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The Craziest Senator
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Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma earned national derision when he endorsed nutty birther theories earlier this week. But he is actually a shrewdly calculating politician playing to his state’s far-right base.
In the age of the BlogoYouTweetosphere, the fringe in American politics has increasingly reared its kooky head. But before tinfoil hats went viral, there was Sen. James Mountain Inhofe.
The senior senator from Oklahoma made headlines this week for telling Politico that the birthers—conspiracy theorists who believe President Obama was not born in the United States and is thus constitutionally ineligible to be president—“have a point.” Then, on Tuesday, Inhofe told the Tulsa World, “If there are legal experts who have concerns [about Obama’s birth certificate], I would encourage them to continue looking into it.”
He has since backed off his initial comments. But to those of us who have followed Inhofe’s career, his strange and temporary endorsement of the birthers’ claim was not surprising. Whether he is suggesting that the 9/11 attacks were God’s vengeance for America’s betrayal of Israel or calling the EPA a “Gestapo bureaucracy,” Inhofe has built a career testing the limits of controversy. Far from being an unhinged lunatic, Inhofe is a shrewd politician from the reddest of red states, playing to a conservative base that appears ever more comprised of elements from the fringes of the political mainstream.
“I'm really proud to say that in the recorded history of our family, we’ve never had a divorce or any kind of a homosexual relationship,” Inhofe once said.
Inhofe entered Oklahoma government in 1966, when he won a seat in the state house and became a fast-rising star within what was then a fairly moderate Republican minority. Inhofe and other Republicans cast themselves as reformers running against a corrupt Democratic Party establishment in the state. He went on to become a leader in the state senate and, in 1978, mayor of Tulsa, suffering defeats in a gubernatorial and a congressional campaign along the way. When running on his six-year record as mayor, the voters threw him out of office in 1984, and his political career appeared over.
In the 1986 congressional elections, Inhofe was resurrected from the political grave, but, as one might expect from any creature back from the dead, the resurrected Inhofe looked a tinge different. Inhofe, who had started his career running as a reform candidate, now combined hot-button cultural issues with the less divisive bread and butter issues of the conservative movement.
“There were three issues that he kept drumming away at on me: abortion, gun control, and balancing the budget,” said Gary Allison, the Tulsa law professor who ran against Inhofe in the 1986 race. Riding a wave of cultural conservatism washing across the Bible Belt, Inhofe was fast becoming among the fiercest of culture warriors.
By the time of his successful 1994 run for U.S. Senate, Inhofe had settled on his present campaign strategy—the “Three G’s,” which has become a standard campaign framework for right-wing politicians. By focusing on Guns, God, and Gays, Inhofe keeps the action on his home court, playing to the issues that arouse the emotions of his ultraconservative base. In the 1994 campaign, Inhofe hired a political stooge to wear a Pinocchio mask and heckle Dave McCurdy, his Democratic opponent, at public events. In the wake of Bill Clinton’s aborted campaign promise to allow gays to serve openly in the military, Inhofe released an ad in which images of McCurdy and Clinton’s faces repeatedly morphed back and forth.
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Denver Nicks is a writer based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Outside of his right-wing campaign tactics, pandering, etc. has he done anything good?
Actually having lived in Oklahoma for the last 40 years I can tell you that he will do anything he has to in order to continue to fill his own pockets and those of family and friends and if that means looking like the turd in the swimming pool? (which he always has) then so be it. He is one of the last old time politicans who feel it is his right to screw over the public simply because he KNOWS they are stupid and is smart enough to take advantage of it. Every election someone good runs against him, this year it was Rice who lost a brother in 9/11, and each year Jimmy Bob scares the bejesus out of the poor stupid Okies and they continue to vote him in. The state is one of the ast in education and Jimmy Bob likes that just fine...now bring him another 100 thousand.
I've lived in Oklahoma the last 40 years and you are a complete sellout. Do you remember the 80's in this state? Do you remember how the Democrats let us die? Do you remember how every town in this state started boarding up because oil went in the tank? Bulldog, Rice was WAY to liberal to influence the people of Oklahoma. Most people I have talked to don't care for Inhoffe, but there haven't been any good Democratic choices.
Oklahoma is the way it is because of the great depression, plain and simple. People got "scared" because they saw what could happen. This was passed down from generation to generation and people are still concerned about "letting go". The religous side of this state needs to get out of the political cycle. I'm not saying faith shouldn't be here because it should always be in a persons life. But I'm amazed at how many people don't really have any. But, who am I to judge?
He is another Bible prostitute who profits off the people nearing death, who try to buy their way onto Heaven.
You might say a false profit.
playing to his base. that's what a whore does.
inhofe is shrewd and calculating?
so
become narrow and simpleminded suggesting crazy
and voila
win an election
that says low brow dumb about the people of oklahoma
yow
not a good look
well
in the vernacular of the bible belt
you reap what you sow...
crashtester, please do not make the mistake that McCarthy/Hoover made in painting an entire segment of people with such a broad brush. I live in Oklahoma, and admit that there are a lot of waddlers here. But you can find waddlers in Wal-marts clear across the country.
Oklahoma is an easy state to pummel politically, but bear in mind, that 36% of us happily voted for Mr. Obama. We would like to see our numbers increase, and oust the nut-case Inhofe and his evil twin Tom Coburn.
We rejoice in the demise of the Cheney administration, the repatriation back to the hinterland of Texas of their native son with the simian outlook, and the optimism offerred by our new President.
But, every time we read about the ongoing corruption and business as usual by the Goldman Sachs boys, the Citibank boy who graciously thinks he is somehow entitled to $100,000,000 in taxpayer money, and the wiffle-waffle on yet another campaign promise - such as the famous statement that our U.S. government must shine the light of transparency on its transactions, we are left with a sinking feeling that it is just business as usual.
When we read about Senator Christopher Dodd being in control of the Banking Committee and how he was bought and paid for by the Goldman Sachs/Citibank crowd, our gleeful support of Change We Can Believe In begins to erode.
Each time we read about this business as usual in Washington, our hopes for changing our state back to Blue are diminished.
Those of you, who are so quick to condemn an entire state for the quacks in the Senate would be better served by clearing out your own corrupt, smooth hair-cuts before resorting to the McCarthy witch-hunt mentality for our group of miscreants.
I live in Connecticut and it appears that Dodd, who I thought might squeak by next election, may be political toast after new revelations came out this week elaborating on his preferential treatment from Countrywide Mortgage. He continues to deny it, which isn't playing well here. Dodd's opponent, Rob Simmons, would do well to remind the Nutmeg Staters that Chris Dodd's father, Thomas Dodd, had been chucked out of the U.S. Senate for corruption and the apple didn't fall far from the tree.
Lieberman is laying low but I wouldn't bet much on his chances of being reelected either. Obama won by a huge margin here in Connecticut and there is still some resentment. The state may very well have two new Senators next election cycle.
I agree Zorkadork. Let's not get into insults of an entire state and it's people which this article tends to do. People in Oklahoma are simple people who believe in simple things such as God, agriculture, and oil and natural gas. This is simple bread and butter. Same with Texas. The Dems continue to beat on that drum that oil companies are "the devil" so this state will start to lean more right. This is generational and President Obama seems to have no use for oil and gas. This is why you have a state turning more and more red. Once upon a time, Oklahoma was the biggest Democratic state going because of the grants given to oil companies and to farmers, but those days have passed. As long as the Democratic party is the party of anti-oil, anti-God, and pro union then Oklahoma won't play along. I believe in progressive movements and looking ahead, but you can't turn your back on basic traditioinal principals either.
You know, it's certainly true that other states have their share of crazies, dunderheads, and crooks, but that doesn't excuse Oklahoma from its obligation to own up to its own special brand of weirdness. Maybe we who live here should tell the good folks out there that Inhofe is not one of our loonier legislators by a long shot. This truly is the land of God, Guns, and Gays, and if you are a conservative Protestant it is literally not possible to say something that is considered over-the-line. Coburn complaining that lesbians were making the hallways unsafe, Sally Kern with an endless stream of anti-gay, God-oriented agenda, Randy Terrell, Randy Brogdon, 10 Commandments on the state Capitol, the list goes on and on. (Even Catholics are pretty much considered cult members here; don't even ask about other religions).
Out here it's very important to talk a religious game; whether you attempt to live it seems to be some personal (and often hidden) decision. I have learned that people who are saved are indistinguishable from people who have no religion at all, but you're not supposed to point that out. We wear our religion very loudly but also very lightly here, it seems. Our situation would be funny if it weren't tragic: name any negative social outcome: divorce, teen pregnancy, mortality rates, low teacher pay, and we're in the top 5. Point to the more positive outcomes and we're reliably at the bottom. The people here, I must add, are quite nice as long as they're not talking about minorities, foreigners, other religions, and liberals. This is an evangelical, low-tax, low-service, low-aspiration state. Oh yeah, it's also a right-to-work state. We were told that it would make us a virtual beacon on the hill but so far it hasn't happened. To our credit, we are not suffering from a significant economic bust. There also was no boom; we just plod along.
I don't think Inhofe is whoring himself; I think he's sincere and right in step with the majority of people in the state. We are the only state in which every county voted Republican, and there is nothing unusual about this.
How are the Republicans going to be any different? Won't they be taking money from the exact same special interests?
No one ever seems able to answer that quesyion? How are the Republicans any better when it comes to being bought off?
Does anyone seriously believe that Inhofe and the C Street Boys aren't a bunch of crooks, taking money hand over fist from every big business interest in the country?
i should have qualified:
i'm sure some of the good people in Oklahoma are intelligent
but the majority are moo cow fools
they have the shining example of their representatives...
inhofe is an extreme example
he elicits extreme responses
for and against him
the extreme is reflected around him
it reflects on the people living in oklahoma
so sorry he's your boy
the whole country had to be trashed to get people to wake up
to the kind of people we have in washington
let us hope the next election cycle will have intelligent voters
looking at the people representing them...
Birthers = Nutcake Wing Nuts. Do they not have more important issues to discuss? Eventually this will burn out like a pyramid operation.
Inhofe like others in Congress is addicted to the perc of office and will stay or do anything to retain them.
Most of us who post hear weren't around in the 1930s when all kinds of nutcases tried to command the political stage. Most faded away over time , but not without doing damage to the nation as a whole.
The Inhofe's and his ilk need to hear from all of us, regardless of state residency, to let him know that enough is enough.
A question; has anyone else noticed that it's ony the rightwing fringe that thinks they have the right to make a point by killing someone? These people who think they speak for God are the most dangerous of all.
Agreed! But what is even more disturbing is how the Republican base has become more deranged, yet these politicians keep the flames of hate stoked by giving them credibility. It really is disturbing.
I just read that the base of the Republican party are the most "uneducated" of the American public. That kind of says it all doesn't it?
Seriously.... since when did people on welfare and illegals become "educated"? All thoughs ACORN fools seem to be real educated. People who work union labor, are they educated?
so much stupidity, clearthinker, it's hard to know where to start. as for your first sentence, racism aside, learn what the term "base" means. you're just taking potshots at stereotypes that are not politically relevant. rise above, my friend. i have no idea what youre trying to say in your second sentence. as for your union comment, i would like to know what YOU do for a living. coming from a union family, i know you cant do any real labor work and make that comment. can you layout a building? can you construct a foundation, lay brick and steel, and install ductwork in a skyscraper? would you even know the beginnings of the first step? did you apprentice for years to learn how to do it? can you play politics well enough to get business for your union and keep non-unioners from stealing your jobs and doing shoddy, inferior, and often illegal work? i dont think you can do any of that. what does your "education" allow yo to do?
Senator Inhofe is an example of how diminished the United States Senate has become. It use to be a place of "distinction". But thanks to Inhofe and others like him, it has become an "embarrassment" to our democracy.
"Shrewd and calculating" doesn't make you any less of a racist-enabling asshole.
aye
and there's the rub...
All the talk in the world won't get the ignorant people of his State not to vote for him... The only way to get him & his kind out of public office is to play things out of his play book...Things like,
A. Lie about him & his sex life, make up stories that he is a
closet gay & has a mistress & so on....
B. Accuse him of everything you can & keep talking about it over & over again until all he can do is defend himself....
C. Collect money from all over the Nation & finance a really good war hero with a big family to run against him.....
D. register every black & Hispanic in the State (Import more if need be) to vote in the next election he is in even getting car pools to bus them to the polls.....
Maybe then the rest of his kind across the South will begin to see the light, maybe our Country can get out of the Civil War politics these criminal live in....
If he's a senator in a far-right state...that votes consistently far right...and gives support to the ideas of far-right crazies...how is he not far-right?
Sorry to pour more gasoline on the fire, but Anita Bryant is from Oklahoma.
My whole idea has been to build a sectional coalition in the North and West by running AGAINST Texas, Oklahoma and the Deep South. I just don't see any way to get through to the white voters in places like that, who are so easily manipulated by issues of race ,culture and religion that they will even vote against health care reform.
Inhofe is one of the C Street Boys, and quite open in his views that God has chosen rich guys like himself to rule over the peasants. If that's what the voters of the South really want, to trun back the clock to the 14th Century, then by all means let them secede and write a feudal constitution for themselves with an aristocracy, slaves, serfs and an absolute monarch. Just don't think that the rest of us are going to stand for any of it.
holy crap, this is one of the most ridiculous points I have ever heard. You, mcmchugh99 are a dip shit of the first world order. "easily manipulated by issues of race, culture, and religion". WTF does that mean you narrow minded boob. Yes, the locales you mentioned are more conservative, but does this give you and your shitbird mind the right to lump everyone as morons because they think differently than you? Maybe you need to take a deep breath and understand that isn't good for this country. As much as I dislike liberalism and the progressive movement, it is necessary for this country to move forward. I would NEVER want absolute power from the right. Hell, the Repubs would go to war with everyone if not for the liberals. If not for these people living in the locales you think so highly of, then America would turn into Rome overnight. This is the UNITED States of America. Though you have your political view, don't start that bull crap thinking your right and everyone is stupid. Very arrogant!
Having said that, this Senator is crazy and I have never like this man. However, the state of Oklahoma is tied to oil and gas, military bases, and agriculture. These are the resources this state depends on. The liberal point of view hasn't looked favorably on this. Inhoffe has always protected this and, therefore, continues to get elected.
Perhaps he might appeal to his ignorant inbreeds...and that is where he should be shrewdly marginalized. Good luck.
Perhaps, one day...if we ever get a true world class educational system...this to, shall pass.
Hey Nenver Dicks, have you ever been to Oklahoma? Are you just stereotyping like all the liberal racists do?
Er... he lives in Tulsa.
clearthinker -- you are clearly the least educated, most knee-jerk idiot on this entire comment board. I like your post earlier where you were saying that Acorn people weren't educated, and you spelled "those" as "thoughs". Ha. Ha. Ha. Get a new tag -- unless you're purposely being ironic.
Inhofe is a member (pun intended) of the C-Street Prayer Circle-jerk.
I just read an ignorant comment calling liberals racists. Dah, we elected an African American President who has been crapped on by the right wing nut racist, bigots and hate mongers. Birther? How dare anyone from the right accuse our president of not being a natural born citizen. With the nasty grilling the right gave Sonya Sotomayor during her confirmation hearings and the Birth conspiracy, the right is not making any inroads with minorities. Just as well, we could use more Democrats in the Senate.
One of the established techniques of the wingnuts is to accuse the Left of the very things that they do: name calling, racism, narrow-mindedness, etc. It's a technique consciously established by people like Lee Atwater and Rove.
roger37 The moniker is "Projection Debate" I hear tell AAtwater apologized when he was dying, but since i do not judge, but am allowed free will to speculate, i doubt it did much good.
Stinks too much of Catholics and their last rites bull, forgiving a lifetime of sinning and treating people like Dick Cheney does, then get a pass at the goal line.
Republicans are God's punishment for allowing His truth to be prostituted by a gang of pulpit pimps.
They push the Calvinist theology that rich folks are rich because God pre- ordained them as righteous, even though Paul tells us "are not the rich the ones who oppress you?".
Thus their attempts to demonize the poor, as if all of them are looking for a free ride. The truth is more are dying from pride, refusing to beg for help.This is born out by statistics that show more counties across the country are being stuck with cremating the poor who die alone
Inhofe is one of the "chosen" members of the religious cult "The Family" that owns the C Street Brothel and tax exempt lobby. His spiritual adviser, Doug Coe, has taught him to emulate strong leaders like Hitler, Moa and Osama bin Ladin. He believes that the rules of law, conduct and biblical principals only apply to all you lowly commoners in OK and around the world but not to him and to his bothers in The Fellowship. He is accountable only to the Family. Do you recall the Manson Family? They believed that law didn't apply to them either.
I usually feel a politician ultimately has to go with his supporters, but not in Inhofe's case -- but not through any particular fault of his Oklahoman constituency, but through his own: he misleads them, and plays to their deepest fears. (I grew up on a small ranch in Texas about 40 miles south of the border, and my Father and I were regularly and fairly often in Oklahoma in connection with Dad's lifestock business -- and I *like* Oklahomans; never have understood the whole Oklahoma-Texas thing, which strikes me as utter nonsense).
Inohe is so fringe he makes even his more conservative colleagues look positively centrist, even when they in fact stand on the right by any normal measure. But Inohe brings a whole new yardstick to the Senate.
As for his foray into the birther argument, I've heard plenty of folks (including friends who detest Obama) demanding he provide a birth certificate and claiming that some relative in Africa claims to have been present at his birth -- in Africa.
Well, in our system of justice, imperfect as it is, it's up to a person's *accuser(s)* to come up with evidence supporting their allegations, not the other way around. That's junior-high civics. So, birthers -- where's the beef? Where's the evidence? Have you got a Kenyan birth certificate (or any other country's besides the U.S.) for Obama? If so, by all means show it, and let document experts from across the political spectrum determine its validity.
If you disagree with the President on matters of policy, fine. Debate him on the merits of that issue (avoiding, please, allegations of socialism, communism, fascism, etc.-ism -- please look those terms up before tossing them into the public discourse).
This has gotten out of hand, no thanks in large measure to the Inohes of the world. Two different men I know but who don't know each other, both natural-born Americans, both employed outside the U.S., and both Caucasian e-mailed me eerily similar e-mails on November 5th saying they were going to try to find a country from which they can receive citizenship, and, if successful, once they had another country's citizenship, they plan to travel to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and formally renounce their U.S. citisenship. Their chief reasons? Both openly state they can't *stand* the thought of a "N***er" in the White House, both believe he's not a U.S. citizen, and both believe he's a closet Muslim bent on destroying America. Haven't heard a peep since. (Luckily for me, they were casual, first-name-only acquaintances, so it's not as if I lost my two best buddies.)
In a way, this whole brouhaha, especially about Obama's place of birth, reminds me of allegations made against Nixon in the early days of the Pentagon Papers and watergate, in that there were numerous wild allegations thrown about by his opponents before they had the slightest shred of proof (which did, unfortunately for the country, did surface later). Until evidence was forthcoming, and despite my youth -- I was in my early 20's -- I insisted on the same level of proof of the charges some were making against Nixon that I want to see now regarding these allegations against Obama.
Thank you.
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