A Senate Race in Oklahoma Lifts the Right

[Khephra]

TULSA, Okla., Sept. 15 - With its 60-foot-tall, 30-ton bronze of praying hands and an even taller prayer tower capped by a billowing eternal flame, Oral Roberts University is a strong symbol for Christian conservatives.

But the university's rules forbid mixing religion with politics. So when Dr. Tom Coburn, the Republican Senate nominee in Oklahoma, addressed students recently, the professor who welcomed him refrained from making an endorsement.

"But I don't think we would violate anything," the professor, John W. Swails, told the students with a bit of a nod and a wink, "by saying to you, 'We can pray for Dr. Coburn in this race.' ''

Conservatives around the country are pinning their hopes on Dr. Coburn, a blunt-talking former congressman and family doctor whose specialty, delivering babies, has helped make him a powerful foe of abortion. With his vehement opposition to gay rights and embryonic stem cell research and his willingness to challenge the Republican establishment - including President Bush - on what he sees as government spending run amok, Dr. Coburn is fast becoming a popular icon of the right.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/19/politics/campaign/19repubs.html?pagewanted=print&position=

[u2spirit]

1. Brad Carson will win this race

This race is tight and I know many rethugs who like Carson. I personally don't like Carson because he's repug lite. Unfortunately, that is what it takes to win as a Dem in Oklahoma.

[ps1074]

2. may be you would like the real republican win?

Better we have a DINO than a right wing waco in the Senate.

Many people miss the point that controlling either the Senate or the Conress is crucial after the 2004 election. If dems gain majority they will set the agenda, they will have majority in the comissions.

So, is Carson a DINO? He might be. But he is 1000% better than Coburn.

[salin]

13. I think that is what the poster

was conceding in the subtext of that message. At least that is how I read it.

We have our own resident Dino, who has moved from center to right since he moved from the statehouse to the senate. He is running virtually unopposed and will walk to reelection. I think he is more popular with moderate republicans than he is with most democrats, however we, too, recognize that right now in Indiana that is about as good as it is going to get. As he moved further right (pitching right after bush was elected, and further right after 911), he started looking as if he might go all the way towards Zell-dom. Then, it gets harder to take the position you suggest.

However, in Bayh's defence, this past congressional session he did hold fast to the democratic position on a couple of important show-downs: the Energy Bill votes, and the Medicare votes (the latter was hard to predict as big funding comes to him via Pharma - in part due to long support of and by Lilly which is based here... he gained some brownie points with many dems in state who were growing alarmed by his record by standing firm on that vote, btw...)

The text of this message - is to convey how I read the subtext of the first poster's note. Very familiar with the "don't support the DINO, but.... its as best as we can do..." to mean exactly the point that you make.

Btw, even as late as early Summer our senator was backing the administration line that Weapons of Mass Destruction WERE still in Iraq (regardless of all other evidence - including available info on the trumped up intel...) Even our republican Senator was long passed pushing the GOP talking points on that front. It is things like this that keep many in-state democrats cringing over Bayh, while still pulling the lever for him (in absense of any other viable choice... at least for now.)

[RoyGBiv]

3. As you say ...

That's what it takes to win in Oklahoma, most of the time anyway.

Liberal Democrats who run their campaigns as liberals do not win elections in this state, especially not Senate elections.

Carson is by no means a perfect candidate from my point of view, but he is leagues better than his opponent.

[karlrschneider]

4. Coburn's daddy gave Anal...er Oral Roberts $10 million before he died.

One of the colleges at ORU is named for him. :grr:

[The Zanti Regent]

5. Once again, another lie from the Screw York Times

The Times is lying again.

Daily Kos has been following this race, in fact, Kos says this is the key Senate race this year. Kos also has the latest polls which show Carson pulling away from Dr Mengele. Look at:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/9/17/145022/900

I sent the Kos link to the Nazis at the Times, but they're too busy printing all the lies Karl says are Fit to Print.

[Ravy]

6. Interesting fact about the praying hands statue....

When it was first built, the hands were spread apart by twenty feet.

When Oral Roberts saw them, he was very upset since the design had clearly called for praying hands.

The construction engineer took Oral down to the statue, threw a dollar bill in the air between the hands, and the hands clasp tightly around it.

They remain so to this very day.

[tlcandie]

9. Hilarious, yet very sadly more truth than not...

:cry:

[Cats Against Frist]

7. Isn't he the charming Jesus Light of Love Child

that wants abortion doctors murdered?

[pfitz59]

8. When will God really come and take Oral away?

Orla Roberts and his empire are a prime example why churches should be taxed, heavily!!!!!!

[yelladawg]

10. This race is more a Holy War than a political one

Carson is being backed to the hilt by Lieberman/Jews.

Coburn is being backed to the hilt by Oral,Pat,Jerry/Christian Coalition Groups.

This race isn't about politics and what's right for Oklahoma. It's turned into a Holy War.

[Crunchy Frog]

11. So the religious right

now believes in forcible sterilization. That's a new family value that I hadn't heard about.

[bogey18]

14. Are you kidding?

There are members of the religious right that openly support the death sentence for homosexuality.

[w4rma]

12. What a misleading puff piece by the NYT. (nt)