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Why I Have Such a Problem with the Candidacy of Denise Bode

I have been asked by several people to explain why I have a problem with the candidacy of Denise Bode for the 5th District congressional seat. While I understand and respect the many people in the Republican Party who support Bode, I just don't have the required faith within me to believe she is someone I could support. Here's why.

Let's talk about character. Not the kind of character that one observes in commercials advocating positions known to be popular among conservatives. That kind of character comes from issue polling and focus groups. That's not character. That's marketing. Marketing is often taking a pet rock and making it seem like something you can't live without. Marketing makes us want to buy bell bottom jeans, all the while, thinking they make us look cool. Marketing is all about perception not reality. Let's get back to character.

Whether it matters to people or not, Bode spent the better part of her adulthood as an activist Democrat. Not the Ted Kennedy type of Democrat, but a loyal Democrat who worked hard (donated, sponsored fundraisers, worked in campaigns, etc.) for Democrats like Oklahoma Senator David Boren, Oklahoma Governor David Walters-D, Montana Senator Max Baucus-D, former Congressman Mike Synar-D, and Bill Clinton in 1992. I don't wish to deny Bode the right to actively support these candidates or imply she has bad character for doing so. I'm simply citing some documented facts.

David Boren is recognized by many as a moderate Democrat. Working on behalf of Boren was Bode's reasonable, well thought-out choice. I believe her support for those politicians reflected her character and beliefs at that time. I don't begrudge her that. In fact, while I disagree with many of the views held by the late Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone, I admire Wellstone because he fought constantly for what he believed. He didn't compromise away his beliefs. If only those in the limited government camp could be so lucky.

Now I realize that her connection with Bill Clinton has been denied by surrogates. But she has never publicly denied being a campaign staffer for Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign against President George H.W. Bush. The story about her experience with Clinton was written in the Oklahoma State University O'Collegian newspaper in November of 2000. ( )
I respect her willingness to support the candidates she favors. There's no problem with that.

But in August of 1997, Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating asked Bode to come to Oklahoma from Washington D.C. to serve as Corporation Commissioner. When she was sworn into office, Bode hired Dan Boren-D (current U.S. House Representative 2nd District) as her assistant at the Corporation Commission. Bode's decision to leave D.C. was an expensive move on her part. I believe The Oklahoman reported that Bode had taken a huge cut in pay in order to be a Corporation Commissioner. My recollection was that her salary at Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) was in six digits.

As the president of IPAA in Washington, D.C., she lobbied Congress for the oil industry. Clearly Bode had other plans than being a Corporation Commissioner. In observing Bode's elective behavior over the last four years, she has run for political office 3 times. Two times for offices she doesn't currently hold. Anybody still think she came to Oklahoma to serve as a Corporation Commissioner? It is crystal clear to me that her coming to Oklahoma was part of a larger plan to return to D.C. Not as a lobbyist this time, but as an elected official from Oklahoma.

In 2002, I wrote an article asking when Denise Bode became a registered Republican. There were two reasons it mattered. First, Bode had engaged in campaign activities on behalf of Democratic Party candidates at a time that the State of Oklahoma showed her to be a registered Republican (1992). The second reason was because her party registration document had been altered. Altering a registration card is against the law in Oklahoma. Published articles dated her party affiliation change with various dates (1993, 1994 and 1995) See registration card at .

A forensic document analyst determined that the card had, in fact, been altered. ( ) But why? Bode has offered explanations to some on this. Some say it doesn't matter. They argue that it should simply be enough that she changed political affiliation and all perceived sins have been forgiven. Fair enough.

I don't have a problem with the fact that she was a member of another party. I'm a libertarian leaning registered Republican. Some of the people whom I hold in the highest esteem are independents. This issue IS NOT about some "blue blood," quest for Republican ideological purity. It's just about the facts and the questions related to them. I really don't care if Bode was working as a Republican for Democrats. Heck it happens at Oklahoma County government all the time. It's more the idea that there was a lack of clarity about it. She has stated that she became a Republican in 1994. I'll accept her word. But it has always struck me as odd that all these irregularities existed regarding that question.

Some say that her past should be weighed with her present activities of embracing Republican candidates and issues. They often cite her recent contributions on behalf of conservative causes and people as proof that she truly has an understanding of limited government ideals. And to state it further, some say that she is a most avid advocate of social conservatism. As a libertarian leaning Republican, some of the social conservative agenda is at odds with some of my pro-freedom beliefs. But I respect the right of others to hold different opinions on that. Let's get back to the character issue.

Early on in this campaign season, a VERY RELIABLE source informed me that a representative from the Bode campaign initiated a contact regarding me. The overt impression gained from the contact was that they were attempting to intimidate and pressure me not to write anything about Bode or else. While I'm not going to identify the source at this time, or describe my relationship with this person, I'm quite confident the Bode campaign knows of whom I speak. When I was told about this, I was understandably angry about it. And frankly, it emboldened my negative impression of Bode and willingness to speak out. However in hindsight, I shouldn't have been too surprised by it. It's not the first time Bode has engaged in this kind of behavior.

I can recall in 2002 when NFL Hall of Fame football player Reggie White agreed to participate in a fund raiser for Steve Largent and Tim Green, whom he supported for Oklahoma Attorney General. The Bode people were all over Reggie White and his handlers because he refused to be involved with a fundraiser for Bode. A source that was closely involved with the Reggie White fundraiser stated that the Bode people were extremely angry at Largent because they thought he was involved in White's decision refusing to honor Bode with his star status. This source also stated that the Bode camp attempted to pressure White not to do the fundraiser for Tim Green by presenting him a "demand letter." White wasn't impressed with Bode's attempt.

I have a fundamental belief in the idea that politicians should answer to their record. They should be faced with hard questions that expose a belief system in what they will do if elected and are emboldened with the power of incumbency. I completely understand that no candidate is perfect. But when a politician arrives in their shiny Washington D.C. office, it is very hard to dislodge them. The power of lobbyists to obtain favorable votes in exchange for campaign contributions is a reality all incumbents enjoy. But if a politician is willing to use their influence to quell criticism from an insignificant citizen like me, I have a definite problem with that candidate. When a politician shows a lack of respect for the 1st Amendment, they are also showing a lack of respect for the U.S. Constitution. We have too many of those kinds of politicians already.

If we elect people who know how to say the right things on radio and television ads but do the wrong things behind the scenes, we don't get anywhere. For my part, and MY OPINION, I just can't bring myself to trust Denise Bode.

While I think Bode has mastered the political sound bites necessary in a campaign, I do not believe Bode has the capability to impact much more than oil and gas policy in Congress. Some, particularly those in the oil and gas industry, might feel that is enough. I don't. I think more is required of candidates based on the myriad of issues facing our nation.

We can have honest disagreements about which candidate is the best in the 5th District house race. That speaks to the quality of the candidates in the race. I'm supporting Mick Cornett. Of all the candidates in this race, I think Cornett has the best ability to learn and lead. No offense intended to those who favor another candidate, I just favor Cornett.

Every campaign is filled with people that are viewed as villains. In all good fairy tales, the villain is always beaten by the hero. In the bible there is the tale of David and Goliath. David wins the day. Good triumphs over evil. I'm sure that some in the Bode camp view both me and my opinion as villainous. But from where I sit, I see a giant money collecting goliath utterly enmeshed in Washington D.C. establishment endorsements while being protected by the 400lb gorilla.

Is there a metaphorical "David" in this campaign that can muster enough supporters who are willing to say NO to the Washington D.C. establishment? Let us hope so. I don't want Washington D.C. insiders picking our next congressional representative.