Remember when the Grand Old Party was devoted to Ronald Reagan and his 11th Commandment: “Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican”?
‘Twas better in those days to lose an election than to carry on like … ewwww! … Democrats, who were notorious for their internecine warfare.
In Reagan’s world, it was acceptable for Republicans to disagree, so long as they did so behind closed doors, presumably attired in smoking jackets and nursing cognacs. In public, unity wasn’t just expected – it was demanded.
That was then. This is now: Gov. Kevin Stitt, Attorney General Gentner Drummond and state Treasurer Todd Russ are engaging in a circular firing squad over power, transparency and alleged shady deals.
The long-raging Stitt-Drummond feud erupted into a raging wildfire last week when it was learned the governor intervened on behalf of a friend and campaign donor, helping secure her release from prison after serving only 73 days of an eight-year sentence for her role in a near-fatality DUI accident.
The state’s multicounty grand jury investigated the early release, determining “this rank political favoritism, particularly on a crime that nearly took the life of a … young woman, is indefensible” – but not necessarily criminal.
Stitt, of course, insisted he did nothing wrong, then accused Drummond of weaponizing the grand jury – since it’s the AG’s office that assists multi-county grand juries. Drummond returned fire, saying, “Oklahomans are smart enough to see through these denials.”
Meanwhile, Russ, who’s seeking a second term, also is trading shots with his primary challenger, term-limited state Auditor Cindy Byrd over endorsements.
Former Speaker Charles McCall publicly blasted, by name, two of his gubernatorial primary opponents, Chip Keating and Drummond – even creating an anti-Drumond website.
And Keating and another GOP hopeful for governor, former state Sen. Mike Mazzei, are claiming they’re victims of “dark money” groups targeting them with attack ads.
Who’s behind the ads? One of their primary opponents? Someone supporting another candidate? Hard to say in the oft-murky, Citizens United era, when campaign cash is a firehose-esque torrent and spenders can more easily remain in the shadows.
For Oklahoma, history repeats itself. When Democrats ruled the state in the 20th century, intra-party warfare was frequently intense and downright nasty. As Will Rogers once deadpanned, “I am a member of no organized party. I am a Democrat.”
Now that Republicans dominate – and winning the party’s nomination is oft-tantamount to election in November – GOP-on-GOP sniping is surging, overshadowing where candidates stand on important issues and how they would attempt to govern if elected.
Rather than detail plans for elevating public education or funding vital emergency or health services if taxes are cut, Republican candidates churn out ads and news releases touting their loyalty to President Trump. Or in McCall’s case, accusing Drummond of disloyalty to dear leader Trump.
Sadly, the candidates often appear to be preoccupied with selling the notion they can best protect “real Oklahomans” from the alleged threats and dangers posed by “others” – particularly trans Sooners or foreigners [the ideal pronunciation on the campaign stump is “furr-n-ers”].
Or with zinging each other. Stitt isn’t even running [he’s term-limited] yet his feuding with Drummond ranks as arguably the most ferocious in a half-century between high-ballot, statewide elected officials.
Just days before news broke about Stitt’s Trump-style freeing of a donor/pal, he and Drummond clashed over the governor’s veto of HB 3278 that would have given the attorney general more power to enforce Oklahoma’s Open Meetings Act.
“This wasn’t a controversial bill,” Drummond declared. “It was a commonsense reform that sailed through the Legislature because the people’s representatives understood what the governor apparently does not: accountability isn’t optional.
“When a governor vetoes a law that would expose corruption and punish officials who violate the public trust, you have to ask who he’s protecting.”
Stitt called it a power grab: “This bill would have allowed the Attorney General to be judge, jury and enforcer when it comes to Open Meetings Act violations … We want any violations of open meetings to be exposed in front of a neutral court of law, not a politician.”
Not much chance Stitt will endorse Drummond. Or that Drummond would even want Stitt’s support.
Meanwhile, McCall’s taken aim at Drummond, calling him “a politician who courts the D.C. swamp,” and at Keating, for “sitting on the board of a hospital performing transgender surgeries on minors.”
It’s less than six weeks until the GOP primaries. Better stock up on popcorn.
Illustration: Rep. Andy Fugate
