take credit for the victories of the advocates who don’t get any support from them, yet they play no role in what’s happening, they play no role in the electoral victories that Democrats have picked up over the last couple of months. They play no role in getting Democrats elected at any level in government. They actually at this point seem to play no role in Oklahoma.”
“What do we say to [our base] when last Tuesday, International Women’s’ Day, no Democrat stood up and talked against the abortion bill?” asked Sen. Johnson. “I think our silence was deafening. And for the equal pay bill we didn’t say anything about that either. I think the party deserves to not have its hands tied. To be able to speak up on the issues that attack our base is our duty.”
“This [email] is in many ways as despicable an attack on the LGBT and other minority communities in the state as anyone else is doing, because they just said we are going to turn our backs on you and stay silent,” said Stevenson. “What it shows is just a remarkable lack of judgment to put that in writing and let it get out into the public‘s hands. I mean, leaders don’t do that.”
Stevenson concluded, “I think there should be an immediate apology from the Chairman of the party, and new leadership come into the party. Otherwise, I don’t know if it will be there much longer.”
The text of the ODP Chair’s email follows:
On Wednesday, February 3, 2016 10:29 AM Mark Hammons (the Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair) wrote:
As Russell is aware, we had a meeting last week with the House and Senate leadership about messaging to make sure we follow a coordinated strategy. The results of the meeting from my notes are as follows:
1. We will issue a press release anytime and every time there is news of a revenue failure. The main points are the inability of the Republican leadership to govern, including planning ahead. We should comment on the hardship on any specific groups (or the people generally) arising from each failure. We can point out that Oklahoma followed the same Republic[an*] policies which failed and are continuing to fail in Kansas. Instead of failures being spread equally, the Republican leadership team of Governor Fallin, Lt. Governor Lamb and A.G. Pruitt should bear the lion's share of any reductions since their leadership resulted in the failure. We don't care if some parts of the press view this and the following points as "old news"; we will repeat (hopefully with a fresh gloss) each time there is an opportunity.
2. Revenue shortfall. We will issue a press release anytime and every time there is news related to the shortfall, whether it is news of the amount or expected impact. Comments will follow the same theme as the revenue failure.
3. Local control/earthquakes: Any legislation which would consolidate power in the Governor or which take away local control should be the subject of a media release unless sponsored by a Democrat- then check with the House/Senate leadership. We can bring up past actions by the Republicans including taking about local control over vacant/abandoned property, drilling and injection activities, smoking and fair wages in the community. Bills to restore these rights should be the subject of a supportive release which rejects Republic[an*] efforts to take away local control.
4. School consolidation. We should oppose all efforts to close/consolidate schools and support Democratic opposition. This should be tied with the Republican's failure to support rural Oklahoma and can be tied to failing to support rural health care and county roads and bridges. There are likely to be many education issues, but coordinate with House/Senate Caucus to determine priorities for publicity.
5. County road/bridge funding: We oppose any cuts to county road/bridge funding (tie this into overall rural issues).
6. Earthquakes: Apart from supporting local control, oppose allowing injection fluids/water to be brought in from out-of-state. Otherwise, take no position regarding regulatory changes/solutions. Our leadership is letting this position evolve.
7. No cuts to pay or support for correctional guards, or staff to keep us safe. Let's run any releases by the House/Senate Caucus to be sure on this issue.
8. We can and should oppose voter suppression bills, but I would like our statements to either come from or be cleared through the House/Senate Caucuses before being released to the media.
DO NOT ISSUE RELEASES ON THE FOLLOWING AND REMOVE FACEBOOK POSTS ON THE FOLLOWING:
A. Tax credits or tax solutions to the revenue shortfalls or methods to solve educational funding. Our leadership is letting this position evolve. No more comments on sale tax increases at present.
B. Sexual orientation bills, abortion, Planned Parenthood. Similarly, no gun control, 2d Amendment issues. No statements on farm/agricultural bills without House/Senate prior okay. There are a lot of bills on those issues. The Republican strategy is to try to nationalize the local races and our priority must be to focus only on the local issues outlined as 1-8 above. We may (and should) offer private support to opponents of these reactionary bills and access to what resources we can. However we can't fall into the Republic[an*] trap of making this Republican/Democrat issues. These have to be open for the candidates to make their own decisions so No ODP public statements or posts without House/Senate Caucus approval.
C. No Party statements of position on death penalty, marijuana issues. I know Connie supports these and that they are likely part of her campaign. We will not oppose or criticize - just can[‘t*] make them ODP issues at present.
Of course the media strategy is subject to change, but there needs to be House/Senate involvement prior to any deviation or change.
I know Sarah is already forwarding press releases to House/Senate. She will make sure we are communicating on press conferences so that we support House or Senate Press Conferences and don't set up anything conflicting.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS COORDINATION, A COMMON MESSAGE AND BEING ABLE TO SEPARATE LOCAL RACES FROM THE NATIONAL RACES. If I have misunderstood any of the agreements, please let me know right away so we operate on the same page but I need to confirm with everyone before we depart. A COMMON MESSAGE MAY ALLOW US TO PREPARE MATERIALS THAT CAN BE USED STATE-WIDE AT THE FAIRS, 4TH OF JULY EVENTS AND SIMILAR STATE-WIDE EFFORTS, SO IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE STAY ON POINT.
* Items marked with an asterisk (*) were modified by The Gayly to reflect the correct meaning of the context of the ODP Chair’s email.
The Gayly - March 14, 2016 @ 6 p.m.