BY KAREN WEBB

I know that I am cynical, but saying that Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jari Askins taking money from big poultry is OK because maybe they were just trying to poke Attorney General Drew Edmondson in the eye is really amusing.

What if, just what if, they supported Jari because they think it will be easier for Republican nominee Mary Fallin to beat her, rather than Drew?

I remember being at a Gay Pride event years ago at the Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City and Drew was there and spoke. It was during all the controversy about the Boy Scouts, right after Matthew Shepard was killed, and I was very proud that he was there and it took guts. I haven’t been to every Gay Pride event, but I don’t recall ever seeing Askins at one, nor do I recall her speaking at a pro-choice event. I haven’t been to every pro-choice event, either.

If the only thing she has to say about women’s rights is “equal pay for equal work” she is way behind the times. This legislative term in Oklahoma has been about as bad as it gets for women’s issues and I don’t recall Askins saying much of anything. Did she make any comments at all? Would she have vetoed any of the bills because they were just anti-women? Claiming they were unconstitutional and hoping the Supreme Court would back you up is whistling in the wind with this court.

There is no way, I would vote for Fallin, just like there was no way I would vote for Ralph Nader because I do not want another Bush in the White House or another Frank Keating in the Governor’s mansion.

The fact is, I will never vote for another Republican regardless of who is running after the mess they have made and their self-righteous idiocy, but I should not have to feel like I need a bath after voting for the Democrat.

And all of this crap about Mary and Jari liking and respecting each other bubby-buddy crap is nauseating. It is like the love affair between Blue Dog Democratic Rep. Dan Boren and Dubya.

Why isn’t anyone asking Fallin where those companies are that were lined up at the border, with $12 an hour jobs, waiting for Oklahoma to pass “Right to Work”? She and Keating both ran on it for re-election.

I will vote for Askins, but campaigning for her is out for me unless I know she is pro-equal rights for gays and pro-choice. As far as I am concerned if a pregnant female doesn’t want to carry to term, she should not be forced to, and taxpayers should not have to have congressional or legislative consent to marry any consenting adult that will have them.

They can force doctors to comply by law, but they cannot force you to listen or to watch an ultrasound. After you have all the information about choices and after you have made this very painful and difficult decision, shut your eyes, stick your fingers in your ears and sing the Star Spangled Banner at the top of your lungs or recite the Bill of Rights or the Declaration of Independence.

You do not have to participate in their demented game.

Having my name in your list of supporters in Oklahoma is rarely a plus so I don’t go there, but if you want me to make even a small effort at support you will have to give me something to support. I will never enthusiastically support anyone just because they are registered Democrat.

I will not give a Democrat a pass if I have attacked a Republican for the same thing.

– Karen Webb lives in Moore, OK and is a regular contributor to The Oklahoma Observer