“Oklahoma, We Have a Problem!”

The Oklahoma Political News Service is indeed a conservative blog, and that means we more often than not lean toward Republicans. But nothing gets our goat more than careless Republicans, and the scandal atmosphere that is beginning to take root around Senate President Pro tempore Glenn Coffee – partly the result of his own contrivance.

Yesterday, an aide that works for Coffee issued a statement in response to Democratic Caucus Chairman Kenneth Corn request that Coffee “release all pertinent documents related to his tax troubles and the loan he secured to pay his tax debts.” The juvenile-sounding mini-rant doesn’t address the core problems with certain Oklahoma Republican leaders: the inability to handle money responsibly, especially when it comes to their OWN taxes.

There’s political blood in the water, and if Coffee’s handlers, who have problems of their own, really believe that Coffee’s problems are a “non-story” then there is much trouble ahead for the senate leader. News9’s Colleen Chen’s story, and Coffee’s flack’s pathetic response, raises suspicions, not lowers them. Only a week ago, it was reported that Coffee assured his caucus that there would be no more embarrassing revelations. Now we know that was wrong, too. Can this gang not shoot straight?

Only time will tell if Glenn Coffee is another Lance Cargill. The early returns aren’t encouraging, and as Coffee grows politically weaker, Gov. Brad Henry grows politically stronger. We believe that if Coffee can’t get it together soon, he needs to “get gone.”

Related:

Okie Funk: “Coffee’s position as a top leader in state government demands he exhibit integrity, especially when it comes to handling his own taxes. His refusal to be more open about the loan he received to pay off the taxes creates an unneeded aura of secrecy around the issue.”

Tulsa World: Democrats attack Coffee’s campaign travel claims