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M odern P atriot C hronicles
An Eleventh Commandment Free Zone
Vol. 6, Issue 1
January 13, 2007
By Craig Dawkins

Wilson Research Strategies: Great 2006 Election Cycle Recap
Beer, Wine, and Liquor in Grocery Stores

Copyright@2007, All Rights Reserved
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POLLS! POLLS! POLLS! POLLS!

Should Oklahomans be allowed to purchase beer, wine, and liquor in grocery stores?

Yes, liquor markets should have less government interference.
Or
No, the government should restrict the liquor market?

Go to www.ModernPatriot.net and vote today!!!
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Wilson Research Strategies: Great 2006 Election Cycle Recap

Selling Republicans to the American electorate in 2006 was akin to booking Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown for the New York Philharmonic. Let's just be gratuitous and say it didn't go so well. Before Election Day in 2006, Republicans controlled both houses of Congress. After the election, Republicans lost both the House and the Senate to Democratic Party control.

For Wilson Research Strategies (WRS), while Oklahoma wasn't as fruitful in 2006, 54 of the 72 WRS clients were successful in the 2006 election cycle. That's 75% for those who are counting. I'm not all that surprised. This last election cycle, I spent a little time with WRS Founder-CEO Chris Wilson and had the opportunity to meet some of the amazing people on his staff. Wilson, who is very talented, has also surrounded himself with some very talented individuals.

However, and let me be very clear. While I admire the organization that Wilson has put together, I don't always admire WRS clients. While I supported WRS client Mick Cornett for the U.S. House 5th District seat, I could not bring myself to support Oklahoma County DA Wes Lane who was also a WRS client. I'm not suggesting that WRS clients be blindly supported. I'm just making the observation that WRS is really topnotch firm with topnotch people. Now back to the WRS 2006 election recap.

In December of 2006, WRS published its Oklahoma Opinion Quarterly which analyzed post election surveys of Oklahoma voters for the 2006 election cycle. The report uncovered some interesting data related to the 2006 election cycle.

· In the race for Governor, 50% of female Republicans voted for Ernest Istook.
· Only 28% of male Republicans voted for Istook which is just 4% higher than male registered Democrats of which 24% voted for Istook.
· 9% of female Democrats voted for Istook.
· Overall, counting Independents, Brad Henry received 55% of the male vote and 76% of the female vote.
· 53% of voters who identified themselves as Conservative voted for Istook. Only 16% of Moderates voted for Istook. 3% of Liberals voted for Istook.
· 26% of respondents cited Henry as a "conservative who agrees with traditionally Republican positions.
· 38% of respondents voted for Henry based on economic prosperity.
· Only 11% of respondents stated they disliked Istook.
· 33% of Democrat respondents that they voted for more Democrat candidates than in the past.
· 20% of Republican respondents stated that they voted for more Democrat candidates than in the past.
· 87% of Istook voters supported Todd Hiett.
· 23% of Henry voters supported Todd Hiett.

Some who are in the business of political consulting will likely not be as appreciative of WRS as I. Political consulting is a very competitive hard hitting business where political enemies are certain to be made. While it is true that Oklahoma Republicans held the State House and gained State Senate seats, only one Republican incumbent running a major state office campaign won reelection. That was Corporation Commissioner Bob Anthony. Clearly, Oklahoma Republican state office seekers were caught up in the same anti-Republican tsunami experienced across the nation.

I remember a few years ago when WRS worked with John Sullivan in Tulsa who was facing what looked to be an insurmountable foe in Cathy Keating. Keating was a client of power house consultant - CHS (Cole, Hargrave, Snodgrass and Associates). Sullivan beat Keating so bad in the three person primary that she decided to withdraw and endorse Sullivan in the race. You might remember Frank Keating calling Tulsa Republicans "stupid." C'est la vie.

Some election cycles just don't stack up well. Such was the case in 2006 for Republicans. But Republicans in Washington didn't do much that deserved the support of limited government conservatives. I expect WRS to continue to be squarely in the mix in future election cycles.
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Beer, Wine, and Liquor in Grocery Stores

Oklahoma's disjointed policy on alcoholic beverages has greatly limited consumer choice and competition in the liquor market. While allowing only 3.2 beer in grocery stores, people wishing to purchase wine and other liquors have very limited choices. Not only did the state limit consumer choice, it also controls the hours of operation of all liquor stores. Liquor stores are allowed to be open from 10AM to 9PM Monday through Saturday and are mandated to be closed on Sunday. So forget about the last minute bottle of wine for Sunday dinner.

A group called Oklahomans for Modern Laws (http://modernlawsok.org/) is planning a statewide initiative petition to bring Oklahoma's liquor laws out of the Great Depression era and into the 21st Century. Better late than never.

Now I hear that Oklahoma's liquor industry is lining up against the idea of competition from grocers and other retail outlets. They don't want to share the market in ways that would likely end their stranglehold of Oklahoma's liquor market. They like it just the way it is. Both they and the religious groups will step forward to keep government market interference in place. I'm for allowing Oklahoman's more freedom of choice.

Oklahomans should be free to purchase any form of alcohol at their local grocery store. Oklahoma's wine industry should have an opportunity to market their products over the internet and in grocery stores. That's a bottom line position for me. If you would like to help with their cause or find out additional information, you can go to their website at (http://modernlawsok.org/) .