I don't live in Oklahoma. Hell, I've never been to Oklahoma. But I'd sure like to see one less ignorant bigot in office, so how about a little support for Ron Marlett, who is running against the stunningly stupid and ridiculous Sally Kern.
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Ed Brayton is a freelance writer and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of Michigan Citizens for Science and co-founder of The Panda's Thumb. He has written for such publications as The Bard, Skeptic and Reports of the National Center for Science Education, spoken in front of many organizations and conferences, and appeared on nationally syndicated radio shows and on C-SPAN. Ed is also a Fellow with the Center for Independent Media.(static)
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Defeat Sally Kern
Category: Politics
Posted on: May 19, 2008 9:30 AM, by Ed Brayton
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Politics
Comments
I am from Oklahoma, but I'm not in Kern's district. District 84 is probably one of the most reactionary in Oklahoma, so I wouldn't hold out much hope for Ron Marlett. I suppose this could be the year for minor miracles.
Posted by: dslak | May 19, 2008 9:54 AM
The fact that anyone could actually say the things Sally Kern has said and still get re-elected scares the hell out of me. This woman is batshit insane, and should be an embarassment to the republican party, who should be distancing themselves from her with haste.
Of course, the fact that the republican party is more than likely still backing her fully shows just how much into wingnuttery the whole party is sliding. How long til all the moderate republicans finally grow a backbone and take their party back from the religious right?
Posted by: Foster Disbelief | May 19, 2008 10:16 AM
I don't live in District 84 either, but I used to. I'm not sure if I'd call it the most reactionary district over all (there are parts of rural Oklahoma that are worse), but it's definitely a very conservative area. I still have several relatives who live in District 84, and convincing them to vote for a person who thinks gays (and blacks, for that matter) are anything but evil isn't in the cards. Someone taking a stand against hatred and intolerance is taking a stand against their "core values".
I wish Mr. Marlett the best, but I won't hold my breath hoping he'll unseat Kern.
Posted by: Wes | May 19, 2008 10:25 AM
One thing you have to admire about Sally Kern - she has the courage of her convictions.
She stood fast to her guns, and did not back down an inch on her disgusting views. She did not wither under fire.
And therefore outperformed 99.9% of any Democrats who wind up making mewling public apologies for their perfectly valid statements.
There is a lesson there, Rahm.
Posted by: Gingerbaker | May 19, 2008 10:51 AM
Ed, I grew up in Oklahoma, and rest assured you're not missing anything by not going there. Picture a Michigan still a few pony express rides from hearing about the Enlightenment and you're close enough.
Yay, [anyone running against Sally Kern]!
Good point, Gingerbaker.
Posted by: Dale | May 19, 2008 11:23 AM
One thing you have to admire about Sally Kern - she has the courage of her convictions.
She stood fast to her guns, and did not back down an inch on her disgusting views. She did not wither under fire.
That isn't necessarily something I consider admirable in a leader. I want leaders who consider new data and are open to the idea of having their views and policies evolve. The lack of doing so is one of the things that drives me most crazy about GWB.
Posted by: Josh | May 19, 2008 12:59 PM
I don't admire people having the courage of their convictions unless (a) their convictions don't cause harm to others, and (b) they're willing to take their lumps without whining and crying about how unfair their critics are.
E.g., Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, and...oh, what's that guy's name? Oh, yeah, Jesus.
People whose convictions are harmful to others' rights can't be admired because they believe so fervently in the rightness of their duty to harm others. They can only be admired if they 'fess up and admit they were wrong.
Posted by: James Hanley | May 19, 2008 1:50 PM
"Events can change; this man's beliefs never will. He believes the same thing Wednesday as he did Monday. No matter what happened Tuesday." --Stephen Colbert on our Glorious Leader. To his face.
Posted by: Nentuaby | May 19, 2008 2:14 PM
"Events can change; this man's beliefs never will. He believes the same thing Wednesday as he did Monday. No matter what happened Tuesday." --Stephen Colbert on our Glorious Leader. To his face.
Yeah, that was at the Press Correspondents' dinner, right? Good stuff that was.
Posted by: Josh | May 19, 2008 3:14 PM
A suggestion here. Ms. Kern might be a good target for Tim Gill, the subject of this article in the Atlantic:
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200703/tim-gill
amorphous
Posted by: amorphous | May 19, 2008 3:22 PM
I'm not sure how much "courage" is required to espouse batshit crazy wingnut views in a batshit crazy wingnut district.
I was in Oklahoma once when I was about 12 on a road trip to California from Maryland. Flat, boring, flat, dry, boring, flat.....
Posted by: BaldApe | May 19, 2008 6:01 PM
Well, I've never been to heaven, but I've been to Oklahoma. They tell me I was born there, but I really don't remember.
Posted by: Robski | May 19, 2008 7:29 PM
Baldape's impressions of Oklahoma at age 12 are not unlike those who drive through Oklahoma on I40 or I35 and miss the scenic and not very flat Ozarks in the northeast, Ouachita Mtns. in the east, Wichita and Quartz Mtns. in the southwest, the Arbuckle Mtns. in the south, and Black Mesa in the northwest. Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and several other states are much flatter overall.
But this thread is not about the physiography of Oklahoma! It is about that miserable excuse for a politician Silly Sally Kern, who brings shame not only to her home state, but to the country as a whole. Persons from other states on several other blogs have asked how they can help. Ed has provided the link to Kern's opponent's web site. Contributions, no matter how small, can help Ron Marlett mount a campaign to unseat her. It will be difficult, but an opponent can make it tough for her and expose her vile beliefs. She was unopposed in the last election, leaving her the opportunity to introduce several creationist inspired pieces of legislation. One of her bills that would have allowed students to attend religious instruction DURING SCHOOL HOURS without being counted absent fortunately failed in committee.
Posted by: vhutchison | May 19, 2008 8:06 PM
Hey, the "Big Dog", Slick Willie is gonna have time on his hands. Why not see if he'll go down there and help Silly Sally pick out a blue dress and some ceegars.
Posted by: democommie | May 19, 2008 9:42 PM
McPersecution: all of the self-righteous rush of martyrdom, with none of the unpleasant suffering for one's faith.
Posted by: Martian Buddy | May 20, 2008 7:17 AM
"I'm not sure how much "courage" is required to espouse batshit crazy wingnut views in a batshit crazy wingnut district."
None. But after the tsunami of (proper) condemnation of her positions deluged the media, she did what very few Democrats would do - she didn't back down an inch. In fact, she was pretty clever in the way she used that criticism to her advantage.
Posted by: Gingerbaker | May 20, 2008 10:12 AM