Racism, Theocracy Lead Real GOP Agenda

(What about the taxing rhetoric over bringing the Supersonics to town? Are we all tax consumers or do some groups get more tax breaks than others? Read DocHoc's commentary about it this week in the Oklahoma Gazette, the state's finest alternative weekly.)

The Oklahoma Republican Party announced a bland, public legislative agenda for 2008 this week, but its hidden agenda—passing another anti-illegal immigration bill forcing even more Hispanic people to leave the state and promoting Christian fundamentalism in public schools—defines where the state party really stands during this national election year.

Obviously, the GOP presented a non-controversial, public agenda because polls show the Republican Party, at least nationally, is in deep trouble with swing voters and moderates in both major parties. At this point, all indications point to a Democratic Party sweep on the national level in 2008. Will this potential sweep have coattails for state Democrats? It remains to be seen.

According to a news report, the GOP said it wants to establish an office to conduct regular audits of state agencies, spend more motor vehicle money on roadwork, keep more violent criminals in prison and try to lower the income tax rate to 5.25 despite slow budget growth.

It is a yawner for sure. Everyone wants accountability of government spending. Everyone wants better roads and highways. Everyone wants habitual and violent criminals in jail. The question is how do we go about doing these things appropriately and wisely? These proposals certainly do not solely define the Republican Party. The tax cut, which was scheduled for 2009, has been delayed by law because of stagnant growth in the state budget. Right now, it looks like it would be irresponsible to push for this cut immediately if its projected revenue is not replaced elsewhere. Still, it is certainly no wedge issue.

Meanwhile, the hidden agenda—the one the GOP is not touting openly because it is an election year—is state Rep. Randy Terrill’s proposed “Son of 1804” legislation, which he says will clamp down even further on illegal immigration in the state. Terrill, a Republican from Moore, wants another law that will enable law enforcement agencies to seize the property of those involved with illegal immigration. Are you involved with illegal immigration and do not even know it? Do you know an illegal immigrant? Every Oklahoma citizen must ask themselves this now. Last year, Terrill sponsored House Bill 1804, which gave the state the nation’s strictest anti-illegal immigration law. Now, he wants to go even further. The current law has produced much well-documented hardship in the state among the Hispanic community and certain businesses. Ultimately, it is difficult not to see the proposed law as particularly mean and racist.

Also, state Reps. Sally Kern and Mike Reynolds, two Oklahoma City Republicans, are pushing legislation that would apparently prohibit public school teachers from penalizing students who refused to submit regular work but instead only offered their religious beliefs (i.e. Christian beliefs) in papers or on tests.

These two issues—unabashed support for racism and theocracy—define the Republican Party in Oklahoma and elsewhere these days. Of course, it is true many state Democratic legislators will be afraid to vote against these measures because they fear voter backlash. Yet this is in an election year in which two of the top three Democratic candidates for president are a woman and an African American. This shows the overall difference between the two parties, and it shows why young people are shunning the GOP these days.

Add all this to the national GOP’s recent corruption scandals and hypocrisy (remember Jack Abramoff and the wide bathroom stance of Republican U.S. Sen. Larry Craig?), throw in the botched Iraq occupation (nine American soldiers were killed in Iraq in the last two days and this is “victory” for the GOP and The Daily Oklahoman), and you get the full picture of what has become of the so-called “conservative” party in American politics.