Monday, after my column of Jan. 20 was printed, I got the expected responses.
“Why do you only criticize Republicans? What about the Democrats?”
This was the reaction to the column, “What’s that smell” concerning a junket taken by Oklahoma Speaker of the House Lance Cargill and some fellow Republicans to the Dallas home of a man linked to corruption in the office of former Democratic Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher.
The callers were critical because I didn’t mention the indictment of current state Auditor Jeff McMahan, a Democrat.
The fact is, the McMahan indictment was handed down after my Sunday column had gone to print. Our columns must be finished by Thursday or Friday for the Sunday edition of the World. The McMahan indictment was handed down Friday afternoon, at least that is when I saw the first story.
Besides, trying to combine the two would have been confusing. It also would have made the column longer, which my editors would not have embraced.
Our editorial board did write an editorial for Tuesday’s Tulsa World urging McMahan to step aside until the issue has been decided.
If, indeed, McMahan happens to be found guilty of any wrongdoing, and he remains innocent until proven otherwise, then we certainly will have something further to say.
Cargill and his buddies, while not breaking any specific laws, simply showed terrible judgment on taking the trip to Dallas for a Mike Huckabee fundraiser.
All this brings us to the ongoing charge that the Tulsa World editorial staff is nothing but a bunch of liberals towing the party line.
Party affiliation aside, the Tulsa World’s editorial boards, and I have been a member of this one for almost 23 years, have bashed Republicans and Democrats alike. Anyone remember the David Walters scandal? Or David Hall? Or Bill Clinton?
The fact is, the Tulsa World has endorsed every Republican candidate for president since FDR, in his first or second term. We have supported Republicans and Democrats for city, county and state offices.
It’s easy to label us as liberals or even conservatives (yes, we do get that label on occasion). But if you read the record, we remain editorially pretty much middle of the road.
You couldn’t prove that by some of the phone messages I receive. They pretty much have their minds made up. Of course, most of them call and leave the messages when they know I won’t be here, like on Sunday morning.
Do we try to stimulate the readers? Of course. Different views on any subject can’t hurt. We don’t expect everybody to agree with us all the time. And maybe some of our views do seem liberal to some. Views such as raising enough tax money to keep the school doors open or making sure that all pregnant women have access to pre-natal health care.
I don’t mind disagreements. I even relish most of them. I just don’t like being accused of something of which I am not.
I have plenty of shortcomings. Shying away from an argument is not one. All I ask for is an open mind and the willingness to listen. Oh, and a little civility.
