Hate Gone Wild Dugan Style

Dugan Gambles Senate Bid On Racism

Drew Dugan, a Democrat running for state senate in Oklahoma City's District 46, has stooped to racist hatred in his last-minute campaign to win the seat. His campaign approach is ugly and disgusting, and it represents everything that is wrong with politics today.

Dugan’s campaign has been dormant for months. Where were his signs? What was his platform? Dugan is employed by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. Some political insiders speculated he probably had support from extremist conservatives in both parties. Political observers thought he would probably get some Republican money in an attempt to stop the progressive political mojo of Andrew Rice, the best Democratic candidate running for the seat.

Then in the last two or three weeks, his signs appeared. Then he sent out a mailer in the last day or two that can only be described as racist as he apparently gambles his entire campaign on an empty emotional appeal.

The mailer focuses entirely on illegal immigration. It features photographs of Hispanic-looking people working and a supposed Hispanic gang member. (To me, the workers look like hard-working people doing extremely difficult physical work. The “gang member” looks like an actor. ) It blames most of Oklahoma’s problems on “illegal Mexican immigrants” (note the word “Mexican” here), and it claims Dugan will do something about it. This is it. There is nothing else on the mailer about other issues, such as education, privacy rights or high energy costs.

Worried about your next electric bill? How come your employer can look through your personal emails and, in some cases, listen to your personal telephone calls? Is your kid going to have a decent teacher in the fall? These are legitimate issues, but Dugan wants to talk about how he hates people from Mexico.

The advertisement is racist, and it is a ludicrous idea that a newly elected state senator in Oklahoma could do anything, not one iota of anything, about illegal immigration, which is a federal issue. But Dugan promises to “punish employers” in Oklahoma (some of which surely belong to his own chamber) and stop “Mexican made methamphetamine and marijuana” from coming here. What a joke. The local chamber of commerce apparently supports this racist campaign approach or Dugan would not be doing it, right?

This inane drivel is the crux of Dugan’s campaign. This is his racist gamble. Unfortunately, this type of ugly, last-minute campaigning has been successful in the past. Just because it is pathetic and tragic, folks, does not mean it will not work.

Everyone should be opposed to this type of targeted racist hatred in a campaign. Why the focus on “Mexican,” a word the mailer mentions three times? Why not just refer to all illegal immigrants? It even includes a photograph of the flag of Mexico. People who belong to any historically marginalized group in this district should be especially worried about Dugan’s agenda.

The clear choice in this upcoming primary election is Andrew Rice, a progressive who will represent the majority interests in District 46. Rice has run an intelligent, real-issues campaign, trying not to fight with other supposed Democrats. Rice is willing to discuss the illegal immigration issue with anyone in the district. But Dugan has crossed a line into racial hatred. He should be called on it by every Democrat in the district.

The election is Tuesday, July 25. Rice supporters will make sure their people make it to the polls on what could be a miserable, hot summer day. (The most recent forecast calls for a high temperature in the mid-90s that day.) I believe Rice supporters are more motivated than those who want to follow the racist agenda of Drew Dugan. Dugan’s campaign of racist hate is just one more reason to support Rice.

Blue Oklahoma
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