OK GOP’s Obama Challenge Backfires

Republicans balk on their offer to give rides to Fundraiser for the President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 4, 2012

Tulsa County Democratic Party

Phone: 918.742.2457

info@tulsacountydemocrats.org

TULSA, OK – Democratic Candidates and elected officials challenged the Oklahoma Republican Party’s offer to provide transportation to a fundraiser for President Barack Obama on Saturday. Less that 24 hours before the event, the OK GOP issued a press release on Friday, that said, “in an effort to ensure no Oklahoma Democrat candidate or elected official misses DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz's planned trip to Oklahoma, the OKGOP will be generously offering free transportation to the event.” However, when numerous Democratic candidates and elected officials called the bluff, the Republican Party refused to honor their offer.

The State Republican Headquarters received calls from Democratic Elected Officials and candidates from across the state that proudly professed their support for the President and wanted to accept the GOP’s offer to give rides to the event. However, when challenged to follow through, Republican leaders rescinded. State Senator Judy Eason McIntyre was one official who called after reading the GOP press release. “What Republican’s don’t understand is that the President has a tremendous amount of support in this state, particularly in Tulsa County” said Senator McIntyre. “When I called to accept their offer, they turned me down flat. Then once my colleagues began to call in they simply stopped answering the phone.”

Republicans have yet to explain why they were unable to follow through on their offer. Local Democrats suspect that the press release was meant to be a political ploy and nothing more. “I was disappointed to see the Oklahoma Republican Party resorting to such petty political games. Still, if they were going to make such a ridiculous offer, they should have had the integrity to honor their promise” said event organizer Michael Whelan. “The people of Oklahoma deserve to hear solutions that will unify us, not childish partisan nonsense.” Whelan added, “Republican or Democrat, our political leaders should provide real discourse, not cute PR stunts.”

The event was hosted by local supporters of the President’s re-election and was to feature Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.  However, due to tornado warnings in the DC metro area and cancelled flights, the congresswoman was unable to attend the gathering and instead addressed the crowd through a live video chat. The event completely sold out and attended by over 250 supporters from across the state in spite of the unfortunate travel complications with the event’s featured guest. At the gathering on Saturday, organizers told attendees that their efforts raised 40% more than their goal. All proceeds went to the Obama Victory Fund, which is a combined effort between the Obama campaign and the DNC.

You can see the GOP’s press release here: http://www.okgop.com/release-okgop-offers-free-rides-to-wasserman-schultz-event/

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