Connecting with the people

Thursday, 29 May 2008
Analysis: If you have never heard Oklahoma’s U.S. Senators speak in a small group setting, you should.  Oklahoma’s tradition of sending high-caliber intelligence, dedication and honor to Washington continues with Senator Inhofe and Coburn.

Tuesday in Tulsa, Senator Coburn held three Town Hall meetings, speaking in detail on issues of the day and answering questions.  As usual, the crowd was mixed, with some most interested in the details of current issues and others attempting to embarrass or attack on some issue of particular concern.

Coburn was kind and patient with all – with the exception of the U.S. Senate, which he faulted for “cowardice, self-interest and dishonor to the fundamental principles of our nation.”

Most interesting to this pundit were his comments on the health care system.  While acknowledging the high cost of care, Coburn also noted that our health system is the best in the world.  Further, he noted that the costs of health care are, in part, reflective of bad federal legislation, restrictions imposed by state governments, and malpractice insurance.

Coburn said eight percent of health care costs are represented by the cost of malpractice insurance, and additional costs are associated with tests which doctors are required to run that are really unnecessary.  Change in the system is needed, Coburn said, but the kinds, costs, and unintended consequences of change must be reviewed with great care.

The daily newspaper caught a great exchange on immigration.  Political writer Randy Krehbiel reported that one member of the audience “became visibly angry when Coburn, who opposes blanket amnesty for illegal immigrants, said he could not support blanket deportation of all illegal immigrants, either.”

This is a reasoned, considered opinion from the most Conservative Senator in the U. S. Senate, but it offended the lady in the audience who believes illegal immigration is the root of the nation’s current “mess.”

Krehbiel then quoted Coburn in one of the most coherent comments the Tulsa World has ever allowed a Republican to have published.

“Our nation is in a mess,” Coburn replied, “but it doesn’t have anything to do with immigration.  It has to do with career politicians who are afraid to defend people and who refused to stand up for the principles that made this country great.  Immigration is a symptom, but it is not the disease.  The disease is cowardice in the U.S. Senate.”

Outside the TCC auditorium, a single, older female protester carried a sign insulting Senator Coburn’s compassion and demanding the elimination of “depleted uranium” in weaponry.  Most public officials have heard this argument before, but the weaponry is very effective in penetrating hardened targets (underground bunkers, tanks, etc.).  Coburn was kind and stopped with his Tulsa Field Representative Dan Hourigan to talk with her.  I did not hear what was said, but it showed the personal kindness of Senator Coburn.

It also reminded me why Liberals are such disingenuous fools.

There are many in Tulsa and throughout the nation who are passionately anti-nuclear.  Some of those are my lifelong friends.  They jumped the fence to protest “Black Fox,” a proposed regional nuclear power plant which was successfully opposed and never built.  I did not participate in the protest, but I went to the after-party.  I know the people most likely to shout, “No Nukes, No Nukes” at the drop of an opportunity, but where are their protests of Iran?

Iran is building nuclear weapons.  Iran is at war with the United States by funding two different proxy armies as well as individual terrorists – and they have threatened to destroy Israel.  Iran is training, funding, and arming people to kill Americans every day in Iraq.  Even as this woman was protesting Coburn, the International Atomic Energy Agency, an agency of the Muslim-dominated United Nations not known to be aggressive in any way to Iran, released an unusually blunt and detailed report accusing the Iranians of a willful lack of cooperation, particularly in answering allegations that its nuclear program may be pointed less at energy generation than at military use.

Iran is killing Americans today and working to develop ways of killing us en masse from afar tomorrow.  Where are the protesters of Iran?  Oh, that’s right; they are killed if they protest in Iran.  Gays are killed in Iran.  Women are, by law, little more than property in Iran.  By religious degree, government must be one with religion in Iran and contrary to Christianity – Islam is a murderous religion.  Mohammad personally killed his enemies and encouraged his people to follow his example with all infidels.  You know the infidels, don’t you?  That’s anyone who passionately believes otherwise.

At the end of the day, it is Senator Coburn that provides for many our best hope for America.  Standing on solid principles with courage, Senator Coburn and Senator Inhofe are living proof that representative democracy is a great form of government with the right representatives willing to fight the “disease” of “cowardice” in the U.S. Senate.

About the Author:
David Arnett began his career in professional journalism in 1985 and has published Tulsa Today since 1996 – before Al Gore invented the Internet.  He has won two national awards as a First Amendment Publisher.  Arnett is a Constitutional Republican, Public Information Specialist and Conservative Media Critic. This analysis may be reproduced without charge with proper attribution and links back to the original source.  Arnett is available for interview by recognized media.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 May 2008 )