Election Edition - August 26, 2002

Craig Dawkins

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Forensic Document Examiner Concludes Bode's Political Registration Card has been Altered

A recent forensic examination of Denise Bode's political registration card concludes that her card has been altered. Glenda Portman, a Certified Document and Fraud Examiner performed the examination. According to the report, the procedure used to examine the card included "ambient lighting conditions, with visual aids of 10x - 30x magnification. Extended examination under infrared conditions, for comparison of ink and detection of possible alteration evidence, was also conducted."

Among several findings the examination reported a "structural difference" of the number "2" of the year "92" when "compared to preceding numerals '2' of the date (12 - 27)." The report also found that the "numeral '2' of the year designation ("92") was written with a different ink than that used to write all other numerals of the date entry."

The report concluded, "Based on the available evidence, the numeral '2' for the year designation of the Questioned document date (12-27-92) which follows the signature of Registrar, Carl J. Bode was not written with continuous pen movement or with the same pen with which the preceding numerals of that date were written. It was written over another numeral or mark, creating an alteration."

Some have speculated that Bode may not have switched parties until 1997 but was embarrassed to expose Gov. Frank Keating to appointing a Democrat to the Corporation Commission when he didn't know it. We may never know the reason.

There still remain four unanswered questions. When did Bode become a Republican? Why have newspapers reported 1993, 1994 and 1995? Why would the card need to be altered? And assuming the forensic report is correct; who altered the card?

Some may ask, so what? If a candidate cannot be forthcoming in small matters of importance, how can we expect them to handle larger issues? Denise Bode's unwillingness to answer the question directly has turned a simple statistic into controversy. Remembering the lessons of Watergate, with all the attention this issue has received, one would think Bode would come forward with a direct answer before controversy becomes scandal.

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A Big Prediction in the Race for Labor Commissioner

Tim Pope's campaign for Labor Commissioner has been gaining momentum the last few weeks. A source close to the Pope campaign said, at a recent Tulsa Republican gathering, Congressman John Sullivan pointed to Pope and announced "Tim Pope is going to win this thing."

Saturday's Claremore Progress newspaper endorsed Tim Pope over Brenda Reneau-Wynn. The editorial stated, "Hijinks in the Wynn camp should be embarrassment to all loyal GOP voters."

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Mike Means Answers Opponents Charges

County Assessor incumbent Mike Means has recently been accused by his primary opponent, Carolyn Scatena, of giving himself a break on the property taxes he pays on his Edmond home while the vast majority of Oklahoma County residents see annual property tax increases. Also, an anonymous fax showed that U.S. Senator candidate David Walters, property value went down in 2001 from 2000.

In an interview, Means said that he has not given himself a tax break. Tax documents from his office show, as of January 2002, his property is assessed the highest in his Edmond neighborhood. Means explained that when he purchased his home the property was assessed the full amount and was not increased due to static property values in his neighborhood. Means property value showed an increase in 2002 and will result in higher tax assessments.

The reason for Walters' property tax decrease was due to a fire at Walters home that had the effect of decreasing the property's value.

He said the new law allowing only 5% property tax increase per year causes many homes to receive annual increases due to the property being assessed below the real appraised value. He also stated that State Law insures property owners 65 years and older have their property tax assessments frozen.

Means made it clear that when a property reaches the full assessment value, under current law, the annual 5% increase would end and if property values were to fall, tax assessments would fall as well.

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O'Collegian Article Citing Bode as a Bill Clinton Campaign Staffer Mysteriously Disappears from Web Server

A November 2, 2000 O'Collegian (Oklahoma State University daily newspaper) article titled "Bush Brigade" citing Denise Bode as a Bill Clinton campaign staffer has mysteriously disappeared from the web server.

A google search using the words "Denise Bode" and "Bush" will find the article on page 5. But it can no longer be accessed. Currently the only way to view the article is to select the cached version. The webservers at google will continue to show the cached article for a short while.

Apparently the Clinton/Bode revelations caused quite a stir in her campaign. A recent communication to Steve Byas (Editor of the Oklahoma Constitution) from the Bode campaign indicated, "the OSU reporter simply 'misunderstood' about her being a Clinton staffer."

This explanation flies in the face of the entire article which not only connected Bode to the Clinton campaign but also his domestic policy staff. "The people working on the tax proposal and domestic policy issues--including Bode --were attacked viciously and personally, she said." Bode was upset over Clinton's tax policy on energy interests. Apparently she had no problem with his policy on abortion and gays in the military.

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Gary Bauer Endorses Marc Nuttle for Congress

Gary Bauer, Campaign for Working Families Chairman and former head of Family Research Council has endorsed Marc Nuttle for congress.

Bauer wrote, "I am writing you today to encourage you as strongly as I can to vote for Marc Nuttle in Tuesday's Republican primary." He further wrote, "As someone who fights every day here in Washington for our pro-family, pro-life values, I am asking you to vote for Marc Nuttle on Tuesday, August 27th. Marc will reinvigorate our conservative majority and rekindle the "Republican Revolution of 1994." We desperately need his leadership in Congress!"

Sunday's Norman Transcript endorsed Marc Nuttle for congress.

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