“IT MEANS I WON’T BE BEHOLDEN TO THE SPECIAL INTERESTS AND HIGH POWERED LOBBYISTS WHO HAVE BEEN CALLING THE SHOTS IN OKLAHOMA FOR FAR TOO LONG.” MIKE MAZZEI, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, AS QUOTED IN THE OKLAHOMAN, JUNE 10TH, 2026.
That’s today by the way.
In the above statement, my former colleague in the state senate, Mike Mazzei, explains why he has loaned himself something around $11 million dollars in his pursuit of a job that pays about $185,000. And that’s ok with me.
But he also says by putting his own money in he’s not beholden to powerful interests. So I glanced at just one or two of his numerous contribution lists and found a few fellows and PACS who most folks with common sense would define as “special” and “high powered”. They are: Former Pro Temp of the Senate Glenn Coffee, max donor of $3,500; Crimson and Cream PAC, max donor of $5,000; Frazier Henke, powerful Tulsa banker, max donor of $3,500; Hastings Siegfried, max donor of $3,500 and a member of the big money Hastings clan of Tulsa; the Chiro PAC, max donor of $3,500 and of course many, many others too numerous for me to list.
My pal Mike has a lot of personal money and wants to spend it being our next governor. The law allows that and Mild Mannered Mike says doing so will insulate him from the power brokers and influencers at the state capitol.
Right. And the billionaires in Washington who hang around with President Donald Trump want to do so because he is smart, funny, wise, honest, Christian, loving, caring, smells good and other important characteristics just not found among their other friends.
Here’s the deal. I’m sure…actually I know, many people make contributions to candidates because they believe in them, admire their work and hope things for all of us will be better when and if their person wins.
Here’s also the deal. Lots of people give big money to buy future influence with their chosen person or persons for elected position(s.) That’s just the way it is but when a fellow like my man Mike claims somehow by spending millions of his own largesse he’s now free of influence from such “powerful people”, and at the same time takes the dough, I have just one last word for that behavior.
Hypocritical, as in hypocrite, and that trait is the last thing we need in The People’s Building for the next four or even eight years.
Even worse, should Mike win and he may now that DC hypocrite Trump has endorsed him, where do you think Mr. Mazzei will turn to to pay himself back for the massive loans fueling his campaign?
Well, he’ll probably start with his donor list.
Wouldn’t you? After all, that’s where the money is which is the same answer that Willie Sutton gave when asked why he robbed banks.
