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Friday, May 25, 2007 

Democratic Activists Angry With Gumm & Hamilton


Democratic activists are angry with two of their legislators this week over the abortion issue. We reported Wednesday that demonstrators held signs in front of Rep. Rebecca Hamilton's fundraiser Tuesday evening, calling for her censorship and accusing her of "Sleeping with the Enemy".

Sen. Jay Paul Gumm raised the ire of the party faithful with his post on our Legislators' blog titled: A "Poison" in the Body Politic. In the controversial post, Sen. Gumm writes:

Abortion was the other issue on which my position of conscience caused great anger, and to some degree disproves any suggestion that I make votes based partisan politics. I supported, and then helped resurrect, a bill that would prevent abortions from being performed with taxpayer resources.

That position caused activists in the Democratic Party to become very angry at me, even attempting to reprimand me at the state Democratic Convention. That effort failed because cooler heads prevailed. Again, however, what was missing was a reasoned discussion of the issue.
The following comment is representative of the sentiments expressed by many of those who left comments on the post and on demookie.com.

Jack Boyte said...

Senator Gumm, I was part of the group that voted for the censure resolution at the state convention. It was NOT about womens reproductive rights. It was about the WAY you and Rep. Hamilton went about reviving SB 139 with language from SB 714.

Forty out of forty-four members of the House Democratic caucus asked her not to 'revive the bill'...and she did anyway. Many feel you encouraged and supported this tactic even though the overwhelming majority of House Democrats opposed the procedure.

I certainly respect your opinion on all issues and commend you for your service. But I feel this specific political maneuvering deserves the condemnation it received.

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Posted at 6:20 AM |  
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 

Demonstraters Picket Hamilton's Fundraiser

MOPNS reported to you yesterday about the demonstration planned at Rep. Rebecca Hamilton's fundraiser. As you can see, the demonstraters showed up carrying signs with love quotes like: "Censor Rebecca Hamilton Hamilton" and "Sleeping with the Enemy". All that aside, we wonder how the fundraiser went?

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Posted at 1:16 PM |  
Tuesday, May 22, 2007 

Tip Line: Demonstration planned Tonight at Rebecca Hamilton's Fundraiser

The Oklahoma Political News Service received the following email today:

Join the demonstration at Rebecca Hamilton's fundraiser Tuesday evening

The official invitation reads:

Join Mike Lawter, Dr. Jim Muse amd Former Speaker of the House Steve Lewis In Honoring one of our best Democrats Representative Rebecca Hamilton.

May 22, 2007
Lawter Law Offices
3313 N Classen Blvd
Oklahoma City, OK 7311
Reception from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m."

The outrages are:

1. Steve Lewis is Planned Parenthood's lobbyist,
2. Rebecca mightily angered her House Democratic Caucus members by conspiring with Republicans and giving them her bill to bring back SB-714 through her bill SB -139 (She was the House author). She forced her colleagues to vote AGAIN on anti-choice bills (8 of them rolled into SB-139) which they had already voted on before.

IF YOU CAN JOIN US, PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP. BE THERE BY 6:15 AT THE LATEST IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. I'M MAKING APPROPRIATE SIGNS OR BRING YOUR OWN.

THERE'S LOTS OF SPACE AROUND 3313 N. CLASSEN BLVD WHERE WE CAN STAND. I'LL GET A PERMIT FIRST THING TOMORROW MORNING. THERE COMES A TIME WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!

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Posted at 12:10 PM |  
Tuesday, May 15, 2007 

Working To End Taxpayer Funded Abortions

By Rep. Jason Murphey

This week the Oklahoma House of Representatives took action to again send to the Senate and the Governor an important pro-life measure. Senate Bill 139 (SB 139), authored by Oklahoma City Democrat Rebecca Hamilton, would stop the use of taxpayer money from funding almost all abortions. SB 139 is very similar to Senate Bill 714, which passed both the House and the Senate earlier in the session but was later vetoed by the Governor.

The Senate has twice attempted to override the Governor's veto of Senate Bill 714, but both attempts fell just one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed. Because the Senate could not override the veto, the bill was bottled up in the Senate and the House did not get to vote on the override attempt.

SB 139 offered an opportunity for those of us in the House to again press the issue that taxpayer resources should not be used for abortions. It is important for us to take action, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because of the groundswell of public support for this policy. I have received more calls in support of Senate Bill 714 than any other bill this year. It is clear that people do not want their tax dollars used to destroy life and they are demanding the government take action. Read more...

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Posted at 10:32 AM |  
Wednesday, April 25, 2007 

Williamson Vows to Continue Effort to Override Henry Veto of Pro-Life Bill

SB 714 author disappointed by Senator Laster’s flip-flop on abortion issue

The evenly divided Oklahoma Senate fell one vote short today of the 32 votes needed to override Gov. Brad Henry’s veto of a pro-life bill after Democrat Senator Charles Laster of Shawnee flip-flopped by voting against an override motion after voting 3 previous times in favor of the legislation this session – once in committee and twice on the Senate floor.

But Senate Bill 714’s author, Sen. James A. Williamson of Tulsa, said he will press on with future attempts to override Henry’s veto.

“Today’s vote is just the beginning. Our fight on behalf of unborn Oklahomans will continue for as along as necessary until we override this veto,” Williamson said.

“Sen. Laster’s flip flop on this life-and-death issue is surprising and disappointing. Sen. Laster will likely be hearing from many pro-life Oklahomans in the coming days. There will be a lot of prayers that he will have a change of heart on the next override vote,” stated Williamson.

“Sen. Laster’s explanation for changing his vote on SB 714 involves the same arguments that were used against this bill during every previous vote, yet Sen. Laster still voted for the bill every time until today,” he said.

Senate Bill 714 is a pro-life bill that prohibits the use of state funds, facilities, and employees to perform abortions. It also requires abortionists to file paperwork with the state showing they are following laws requiring informed consent of patients and the notification of minors’ parents before abortions are performed.

Williamson noted that Democrat Sen. Nancy Riley of Sand Springs, who switched parties in 2006, has also changed positions on the abortion issue.

“In the past, Sen. Riley consistently voted pro-life as a Republican. She never told pro-life supporters that rape and incest exceptions were important to her. As a Democrat, she even voted for SB 714 in committee before opposing the bill on the floor,” Williamson said. “Sen. Riley’s waffling on the issue of life is extremely disappointing.”

Williamson said he will continue to bring up his motion to override Henry’s veto of SB 714 “as many times as necessary” until the end of next year’s legislative session.

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Posted at 1:43 PM |  
Monday, February 19, 2007 

Frank Keating Endorses McCain

Senator John McCain has picked up the endorsement of former governor Frank Keating, despite McCain's "nuance" of his abortion position since his last presidential run in 2000. McCain is now claiming he is pro-life, and to prove that claim to social conservatives, he will speak at a teenage abstinence rally in South Carolina later today.

Keating, who is Catholic, signed a bill in June 2001 to prevent teenagers from having an abortion unless they first received the consent of their parents.

The measure also held abortion practitioners liable for "physical and emotional injuries" suffered by a minor if they do not notify or receive consent from a parent prior to performing an abortion on a girl under 18 years of age.

Keating also signed a bill in May 2002 authorizing the state's "Choose Life" license plates

As we wrote above, McCain's position seems to have changed decidedly since 2000:

By Tina Cassidy, Globe Staff, 2/25/2000

"At one point in the campaign, McCain said he would not support the repeal of Roe v. Wade because it would force women to have ''illegal and dangerous operations.'' And during a swing through New Hampshire, he told reporters that if his teenage daughter got pregnant ''the final decision'' about whether to terminate ''would be made by [her].''

In both instances, McCain later said he misspoke."

This commentary appeared in a slightly different form on nationalreview.com, February 7, 2001:

"John McCain is hawking a book of pro-abortion propaganda to his colleagues. Surprised? Don't be. He's the hero of the story.

Richard North Patterson's novel Protect and Defend tells a familiar story: Mean-spirited conservatives, Republicans, and Christian Right anti-abortion fanatics in Washington, D.C., vs. the pro-choice, anti-gun, pro-campaign-reform forces of light.

Senator Chad Palmer is twice a hero: once for enduring being kidnapped and held hostage by Islamic extremists, and now for supporting campaign-finance reform even though he's a Republican. Palmer used to be pro-life, until his teenage daughter was able to start turning her life around by getting a legal abortion. And now he has to vote on a controversial nominee to be chief justice of the Supreme Court. The previous one, a hateful old conservative, died of a stroke while giving the oath of office to the new Democratic president. The president names a feminist judge.

During her confirmation hearings, this judge writes a decision letting a 15-year-old girl abort her hydrocephalic fetus at seven and a half months over the objections of her parents, who are tyrannical religious zealots. She is bitterly opposed by anti-abortionists with names like Mace and Harshman, as well as by a group called the "Christian Commitment." Eventually a sleazy Washington lobbyist exposes the abortion in Senator Palmer's family. His daughter, distraught, drinks a bottle of wine, gets behind the wheel on an icy night, and dies. So guess who casts the deciding vote in the Senate? And guess which way he votes?

Last month, real-life Senators John McCain and Barbara Boxer jointly sent a copy of this book with a
letter to every member of the Senate. This evening, McCain and Boxer are hosting a reception and book-signing party for Patterson in the United States Capitol. "

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Posted at 7:09 AM |  


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