Tulsa World: UPDATED: Commissioner to mail out edgy comic book

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UPDATED: Commissioner to mail out edgy comic book

By The Associated Press
Published: 7/17/2008 5:38 AM
Last Modified: 7/17/2008 3:38 PM

Documents: Read the comic book from Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart.

Related Story: IRS seeks contempt ruling against Rinehart

OKLAHOMA CITY — Some Oklahoma County voters can expect to receive comic books in the mail soon, but the subject matter will have a serious tone.

The 16-page publication prepared by Commissioner Brent Rinehart's re-election campaign lampoons gays and criticizes Rinehart's political opponents. It also features an angel who supports the embattled commissioner and Satan, who supports his critics.

"It's more or less a story of my experiences of the last four years of being the county commissioner of District 2," Rinehart told The Oklahoman, which obtained the comic on Wednesday.

Toga-wearing gays, political figures, trench coat-clad henchmen, concerned residents and Rinehart make up the rest of the comic's characters.

In one sequence, Satan says: "If I can get the kids to believe homosexuality is normal!"

The angel replies: "Hey Satan, not with Brent around you won't!"

Among those targeted by the comic are Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson and Sheriff John Whetsel.

Edmondson filed felony

campaign finance charges against Rinehart last year, alleging Rinehart and his former campaign manager illegally funded his 2004 campaign for county commissioner. A trial has been scheduled for September.

"A drowning man tends to thrash about," Edmondson said through a spokesman. "Nothing Rinehart says is worthy of comment or rebuttal."

Whetsel called the book "extremely pathetic and very bigoted.

"I was taken back that in 2008, a candidate would use that type of inflammatory material and do it under the name of being a Christian."

Whetsel is depicted on two pages. In one, a sequence alleging jailer abuse of inmates at the county jail is followed by Whetsel demanding taxpayer money so he can buy "more, more and more toys!"

Keith Gaddie, a University of Oklahoma political science professor, called the book "one of the strangest things" he'd ever seen.

"I've never seen a comic book with the phrase 'anal sodomy' in it before. That was a new one for me."

Gaddie said comics were common political campaign tools decades ago, but not today. "He's pretty much grinding every ax he's got from his days in the county commission," Gaddie said. "In a way, it's a sophisticated piece."

The strip, which Rinehart said took him two months to write, opens with a proclamation that Rinehart is a Republican and Christian who stands up to "liberal good ol' boys" at the county courthouse.

"I do not know who the good ol' boys at the courthouse are," said County Assessor Leonard Sullivan, a Republican who has had public disagreements with Rinehart.

"I've really encouraged him on more than one occasion to get professional help. He really needs it," said Sullivan, who is not depicted in the comic.

In a scene from the book, five gay men hold up signs, one of which says "Jim Roth is our leader."

Roth, who is gay, served with Rinehart as a commissioner and the two men often disagreed.

"It's typical Brent Rinehart subterfuge to distract from his bad job performance and likely criminal misdeeds," Roth, now a Corporation Commission member, said. By The Associated Press

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	Report Comment Brad, Tulsa (7/17/2008 6:27:23 AM) It looks like Oklahoma will be in the news again...!! I guess if the adage: "Any publicity is good publicity" holds, that's what he's going for. Between him & Sally Kern - can you imagine how people view our state?? What another embarrasement.
	Report Comment TulsaKid, (7/17/2008 6:59:55 AM) I hope I get one in the mail so I can mail it back to him. How disgusting.
	Report Comment big empty, (7/17/2008 7:19:57 AM) Apparently the Lord of Flies speaks in sentence fragments.
	Report Comment jhill, Tulsa (7/17/2008 7:26:20 AM) These comics are certain to become collectors' items — for both sides!
	Report Comment Brad, Tulsa (7/17/2008 7:45:54 AM) Justin: "our brave politician's stands for morality and ethics"... What part of "felony campaign finance charges " is congruant with your "Morality and ethics"??
	Report Comment Windwalker, (7/17/2008 8:38:15 AM) Morons............
	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (7/17/2008 8:42:42 AM) Will someone PLEASE post this comic online somewhere? Since the whole country is going to be laughing at Oklahoma again, let's REALLY give 'em something to laugh about. Does anyone know where I can get a paper copy?
	Report Comment Daddo, (7/17/2008 9:45:20 AM) Justin--"Being against bad behavior is not bigotry, ignorance, discrimination, or prejudice." Homosexuality isn't bad, or behavior. This dispicable, hateful comic IS based in bigotry, ignorance, discrimination, and prejudice. And the idea that God supports his hate and homophobia is a blasphemous lie. Every Christian should be outraged at this disgusting attempt to exploit the Lord and Savior for political gain, especially a political agenda of hate and discrimination like this. "Only Kool Aid drinking," That's a laugh. This guy is believing PROVEN lies. It has been PROVEN that homosexuality is perfectly normal, yet he not only says otherwise but sacreligiously pretends that God agrees with his false belief. Kool-aid drinking? No, that would describe those on the radical right who ignore the mountain of proof that their homophobia is based in lie after lie after lie. "amoral," There's nothing moral about bigotry and discrimination, and the blasphemous lie that God supports them couldn't possibly be MORE immoral. Being gay isn't immoral at all, and supporting justice is not only not immoral, it's demanded of Christians. "liberal" Oh, you LOVE slinging that word around, don't you. Trouble is, this isn't a liberal or conservative issue. There is scientific PROOF that sexual orientation is not chosen and cannot be changed. "wackos" Belief in equality and justice makes one a "wacko"? I suppose our founders who fought and in some cases died for those very principles are also "wacko"? "view us negatively in light of our brave politicians' stands for morality and ethics." Lie. There is nothing brave about hate, and there is nothing moral or ethical about bigotry.
	Report Comment Bluebird48, Sand Springs (7/17/2008 10:41:58 AM) It's no wonder I get bashed over and over again by my 'yankee' friends and relatives. Why the heck does Oklahoma keep these ignorant politicians is beyond stupidity??? They just add more fuel to the 'billy bob redneck' mentality. We should invest in a Billboard...Majority of Oklahomas Welcome ALL People!!! People who are RACISTS or BIGOTED or enjoy those the lifestyle of being racism or bigotry go to these COUNTIES Listed....
	Report Comment coogie, (7/17/2008 10:46:53 AM) I'm afraid Oklahoma just rose a few notches on the national laugh meter. Might as well have been coburn.
	Report Comment CG, (7/17/2008 12:32:29 PM) I think the TW mislabelled the headline. An "edgy" comic book in OK would be accepting of gays, this appears to be a very "nostalgic" comic book. Mr. Rinehart really missed an oppurtunity to prey on his intended constituent's racist leanings too. It is very encouraging though the number of Oklahoma officials who've already condemned this. Thank God that this kind of blasphemy is becoming less and less acceptable by our politicians.
	Report Comment GE 918, Tulsa (7/17/2008 2:45:30 PM) Here we go again. Another embarrassing statement.
	Report Comment Brainiac, (7/17/2008 3:45:58 PM) The book is Quality work. Looks like a 6th grader made it. I guess he couldn't get any real artists to return his phone calls.
	Report Comment GeneTulsa, Aubrey (7/17/2008 3:51:02 PM) vote for hillary.................
	Report Comment The Good Doctor, (7/17/2008 4:01:44 PM) That comic book is funnier than any of the daily comics that run in the Scene section. The poor artwork, the thinly-veiled ignorance and bigotry, the grammatical and spelling errors, lame Christian wholesomeness... Thank you, Rinehart. You made me laugh Dr. Pepper out of my nose.
	Report Comment fwjen, Sand Springs (7/17/2008 4:06:41 PM) I actually feel sorry for him, do you think he knows how simple and nonprofessional this looks?
	Report Comment :), (7/17/2008 4:23:05 PM) Brainiac, you'll find a lot of homosexuals, lefties and open-minded people in the art community. I'm sure that's the reason Rinehart couldn't find anyone with talent to illustrate this piece of landfill. I'm sure with this attitude, Shane Suiters' future in the art world will be short.
	Report Comment Fruits&Nuts, (7/17/2008 4:32:15 PM) You are correct bugsgirl. Channel 8 reads the AP wire and leave it at that because they can't do more.
	Report Comment Joshua, (7/17/2008 4:32:50 PM) I want one. . .
	Report Comment :), (7/17/2008 4:39:34 PM) Joshua, download the PDF from the link at the top of this page.
	Report Comment Joshua, (7/17/2008 4:46:43 PM) I don't even know what to say, I was hoping it would at least be humorous but it's too far out to even be that. I'm dumber for having read it.
	Report Comment Stephanie, Tulsa (7/17/2008 4:51:49 PM) Seriously, he is accused of abusing his position, is facing trial and here he goes again to show how he spends his time in office, drawing homophobic cartoons.. doesn't he bear any responsibility to his constituency? shouldn't he be working to better the life of people across his county? This is just sad and a slap in the face of all those who he serves. What is worst is that I feel sorry for him, because at the end of the day it is clear he is frustrated from an unhappy life as a closet case.
	Report Comment QLC, (7/17/2008 4:58:30 PM) I was trying to figure out how this guy ever got elected. But then i remembered Tulsa's county commissioners. I bet even Sally Kern moves away from this guy.
	Report Comment Mark from NYC, (7/17/2008 5:01:41 PM) Hello Oklahoma and greetings from the Big Apple. As a couple of people commented, indeed this is an embarrassment to your community. But we are also accustomed to the whitewash job we get from those who have never visited New York City or lived here. So don't let it get under your skin, there are whack jobs living in every community throughout the country. RE: Cory M.... I too live in the REAL world with 8.6 million others within the five boroughs (14.4 MM in the metro area). And like the majority of my fellow New Yorkers. I do see homosexuality as normal as heterosexuality, which wasn't always the case. But after living in a city that formally recognizes 160 plus different languages and hundreds of different cultures, one quickly learns that as long as a person has decent ethics, morals, and a basic sense of community; we are all equal. Come up and see for yourself. Then you can talk about the real world my friend.
	Report Comment Misinformation=Panic, (7/17/2008 5:26:42 PM) Just out of curiosity - where did the funding come for this stunt?

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