John Bennett and the forces of hate have taken over the Oklahoma GOP

Having elected former State Rep. John Bennett as its new chairman, the Oklahoma Republican Occasion is now a hate group. 

Throughout its annual conference Saturday on the Oklahoma Metropolis Conference Middle — a horrible and probably inexcusable use of this publicly funded facility — OKGOP made a acutely aware resolution by elevating Bennett. The state celebration embraced Islamophobia and white nationalism, the completely worst that Oklahoma presents. 

Bennett and his household may prefer to pose with their weapons whereas sporting American flag-inspired shirts, as if each acts mixed right into a present of ultra-patriotic fervor, however Bennett’s concepts are insanely anti-American. 

OPINION by George Lang

In 2017, Bennett made nationwide information when, through the third annual Council for American-Islamic Relations’ (CAIR) Oklahoma Muslim Day on the state Capitol, he gave three college students who visited him in his workplace a questionnaire drafted by the anti-Muslim hate group ACT! For America. The questionnaire requested the next: “The Koran, the sunna [sic] of Mohammed and Sharia Regulation of all colleges say that the husband can beat his spouse. Do you beat your spouse?”

However at that time, Bennett had been at this for some time, working intently with anti-Islamic bigot Frank Gaffney on anti-Sharia legislation laws as early as 2013. In 2014, he referred to as Islam a “most cancers” that wanted to be “lower out” of America’s physique politic. 

That is the language of white nationalism, plain and easy. There isn’t a menace of the U.S. being subjected to any non secular hegemony aside from maybe Christianity. The irony, in fact, is that Bennett and his ilk are basically Christian jihadists. Given the chance, he would set up America as a theocracy. 

Now, Oklahomans who’re nonetheless GOP members should determine whether or not they are often members of a hate group. There shall be no “holding your nostril” whereas voting — the stench from Bennett and the OKGOP is simply too robust to disregard. 

Sure, there are good Republicans working in any respect ranges of presidency, however Bennett’s ascendance means you can’t be good and be Republican any greater than you will be good and be a member of the Ku Klux Klan or the John Birch Society. As soon as Bennett took over, his views turned the OKGOP’s views. 

We’re not at some extent the place particular person counties in Oklahoma are nationwide embarrassments, as when Canadian County GOP chair Andrew Lopez referred to as for the defunding of public training. 

We can’t disassociate from the habits of bumpkins like Cleveland County GOP chair Dave Spaulding, who posted January 6 on Fb that he didn’t “perceive my conservative Christian buddies who say violence is unacceptable. What the crap do you suppose the American revolution was? A recreation of friggin pattycake? Blood was shed and rightfully so! And Christ didn’t politely and kindly ask the cash changers to vary places. Are you content material to permit this nation that our fathers fought and died for to develop into one other banana republic?”

No, we’re not speaking about remoted counties. That is the state GOP now. 

Oklahoma voters are notoriously horrible at turning out to vote. In 2023, solely about 55 p.c of eligible voters within the state solid a poll within the normal election. It’s pathetic, and it’s this sort of apathy that permits rancid political concepts from Lopez, Spaulding and Bennett to take root.

However that is the time for Oklahomans of fine conscience to vote towards the homegrown fascists. We’re at a disaster level on this state by which the Republican majority is bent on permitting its personal Christian jihadists free reign to disclaim rights to transgender Oklahomans and make plowing your automotive into protesters each a proper and a privilege. 

Each Oklahoman who cares about this state’s future should make their voices heard not simply on social media, however on the polling place.

Bennett and his fellow vacationers don’t care about Oklahoma’s future. Oklahomans who need solely prosperity and good will for our state should depart the OKGOP. It’s going to by no means be a vessel for progress in Oklahoma, not to mention a corporation for good folks. Bennett and the Oklahoma Republican Occasion will solely stand for white conservative bigots. 

Everybody else should vote towards this scourge with power and conviction. 

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Final Up to date April 13, 2023, 9:16 PM by Brett Dickerson – Editor

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