Oklahoma Hard Right GOP Governor, Mustang Public Schools, and Oral Roberts University have Lost All Common Sense

You could say that most the elected Republicans in Oklahoma along with the State GOP have officially gone over the edge of the cliff and you would be right.  When your Governor gets the #1 ALEC award last spring, you know that things are about to get worse.  It has as Gov Fallin instead of providing benefits for same sex couples in the Oklahoma National Guard who wanted to sign up locally, she made sure that all members of the Guard who wanted to sign for spousal benefits had to travel to Federal installations to do the sign up which meant some had to travel hours.  Denying gay couples their rights hurt everyone.  She didn't seem to care either.

Think I am finally figuring out that she only cares about people if there is a disaster and she get on the national airwaves showing what a caring Governor she is but in everyday life not so much as everyone is beginning to see.  If you don't fit in the wealthy hole or are hard right, you might as well take a flying leap as she and the rest of OK GOP could care less IMO.

How she was ever elected head of the Governor's Association shows IMO Republicans pushed her because she will do what she is told which is what we are seeing in Oklahoma.  When she first ran for Congress, I worked for her opponent and have never regretted that for a minute because she was honest and have had my doubts about Fallin for a longtime going back to all the rumors.  I didn't think the Democrats did a good job of picking someone to oppose her in 2010, but this year Democrat Rep Joe Dorman is someone I can get behind 100%.  She is in for a shock in 2014 with Dorman IMHO after they got Randy Brogdan to pull out of the Governor's race to run for a Senate seat to clear the way for Fallin.  Still shocked at Fallin's comments over and over again that show someone out of touch with every day Oklahomans.  Her over the top anti-gay and ACA is just too much.

The very fact that she refused to take federal dollars to set up an exchange as they didn't want the Federal Government telling Oklahoma what to do makes her look like the biggest hypocrite as she now wants to tell local entities what they can and cannot do.  She has become a dictator in Oklahoma where only her ideas count.  Her good friend State School Superintendent Janet Barrisi is the same way. Those two women need sent to the unemployment line in November 2014.

Gov. Mary Fallin signs minimum wage hike ban in Oklahoma

Posted: Monday, April 14, 2014 4:40 pm | Updated: 5:39 pm, Mon Apr 14, 2014.Associated Press | 

OKLAHOMA CITY — Cities in Oklahoma are prohibited from establishing mandatory minimum wage or vacation and sick-day requirements under a bill that has been signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin. 

Fallin signed the bill Monday that supporters say would prevent a hodgepodge of minimum wages in different parts of the state that could potentially harm the business community. 

Opponents say those decisions should be left up to individual communities. They complain the bill specifically targets Oklahoma City, where an initiative is underway to a establish a citywide minimum wage higher than the current federal minimum wage.
Fallin signed three other bills Monday dealing with tax credits for banking institutions, public investments, and membership of the Alarm and Locksmith Industry Committee.

Hard right Representative Michelle Bachmann who is under investigation in Iowa by the Federal Government for her campaign plus may be one of the meaner GOP women when she speaks has been chosen to be the commencement speaker at Oral Roberts University.  Confirms what I thought of ORU which is not very much.  The Founder's son had to be removed for spending too much unauthorized money.  Don't have the same impression of St Gregory and Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee or Oklahoma Christian in OKC as I do ORU which was founded by Oral Roberts who was a televangelist.  Always seemed to be about preying on the elderly for money.  Just call me a skeptic when I hear or see televangelist begging for dollars.  Those other three Christian universities mentioned are on the up and up and students can get a good education at any of them.

ORU grad Michelle Bachmann to give commencement address

From Staff Reports | Minnesota Congresswoman and former presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann will give the commencement address at Oral Roberts University next month. 

A long-time favorite of the Tea Party movement, Bachmann in 2006 became the first Republican woman elected to the House of Representatives from Minnesota. 

She is a graduate of the former O.W. Coburn School of Law at ORU and served in the Minnesota State Senate from 2000 through 2006. 

She was listed in Time Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” in 2011. 

Bachmann has announced she will not seek re-election this fall. 

More than 700 ORU students will graduate at the commencement service at 1 p.m. May 3 in the Mabee Center. 

Little background on OW Coburn School of Law which was closed, with its 190,000 volume law library, as well as 5 professors and 23 students, moving to CBN University (now Regent University) which was not accredited at the time.  What is with these these religious schools that believe they can teach whatever and have no regard for rules and regulations.  The very idea they want religious freedom but want to deny the rest of us what we believe which may be different is offensive is to me. 

Never forget going with my daughter who is a journalist when she had to do an interview at Oral Roberts and driving through the entrance and seeing those huge prayer hands and the prayer tower which looked like a spaceship.  Must admit it made me uncomfortable and was happy when she was finished and we could leave.  

Stayed in the car and watched very closely the students and it had a much different vibe then if you are on the OU campus in Norman.  Hard to put your finger on but at OU you always see kids joking around and smiling -- saw few smiles at ORU as they went from class to class.  It was strange.

Then you find out Bachmann went to Law School at ORU with such a small number of faculty and students.  That's just strange.  Were acceptance standards lower to be admitted then a long time accredited law school?  

In May 1981, the American Bar Association (ABA), which provides accreditation for US law schools, denied Coburn's initial application for provisional accreditation. Oral Roberts University's requirement that students must take an oath of religious faith was considered to be contrary to ABA's Standard 211, which states: 

A law school shall foster and maintain equality of opportunity in legal education, including employment of faculty and staff, without discrimination or segregation on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender or sexual orientation, age or disability. 

The school sued the ABA, claiming that the denial was a violation of their First Amendment rights. A judge enjoined the ABA from denying provisional accreditation, ruling that the ABA's role in accreditation is equivalent to a "state action," and that Standard 211 denied a private institution's right to freedom of religion without any restrictions by the state. 

After a "spirited debate," the ABA's House of Delegates in August 1981 voted 147 to 127 to amend Standard 211 to add a clause including the phrase: 

Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent a law school from having a religious affiliation and purpose and adopting policies of admission and employment that directly relate to such affiliation and purpose so long as notice of such policies has been provided to applicants, students, faculty and employees. 

Coburn was then granted provisional accreditation 

If that was not enough in Oklahoma, Mustang PUBLIC Schools are going to be teaching a book in an elective history course from the head of Hobby Lobby Green.  My tax dollars are now going to support his agenda in a public school?  What is Mustang School Board thinking?  Somehow it doesn't shock me this would happen there based on my experiences when our football team played at Mustang.  You could say that Norman, OK, and Mustang, OK, are about as far apart philosophically as you can get in Oklahoma. Norman is progressive and Mustang very conservative.  Was recently told there are only two progressive cities in Oklahoma -- Norman and Muskogee which I found interesting.  Glad to call Norman home!   Hobby Lobby's owner, Green, seems to be everywhere pushing his version of the Bible at the rest of us.  I, for one, will NEVER shop Hobby Lobby or Mardel book store again.

Sometimes in Oklahoma all you can do is shake your head.  Been saying it was too politically hard right when we were transferred to Oklahoma and over time I can now tell people "I Told You So" because they are proving it more and more.  Democrats get a clue and fight hard to start taking back the state to common sense.

Oklahoma school district OKs ‘Bible curriculum’ created by Hobby Lobby president (via Raw Story )

According to the Religious News Service, the “Museum of the Bible Curriculum” created by Hobby Lobby’s President Steve Green (pictured above) will be beta-tested in Oklahoma’s Mustang Public School district beginning in the Fall of 2014. Green…

---

Majority of Oklahomans Oppose Tax Cuts!

Will the Republican Governor and Legislature Listen?

Oklahomans are waking up to the fact these Republicans in State Government will bankrupt state entities in order to give their wealthy donors more tax cuts.  Voters are not happy as recent polling is starting to show:

Voter Support for Income Tax Cuts Falls
By MATT TROTTER

A new poll shows falling voter support for Oklahoma personal income tax cuts. 

Approval of income tax cuts fell from 52 to 46 percent. When surveyed voters were asked if they approve of cuts an analysis says would largely benefit the top 1 percent of Oklahoma households, less than one-third did. 

"There really is nobody at this point, no constituency out there clamoring for tax cuts," said Oklahoma Policy Institute Executive Director David Blatt. "At the same time, you have a legislature that still seems hell-bent on passing a tax cut whether anybody's asking for one or not." 

Tax cut support among voters is even lower when asked which public services they favor cutting to support lower income taxes.

The poll also asked voters whether an educated and well-trained workforce or low personal income tax rates were more important to economic growth in the state. 

"People understand that it's an educated and well-trained workforce," Blatt said. "Seventy-four percent responded that an educated workforce is what's needed to create economic growth, compared to 17 percent who said low personal income tax rates." 

The poll of 610 registered Oklahoma voters was conducted earlier this month by Washington, D.C.-based Global Strategy Group.

From OK Policy Email, 24 March 2014:

Less than half of Oklahoma voters now say they support income tax cut plans, and opposition jumps to more than 60 percent when voters learn more about the plan. OETA reported on implications of a study that ranks Oklahoma near the bottom in the nation for family financial security

From Together Oklahoma Email, 24 March 2014:

Oklahomans Agree...
A new public opinion poll shows that less than half of Oklahoma registered voters now support the plan to reduce the state’s top income tax rate. Huge majorities oppose cutting funding for services like education, public safety, and health care to pay for tax cuts. Oklahomans know that isn't a good trade.

The poll shows that Oklahomans are starting to pay attention, but chances are high that our legislators haven't got the message. We are the anti-tax cut majority, but we won't be heard if we don't speak up! 

Tell your legislators: "Fund my services, don't cut my taxes!"

Haven't talked to my conscientious objector State Rep since he was elected and not about to start now.   The man joined the National Guard to have them pay for college and when he found out they were being deployed declared CO status not once but on two separate occasions.  He also lied about where he was living.  First time he ran we had a State GOP Chair who agreed a GOP CO should not be elected along with State House office holders. Then the hard right took over Oklahoma GOP and he got the support of the State Party.  Because he has an (R) behind his name some people here vote for him without any hesitation.   He has accomplished one thing -- help lead me to support Democrats for good.  Cannot take the hard right and their 'my way or no way attitude' which is prevalent in their ranks.

Maybe there is hope after all since people are waking up on tax cuts maybe they will wake up to the fact that our statewide Republicans in some offices in state government are costing taxpayers a lot of money.  Sill waiting for someone to explain why our state Attorney General is wasting tax dollars supporting a law suit by a Republican Major donor David Green who heads Hobby Lobby before the SCOTUS on the ACA mandate for birth control.  

Like many Oklahomans we are getting tired of social issues being the end all be all.  Many of us are upset that vouchers and charter schools are being pushed by the OK State School Superintendent Barrisi at the expense of public schools using text books from Bob Jones University which has been proven to be a fringe University years ago along with Beka Books.  These schools are teaching creationism and substituting conservative ideology for science.   At the same time we are seeing school funding cut by the OK legislature since taking over in January 2009 by over $600M -- why?  Have they gone that far right that normal voters are starting to wake up?  We can only hope!

Now will the Governor finally wake up and realize that Oklahoma cannot afford a tax cut?  We have our serious doubts since major donors are pushing for more tax cuts:

“Lets take this opportunity to show the country that lower taxes and limited government do work,” Fallin said. “We believe in them for a reason. The Oklahoma way and not the Washington way is the best way to support economic growth and help the middle class, Oklahomans and Americans.” 

Secretary of Finance Preston Doerflinger said the $7 billion budget contains $71 million in budget cuts. Cuts would include $47.7 million from the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and $49.4 million from the Regents for Higher Education. 

In response to the budget released by the state, University of Oklahoma President Boren released a statement. 

“This budget will be very damaging to the future of our state if it is not modified in the weeks ahead. How can we afford another tax cut when we are already shortchanging the education of our children and grandchildren? Failure to adequately support higher education and all of education will discourage the creation of new jobs and investments in our state. Investors are looking for a highly-educated and trained work force. It is a tragic mistake to invest less per student in education than is being invested in surrounding states.” 

David Blatt of the Oklahoma Policy Institute responded that as Fallin calls for another tax cut, the budget is already $572 million below Fiscal Year 2009 after inflation. Oklahoma has jumped from a budget shortfall in a national recession to an equally serious shortfall of our own creation, he said. 

“Especially troubling is that at a time when Medicaid needs new funding just to continue existing services, the governor suggests cutting state funding for Medicaid while continuing to refuse federal funds,” Blatt said.

If the Governor was truly for limited government, she would tell the hard right there is a moratorium on social issues and quit wasting our tax dollars joining lawsuits against ACA which has been declared the law of the land by SCOTUS.  Gov Fallin knows in her heart the right thing to do for Oklahomans would have been to take ACA Exchanges but she caved to the hard right and now our Medicaid recipients are going to be cut even more along with education.  This is not responsible governing but putting your reelection ahead of what is best for the State of Oklahoma.  Count her as another Republican I was wrong about -- they are mounting up as they put re-election over doing the right thing -- shame on the whole bunch of them.  It is a joke that they say they are for limited government but want to tell the rest of us what we can do -- my way or no way attitude is on full display.

The experiment to put the Republicans in charge of states has failed -- please join in returning common sense to our state government -- no more social issues and fully fund education and infrastructure at the state level.  Today's Republicans have trouble with the facts when it comes to tax breaks:

Oklahoma Republican Governor Mary Fallin Denies Benefits to All National Guard to Discriminate Against Gay Members

Oklahoma has a defense to fall back on. The state elected a governor who, on her very first day in office, swore “to offend” the United States constitution. We can fault Fallin for many things. But we certainly can’t accuse her of going back on her word.  (Mark Joseph Stern, Slate)

When I first heard this, I was appalled, but then I stop to think that Governor Fallin had just announced her re-election bid and needs to shore up the hard right base to get re-elected so no one from the Tea Party challenges her. Do I think she is that shallow?  You be the judge by reading the letter at the end of this post that was sent to her by the good friend of her daughter who happens to be gay.

Just waiting for the challenge to Oklahoma's DOMA to get to the SCOTUS and be overturned.  Will pop some popcorn and watch the implosion of the hard right who have some of the nastiest people I have ever met.  This defies good judgement of an elected official IMHO:

NOV. 20 2013 11:39 AM
Republican Governor Denies Benefits to All Soldiers to Discriminate Against Gay Ones
By Mark Joseph Stern

Constitution, schmonstitution: Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin.

Photo by Sue Ogrocki-Pool/Getty Images

When Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin was sworn into office, she promised in her oath to “offend the Constitution of the United States.” Many at the time assumed it was a blunder. But as it turns out, Gov. Fallin is true to her word. 

In September, Fallin vowed to prohibit Oklahoma’s National Guard from providing benefits to married same-sex couples, directly violating a Pentagon directive and a presidential decree. Now, after a Pentagon pushback, Fallin has doubled down, cutting spousal benefits for the entire Oklahoma National Guard, including straight couples. The Republican governor, in other words, would rather deny every soldier benefits than grant a few gay ones the rights they have been federally guaranteed. Her painfully mangled logic:

Oklahoma law is clear. The state of Oklahoma does not recognize same-sex marriages, nor does it confer marriage benefits to same-sex couples. The decision reached today allows the National Guard to obey Oklahoma law without violating federal rules or policies. It protects the integrity of our state constitution and sends a message to the federal government that they cannot simply ignore our laws or the will of the people. 

Not to harp on the point, but this notion is so deliriously erroneous, so undeniably and doltishly wrong, that I can’t quite believe Fallin believes it herself. The military’s policy of providing spousal benefits to same-sex couples is not a gentle suggestion. It is a federal mandate, prompted by the president himself, extending from the Pentagon to each (federally funded, federally supervised) National Guard base. It doesn’t matter whether the policy violates Oklahoma’s constitution: The Constitution of the United States declares in Article VI that “the laws of the United States ... shall be the supreme law of the land,” regardless of “the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary.” By presidential decree, the laws of the United States now require spousal benefits for gay soldiers; following that order is a constitutional requirement. And the federal constitution is not something a state governor can simply toss aside when it doesn’t suit her viciously homophobic beliefs.  

The author of this article may be wrong in one area -- some elected officials in Oklahoma including the Governor and Attorney General seem to feel state law trumps federal law.  If they don't mean it, they do a good job of convincing many Oklahomans that is what they believe.  How many other states keep passing laws that the State Supreme Court finds unconstitutional that end up at SCOTUS on appeal and they refuse to hear?  Bet Oklahoma trumps most states.  We just had two abortion bills that SCOTUS refused to hear that our Attorney General didn't like the ruling from the Oklahoma Supremes so they took it to SCOTUS and got rejected again. Now Republicans in Oklahoma want to do away with the manner judges are chosen in the State.  Typical Republican response -- don't get the outcome you want so change the laws.

When our family first moved here from Texas due to the closure of the Kelly depot, I complained about how archaic Oklahoma Republicans were -- little I did I expect them to get worse with the Tea Party and go back even more in time.   Governor Keating who was Governor when we arrived was famous for inserting foot in mouth when it came to teachers.  At my daughter's high school I talked to a lot of teachers who were Republican but never would vote for Keating with his anti-education agenda and his total lack of regard for teachers.  Gov Fallin was his Lt Governor.  She has the same stance on education and probably worse as her Administration touts charter schools.

The hatred of gays by the Republicans in Oklahoma go beyond anything I have seen from pulling books off the library shelves to demanding banners be taken down, and just being plain hateful.  I am still trying to figure out why -- are Oklahoma Republicans so entrenched in the hateful evangelical community that they only see their narrow view and forget that gays are people.   Many of the Tea Party not only hate gays but hate minorities.  We have had some of the nastiest bills against immigration submitted in our legislature that I have ever seen.  Then there are the attacks on women's rights.  The Good Old Boy system is alive and well in the Oklahoma Legislature and in many parts of the state.

In 2010 at a Norman City Council Meeting, an agenda item appeared concerning issuing a proclamation declaring October as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender History Month in Norman. The meeting turned into some of the nastiest comments ever with some comments coming from people who didn't live here. Norman has a contingent of hard right conservatives led by a person who doesn't live in Norman who loves to attack Norman. Same person who led the nasty fight against changing the Christmas parade to Holiday parade.  Had first hand experience how nasty this group of angry hard right Republicans can get.  Cannot even fathom sitting through this City Council meeting.

What is sad that the one person, Dan Quinn, who voted against the proclamation was retired as the principal at Norman North High School -- suffice it to say that the Mother of my daughter's good friend had a lot to say about Quinn and how he ran things and none of it positive starting when the girls were Freshman. The fact that he was the lone dissenter does not surprise me.  Norman has a member of the City Council who is openly gay and is treated like everyone else.  We have a city council today that looks forward and don't see the messy politics I saw for the last 8-10 years here.  This council seems to work together.

Times are changing just like Norman and the University of Oklahoma did in the 1950's when Prentice Gault became the first black to play OU football.  Maybe this tragic incident of this young gay man was a wake-up call in Norman.  I can only hope that people look in the mirror and realize that gays are people just like you and me.  IMHO it is not my place to judge someone else no more then others have a right to judge me on what I do with my life.  The prejudice against gays at this City Council meeting and what this student went through after he came out he was gay, shouldn't happen to anyone.  I know today that the Norman schools are very pro-active in insuring that everyone is treated fairly.  Can only hope that parents instill in their students that no one has a right to be bullied no matter what.

October 10, 2010North grad took own life after week of 'toxic' commentsBy Andrew KnittleThe Norman Transcript 

NORMAN — A week after attending a Norman City Council meeting where a heated debate played out in public, 19-year-old Zach Harrington took his own life at his family’s home in Norman. 

At the Sept. 28 meeting Harrington attended at City Hall, the council acknowledged receipt of a proclamation recognizing October as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender History Month in the city. Council voted 7 to 1 in favor of it, with only Councilman Dan Quinn casting a nay vote. 

Support for and opposition to the proclamation were fairly even and the public comment portion of the agenda item lasted for three hours — the entire time allotted. 

The entire process was an exercise in representative government, with both sides — and those in between — given their chance to speak their minds. 

One man said he moved to Norman because he thought it was the kind of place that would never accept the GLBT community with open arms. A woman, who described herself as “bi-racial,” said she was tired of the GLBT plight being compared to Civil Rights. 

Some of those who opposed the proclamation claimed that members of the GLBT community would use it to infiltrate the public school system, essentially allowing the “gay lifestyle” to become a part of the curriculum. 

Others claimed that council recognizing October as GLBT History Month was a waste of their time. Some members of the audience even suggested that any council members voting in favor of the proclamation may have trouble getting reelected. 

Numerous residents also claimed the Bible was their guiding light, citing the ancient text as their primary reason for opposing the proclamation and the GLBT community in general.
And for those in attendance, it was hard to ignore the intolerant grumblings, the exasperated sighs and cold, hard stares that followed comments from supporters of the GLBT proclamation. 

Even most council members admitted that a majority of the e-mails and phone calls they fielded regarding the proclamation were against it. 

Harrington’s family, who described him as a private young man who internalized his feelings and emotions, said it was this “toxic” environment at the Sept. 28 council meeting that may have pushed their gay son and brother over the edge. 

Nikki Harrington, Zach’s older sister, said her brother likely took all of the negative things said about members of the GLBT community straight to heart. 

“When he was sitting there, I’m sure he was internalizing everything and analyzing everything … that’s the kind of person he was,” she said. “I’m sure he took it personally. Everything that was said.”

Read More at The Norman Transcript 

We now have a Governor who not only took a stand against gays in the National Guard but she is the recipient of a letter from a good friend of her daughter's who is gay.  Obviously that letter made no impression as she pulled this stunt for her reelection.  What does that say about the Governor of Oklahoma?  Not much except she is a puppet of the hard right.  How can anyone receive this letter and act the way Governor Fallin does against gays that is now influencing heterosexual couples in the OK National Guard as well?  Some of these people consider themselves the only true Christians which makes me shake my head as they are always right even when it hurts others:

Dear Gov. Mary Fallin, 

I hope that this letter finds you well, and that your day is off to a great start. You may not remember me, so allow me to reintroduce myself to you. I'm Dillon Peña, a former friend and acquaintance of your daughter Christina. I've been to your house in northwest Oklahoma City. I've been to a festival at the Oklahoma River with you. I've broken bread and had dinner with you at Red Rock, and you have even been to church with me. Although I am currently a New York City resident, Oklahoma remains the home of my heart. 

I am an Oklahoma fan through and through. I cheer for the Thunder as well as OU and OSU. You see, Governor, I would love to move back to Oklahoma someday. However, today, Governor, in the eyes of the great state of Oklahoma, my two brothers and I are not equal. When you recently ordered that same-sex partners of servicemembers in the Oklahoma National Guard not receive the spousal benefits that their partners earned and that their heterosexual counterparts enjoy, you boldly declared that people like me are not equal in your eyes. Today I have a job in which I am excelling, but in Oklahoma I could be fired simply for being who I am. I could walk into any restaurant and be denied service for being who I am. Worst of all, if I were in the Oklahoma National Guard, I would be reminded that my sacrifice was not equal to that of my fellow servicemembers, solely because I love a man and not a woman. 

I was born and raised in the red dirt fields of western Oklahoma, the same place where the seeds of the American dream were planted for both my parents' families. My mother hails from tough stock: farmers who braved and outlasted the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression when so many of their neighbors threw in the towel and headed west. With sweat and blood they endured many droughts to raise their family on the land they loved. First-generation Americans, my father's parents were careful to maintain a connection with their Mexican heritage while instilling in my father a deep love and appreciation for their new home country, which gave them an opportunity for a better life, and a great pride in being American. While raising a dozen children, my grandparents chopped endless rows of cotton until they'd saved enough money to open our family restaurant. Although my two sets of grandparents were culturally different, they both believed their families to be the bedrock of their success. Being in Oklahoma, close to my siblings and extended family, would be a dream come true for me. 

Governor, it pains me to recognize that when you didn't know I am gay, you considered me equal. It pains me to know that my beloved Oklahoma appears to be like Alabama of the 1960s, not moving forward but stagnating in prejudice and inequality no longer suited for our country. My prayer for you and the state of Oklahoma is that you move forward on civil rights issues and certainly not take steps backwards. I pray that in future news I read and hear, Oklahoma is not a state of condemnation but one of acceptance. 

I've heard it spoken from the church pulpit that when you stand for nothing, you fall for everything. I also know that when hate is spoken from that same pulpit, the words are no longer anointed. So in closing, because the great state of Oklahoma regards me as less than equal, I would like to remind you of Matthew 25:40; in which Jesus says, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
I pray that in the future you remember, because you are a Christian, to think of Jesus. How would he treat someone? I know that in his eyes I am created just the same as you. And maybe someday I, along with many others who have fled the state, will be able to return to the place we call home. 

Sincerely,  

Dillon Peña

Oklahoma needs new leadership and a revival of what it truly means to act as a Christian and stop being so judgmental of people who don't think or act like the hard right evangelicals.  I am not hard right, not an evangelical, but I am white, a female, and heterosexual.  Today I won't even vote Republican or support Republican candidates after seeing the Republican Party of Oklahoma up close and personal.  They are mean, nasty, aggressive, underhanded, and have the empathy of a gnat for anyone not thinking like them.

Every morning I wake up with "This is the day the lord has made, be happy and be grateful" which comes from going to Sunday School every Sunday morning.  Grew up singing "God made the little children, all the children of the World...."  To this day, I remember standing in front of the Congregation singing that song when we were in first grade and looking out to see the migrant families our Church was hosting that Sunday.  It stayed with me my whole life that God made all of us - we look different, speak different, think different, and act different but we all the same in God's eyes.

None of us have a right to be judgmental over others just because they are gay.  Some of the evangelical and Catholic community who attack gays defend heterosexual pedophiles which makes zero sense to me.   The new Pope gets it about gays so when are evangelicals going to understand we are all just people with different wants and desires.  Why condemn two consenting adults because their sexual orientation is not like yours?

Governor Fallin Threatens Public School Funding, Over Opposition by Local Superintendents to State's System of Grading Schools

UPDATE:  11/5/2013:  After a host of parents and educators went through the roof at the threat of Gov Fallin pulling school funding, the comments were updated:

Gov. Mary Fallin’s spokesman Alex Weintz said some have misconstrued comments he made earlier this week to the Tulsa World as a “threat” to educators to stop criticizing the A-F grading system. 

“Gov. Fallin has not and will not threaten (additional state) funding for schools based on opposition to the A-F grading system,” he said in a written statement released Tuesday.
In a Tulsa World story published Sunday, Weintz said Fallin wanted to warn educators that continued criticism of the A-F school grading system could affect whether public schools get additional state funding for fiscal year 2015. 

Educators and parents statewide interpreted that as a threat by the governor to stop criticizing the A-F grading system or forfeit additional state funding next year to help fill a $200 million-plus budget shortfall from cuts made during the recession.

Where is Gov Fallin to speak to the media and answer these questions instead of sending out a handwritten comment?  She got caught and she knows it so she is avoiding the media, educators, and parents.  IMHO she meant what was said and backtracked when she got caught.

******

Governor Fallin says that the new grading system is "the law" and therefore we need to accept it regardless of whether we like it or not. However, Obamcare is also "the law" yet she does not accept it because she does not like it. Aren't we as a people just following the example of our leaders in regard to following "the law"?  Jody, Tulsa World

What can you say when you read this except that ALEC has taken over the Governor's Office of the State of Oklahoma when the Governor's Spokesman disses the report from the two major state universities -- University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.  Guess the Governor and the State School Superintendent know better then the two recognized university staffs who prepared the report or our local school superintendents:

Gov. Fallin counters critics of A-F system for grading schools

Strong opposition to the state's system of grading schools may hurt funding, the governor says.By KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer  

Related Documents:

Oklahoma A-F report Read a report from University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University researchers analyzing Oklahoma's A-F grading system. 

Gov. Mary Fallin is warning educators that continuing public criticism of the state's A-F school grading system may affect whether common education gets additional funding next fiscal year. 

"It's not helpful to anyone's cause. It seems to be some opponents are absolutely bent on undermining the credibility of the entire system," said Fallin spokesman Alex Weintz. 

"The fact of the matter is this grading system, regardless of whether or not you believe it should have been put together differently, is the law." 

Last week state Superintendent Janet Barresi unveiled her education budget request for fiscal year 2015, in which she is asking for an additional $174.9 million for a total of $2.5 billion. On the same day, the governor's office spoke out on the A-F issue, urging education supporters to get behind the grading system and stop endorsing a report that criticizes it.

The A-F grades for schools across the state are expected to be released this week.
Weintz said the governor is "dismayed" to see groups representing the education community touting a report issued by researchers at University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University as a way to wage a campaign against A-F.

Do you know how stupid they sound saying the A-F school grading system is the "law" no matter if you agree or not when we live in a state that has challenge ACA and is still challenging it when it was passed into law, signed by the President and upheld by SCOTUS.  The Governor and her ALEC Legislature still won't recognize the ACA law but now want to tell all of us that the A-F grading system is the law so sit down and shut up or lose funding.  Sounds pretty dictatorial in my book.  

This part of the article would be funny if not so serious:

Educators statewide have complained that the formula underlying the simple A-F grades is flawed. They point to two analyses by OU and OSU researchers that concluded the formula "has very little meaning and certainly cannot be used legitimately to inform high-stakes decisions." 

Weintz said Fallin disagrees with the latest study and believes its conclusions are harmful to public education.

Fallin will never go down as being one of the smarter Governor's of Oklahoma but like Keating her regard for public education leaves a lot to be desired.  When she thinks she knows more then our two State Universities, there is a real problem and it is not with the report from the Universities.  Two universities who turn out teachers for our public schools are harmful to public education?  What is harmful is being a state owned by ALEC and the Koch Bros with a State School Superintendent that believes in charter schools over public schools.  I know because I got in a fight with one of her disciples about that very issue.

Oklahoma ranks #1 in the Country for cutting school funding by 28% since 2008 and now if schools don't do as they are told the Governor wants to cut them more?  Give me a break!

When you think that Oklahoma's Governor Fallin cannot stoop any lower with Janet Barresi, who is one of the most detested State School Superintendents ever in this state, it happens.  These comments from the Tulsa World article say it all and these are just a few.   Oklahomans are mad starting with the local Superintendents  who are asking for a NO Confidence vote on Barrissi.  Finding her biography was not easy but when you do you find Barrisi was a dentist, speech pathologist, and Board President of Harding Charter Preparatory High School.  She had no executive experience in running a public school just a charter school which was not a well known fact in the election when the hard right Tea Party led the GOP to take all state offices.  Don't know anyone who respects her as state school superintendent except Fallin and her group as Barrisi is dictatorial and refuses to listen to ideas even in meetings.  

These comments from the Tulsa World article sum of what I have heard from educators in my own area of the state:

Fallin apparently has cornflakes for brains. She refuses to expand Medicaid, denying affordable health care to thousands, even though it will be heavily subsidized with federal dollars -- even Republican governors Jan Brewer and John Kasich saw the wisdom of not sending their own taxpayers' federal dollars to other states -- and now she is using fear and extortion -- tools Republicans reach for first -- to threaten school superintendents if they question the failed performance of her girl Barresi. It is time to retire the mistress of Koch Industries to Wichita and elect a governor who is interested in serving the people of Oklahoma. Oklahoma horses will also likely be glad to see her go. (Frank, Tulsa World)

Governor, I am in awe of your threat of possible education funding for our public schools could be halted because of the failure of school administrators not accepting these flawed standards trying to be promoted by your administration. You haven't even tried working with them nor even accepted the analysis of the education professionals from O.U. nor O.S.U. These are educational scientists who RESEARCH educational factors on a daily basis. What does your research say to counter theirs since you discount their assessment?
Also, "grading our public schools" is part of a system that conservatives have initiated throughout our nation to try and privatize our public schools for profit and not necessarily to improve our schools. Hopefully, Oklahomans will begin to recognize this scheme for what it is - dismantling our public school system, a cornerstone of our great democracy! (Ann, Tulsa World)

In other words Fallin is so dedicated to the destruction of Public education she would throw a bomb and disrespect our Best Educators....these corporate pawns will stoop to any low imaginable..No wonder Johnny cannot read .Just be sure the kids do not learn their science..they would know how bad humans have made the planet in the Name of profit SSSSS  (Jean, Tulsa World)

Alex Weintz make clear that the governor’s agenda is - gut public education funding in a fit of pique, use a flawed grading system and then announce "Public education has failed." , with all that implies. 

I hope she does not pursue this scorched earth approach that the threat of tying funding for the education of Oklahoma’s children to the acquiescence of the adults to a grading plan, flawed or otherwise, seems to imply. To quote Ronald Reagan “Freedom is the right to question and change the established way of doing things." I can hope the governor realizes she has overplayed her hand on this, comes down on the side of freedom and backs away from Mr. Weintz’s statements.  (Robert, Tulsa World)

This is typical of the Governor to send out her spokesman to say what she thinks rather than talk with the media on where she stands.  Her ties to the Koch Bros and ALEC did me in plus I find more and more I have lost total respect with her stance on education, ACA, women's rights, minority rights, etc. The audacity to say the new grading is the law but the ACA which is the law has to be overturned shows a shallowness and someone who is bought and paid for like so many of our GOP Governor's today.