In a videotape of a town hall meeting in Hugo, Oklahoma, where Republican Senate hopeful Tom Coburn spoke, Coburn is seen warning the crowd of the “rampant lesbianism in Oklahoma schools”.
Nevermind that the executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association said that there’s never been an issue like this – at all. Nevermind that the school superintendant where the supposed problems were of the State’s worst, laughed off the comment, saying “He knows something I don’t know. We have not identified anything like that. We have not had to deal with any issues on that subject — ever.” All that matters is that the Republicans are starting to flail, and are trying to go back to the tried-and-true “Gods, Guns, and Gays” agenda.
Maybe folks should let him know just how wrong he is, by emailing his campaign at curt.price@coburnforsenate.com. And while we’re at it, the CNN article shouldn’t be called, “Okla. candidate takes on sexuality in schools”. It should be called, “Okla. candidate lies to crowd”.Okla. candidate takes on sexuality in schools
Educators refute Coburn remark about ‘rampant’ lesbianism
Tuesday, October 12, 2004 Posted: 10:56 AM EDT (1456 GMT)
STATE RACES
Special Report: Oklahoma elections
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (AP) — The Republican Senate candidate in Oklahoma warns of “rampant” lesbianism in some schools in the state in a tape released Monday by his Democratic opponent.
The remark by Republican Tom Coburn drew a skeptical response from state educators.
“I don’t believe that,” said Keith Ballard, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association.
He said the group’s attorneys “haven’t said anything to me about that.”
In the tape released by the campaign of Brad Carson, the Democratic candidate, Coburn says a campaign worker from Coalgate told him that “lesbianism is so rampant in some of the schools in southeast Oklahoma that they’ll only let one girl go to the bathroom. Now think about it. Think about that issue. How is it that that’s happened to us?”
Joe McCulley, school superintendent in Coalgate, chuckled when asked about Coburn’s remark.
“He knows something I don’t know. We have not identified anything like that. We have not had to deal with any issues on that subject — ever,” McCulley said.
The comment came at a town hall meeting in Hugo on August 31 and was taped by a Democratic campaign worker.
John Hart, spokesman for Coburn, said the remark was made during a broader discussion about the challenges parents face in society “where our kids are getting mixed messages about sexuality.”
Hart would not say that Coburn misspoke.
“I wasn’t there,” he said.
Of the educators’ skepticism, Hart said: “If that’s what they say, I guess we will have to take their word for it.”
Coburn and Carson are vying for the post that Republican Don Nickles is leaving after 24 years.
The race could be pivotal in the battle for control of the Senate.