Boren Draws Media, Film Criticism

U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, the Blue Dog Democrat from Oklahoma’s Second Congressional District, continues to draw heat for his ultra-conservative views, which include what some people argue is blatant pandering to big energy companies and the National Rifle Association.

Boren is drawing heat right now because he faces State Sen. Jim Wilson in the Democratic primary for his Congressional seat. Many state Democrats, and rightly so, are upset with Boren’s conservative positions that he argues reflect his constituents’ views but that others argue are most often diametrically opposed to mainstream Democratic political thinking.

As we know, Oklahoma is one of the reddest of red states, but Boren represents a traditional Democratic district, including Little Dixie, that has and will benefit greatly from some of President Barack Obama’s programs, including the new health care reform initiative, which Boren voted against.

Howie Klein, who blogs at Down With Tyranny, published a post on The Huffington Post recently that pointed out Boren’s ties to Big Oil. Klein writes:

Since 1990, Big Oil has invested around $144 million in the careers of congressmen, almost all conservatives. Almost 70% of the payoff have gone to Republicans. And among current members of the House there's only one Democrat in Big Oil's Top 10: Dan Boren ($565,460). As you can see, Big Oil is, by far, the biggest source of cash for his political endeavors. What you haven't been able to see, until Fox caught it on tape, is that Boren, who bragged about not voting for Obama and who has voted against virtually every piece of Democratic legislation since Obama has become president, has never found anything in the oil industry's agenda that he didn't get behind.

The Fox to which Klein was referring isn’t Fox News but Josh Fox, a filmmaker, who recently filmed Gasland, which is appearing on HBO. The film critiques the hydraulic fracturing drilling process, which some people argue leads to water contamination. In the film, Boren is depicted as a toady to the energy industry. (Go to the 1:30 mark on the film’s trailer posted above.)

Klein also dissects a recent Boren political ad, which shows him holding a rifle and touting his excellent rating from the NRA. The ad could have been easily produced for an ultra-conservative Republican. Here’s that ad:

Wilson has a difficult battle against the well-funded Boren, but many Oklahoma progressive Democrats think his campaign is worth it to show just how conservative Boren has become in recent years. Some might argue it’s not worth risking the chance the seat could be picked up by a Republican, but if we eliminate the expression of progressive views entirely from Oklahoma politics, what then?

You can contribute to Wilson’s campaign by clicking here.