An Open Letter to President Barack Obama
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 23th, 2012
Michael Whelan – Vice Chairman
Tulsa County Democratic Party
T 918.742.2457
Dear Mr. President,
On behalf of the Tulsa County Democratic Party, I want to thank you for coming to Oklahoma; we've missed you. It was wonderful to hear about your administration’s energy policy and its effect on the lives of Oklahomans. Here’s hoping you opened some eyes and cleared some of the wild misinformation that has been passed around our State. We want you to know that you have a tremendous base of ardent supporters in this state who wholeheartedly believe in you and your record of accomplishment in the face of bitterly partisan adversity. While we cannot promise you electoral votes, we CAN promise you our steadfast support and commitment to your re-election.
Mr. President, I want to apologize for the lack of respect you were shown by our Governor, Senators and statewide elected officials. For many Oklahomans, it was heartbreaking to see our leaders put petty politics over manners and common decency. Politics aside, it is an honor to have had a visit from the President of the United States. The office of the presidency is to be respected. To do otherwise is rude, not to mention unpatriotic. I assure you that most Oklahomans are taught from a young age that respect and hospitality are a part of the fabric of our great state. I hope that the warm faces in Cushing gave you a better taste of what it means to be an Oklahoman. True Oklahoma hospitality is far better than the welcome you received.
Our state is facing tough times. Our crisis is not as much economic as it is cultural. Our Republicans boast that we have become “the reddest state in the nation”. Over the past few years we have seen our legislature veer so far to the extreme right that many reasonable Oklahomans feel disillusioned, embarrassed and defeated. The Republican leadership in our legislature has put aside good government for bills that are engineered for nothing more than political gamesmanship. They would rather fight a fabricated war on Sharia Law than ensure that our children have a quality education. They work to convince our citizens that there are fetuses in their food in lieu of passing laws that could actually help working Oklahomans. In short, they would rather engrave the Ten Commandments on our state capitol than live by them. While they may not be serving the people of Oklahoma well, YOU certainly are.
Mr. President, thank you for your service to our country. Thank you for steadfastly leading our nation during one of the most difficult and uncertain times in American history. Most of all, thank you for your faith in the American people. We are so proud to support a President committed to moving our country forward. Over the coming year, we will be right there with you to help ensure that you are able continue your service and finish what we started.
Sincerely,
________________________
Michael Whelan
Vice Chairman
Tulsa County Democratic Party
Thank you, Michael, for eloquently articulating our sincerity and frustration. There were so many of us who wanted to be there, to lend support, and welcome our President in a manner worthy of the office and the man. I hope President Obama will visit Tulsa and give us the opportunity to honor him, as he continues to lead us forward to a more promising future.
Thank you for such a great letter. It was embarrassing that no one from our Government met our President. Such a sad showing for our state.
Thanks Michael, for your kind words. Oklahoma isn’t the most hospitable state for a Democratic President, so I’m glad you made our feelings clear.
Thank you for coming to The Great State of Oklahoma, Mr. President. I apologize for our state leaders and hope that you will not judge all of us by their rudeness.
Thank you to the Tulsa County Democratic Party for sending this letter.
I am a seventh generation Oklahoma Democratic Party member. I am ready for President Obama and make a change in the path Oklahoma has choosen.
Thank you for this wonderful letter.
Michael,
How thoughtful of you to write this wonderful letter to President Obama!
Thank you for pointing out to our President that there is love and support for him here in Oklahoma!
Thank you for highlighting the blatant disrespect to our President by Gov. Fallin, Lt. Lamb, Republican House and Senate officials and the Oklahoma Republican Statewide elected officials.
I am confident that President Obama will appreciate your letter and accept our apologies.
Thanks to you he now kaons that he has supports who plan to work hard ( yes, in the reddest state) to get him re-elected in2012!
Sometimes, it’s hard to be proud of this state. Thank you for your eloquence and class. Any President deerves our respect.
Thank you for writing such a nice letter, Michael. I was so proud that President Obama came to Oklahoma to look at our resources. As a result, Oklahoma will benefit by being able to offer more jobs and our Nation will benefit from the use of our abundant oil supply.
Many of us felt disappointed and indignant by the rude actions and negative, abusive statements of some of our elected officials and citizens. Your letter addresses these issues well. I use to feel Oklahomans were some of the friendliest and most hospitable people I have ever met. I am proud of those who did not disappoint me.
I am proud of what President Obama has accomplished during the past 3 years and know he will continue to rally for the welfare of our citizens and country. Let’s show him he has our support!
there was such saddness among my friends and concerning the shameful treatment of THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN OUR UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND OUR BELOVED PRESIDENT—MR. PRESIDENT OBAMA, IF I AND ALL MY FRIENDS COULD HAVE BEEN THERE TO GREET YOU, WE ALL WOULD HAVE.WE FUMED ALL DAY, AND HALF THE NIGHT. WEARING FB OUT.I WISH YOU COULD READ ALL THE STATEMENTS MADE OF OUR SHAME TO BE LIVING IN SUCH A PLACE AT THIS TIME.WE HAVE ALL MADE A FIRM DECISION TO GET & KEEP YOU IN OFFICE—THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, AND HAVE DONE, WITH LITTLE SUPPORT, AND A LOT OF NASTY-NESS.WE SENOR CITIZENS OF OKLAHOMA ARE FIRMLY WITH YOU…..SO VERY PROUD OF YOU ALL THE DUNCANITES-VEDA M.GARRICK
Thank you, Mr President, for taking the time to visit our state. You have my respect and admiration for stepping into this ultra conservative atmosphere. While right now it looks as though you won’t receive our electoral votes, you will receive mine and my husband’s, my children’s, as well as most other free thinking folks here in Oklahoma. Consider that a vote of confidence. Thank you again for visiting our state.
Janet Niemeyer
What a classy bunch you folks are! From a liberal Texan just to your south, in another red state similar to yours, I feel your pain and I’m really grateful that you sent this letter to President Obama to show him we do appreciate him and all that he does for the country. It seems many have forgotten the lessons of goodness, decency and just plain good manners, and I say we just let them revel in their own pits of hate and bigotry. They’ll eventually burn themselves out. We just have to keep fighting the good fight, right?
Thank you for this letter to President Obama! I would love to have had the opportunity for myself, my mom and my friends to welcome him in person with our handshakes. (By the way fellow left-leaning Oklahomans, please remember the Woody Guthrie Free Folk Festival in Okemah this July, this would’ve been Woody’s 100th year. Judy Collins, Billy Bragg, Melanie Safka, Carolyn Hester, Arlo Guthrie and many more are joining us this year).
Thank you for your excellent comments regarding President Obama’s trip to Oklahoma and the rude behavior of many Oklahoma Republicans.