Tulsa World: Inhofe on attack again in Senate race, Rice disputes claims

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Inhofe on attack again in Senate race, Rice disputes claims

Jim Inhofe

By The Associated Press
Published: 9/17/2008 8:14 PM
Last Modified: 9/17/2008 8:27 PM

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Democrat Andrew Rice has a divinity degree and has worked as a missionary, but he is being called to account over social values in his Senate race against Republican incumbent Jim Inhofe, who is known for tough campaign tactics.

An Inhofe ad being carried on Oklahoma television stations contains anti-gay overtones, showing a wedding cake topped by two plastic grooms and a photo of Rice as a young man, curly haired and wearing a leather jacket.

Rice has responded with a commercial saying the attacks are "not true" and an indication Inhofe will do anything to keep his job, while avoiding talking about such issues as energy and the economy.

"He's trying to morph me into something I'm not. What he's doing is attacking my character," Rice said Wednesday of the ad, which calls Rice "too liberal for Oklahoma."

Inhofe said the ad is accurate. He pointed to news stories that Rice, before he became a state senator in 2006, founded a group that opposed a constitutional amendment to bar same-sex marriages.

Painting foes as liberals is nothing new for Inhofe, who takes credit for being the "most conservative member of the Senate."

Inhofe was elected to the Senate in 1994 after a nasty campaign in which a man wearing a Pinocchio mask was hired to heckle Inhofe's Democratic foe, ex-Congressman Dave McCurdy, at public events.

That year gave birth to a "God, Guns and Gays" strategy benefiting the senator, who supported school prayer, opposed gun control and gays in the military.

Inhofe, in a telephone interview from Washington, recalled that 14 years ago he was told by a small group in Hugo that he would carry McCurtain County, a Democratic stronghold in southeastern Oklahoma.

He said he asked the Hugo residents why he would win, "and they said because of the three G's. They're the ones who came up with that and it became almost a chant out there."

Rice has trailed Inhofe in recent public polls by more than 20 percentage points, but he said internal polling shows the race much closer.

"I feel we have a very good chance of pulling this out by Nov. 4," said the 35-year-old senator, who is married to an Oklahoma City doctor. They have two children.

So far, Rice has raised only about $2 million, compared to $6 million collected by Inhofe, who has bought television advertising time through election day.

Inhofe said his reputation as a negative campaigner is undeserved, but he also believes it is vital to define your opponent, especially one who is not well known at the start of a race.

Keith Gaddie, University of Oklahoma political professor, said the Rice camp is trying to turn the tables by saying Inhofe's ad "represents the old way of doing things, where all you do is slash and attack your opponent."

Gaddie said the Inhofe commercial is a "rather witty and swiping cut" at Rice, but it's timing is curious.

"There's an old saying that if you have a good October ad, you don't run it in September," he said. "So you have to wonder what's next?"

Rice said the negative ads against him show he is doing better in the race than some think.

Inhofe said he is not taking any chances. He said he is not worried about Rice, but is concerned he will be attacked by "the Hollywood crowd" for his views, including his stand that global warming is a hoax.

Rice planned a series of press events this week to highlight his energy ideas. He has repeatedly referred to Inhofe as an extreme partisan who has voted against legislation for tax credits for wind power and other alternative energy programs.

He said Inhofe should support a bipartisan energy plan pending in the Senate that is pushed by 10 Republicans and 10 Democrats, labeled "the Gang of 20."

"If I were in the Senate, it would be the Gang of 21," Rice said. He said the plan, which allows for some offshore drilling, is a compromise that would get the nation rolling toward energy independence.

Inhofe said he would not vote for the plan, which he criticized for not permitting drilling in an Alaska wildlife refuge.

He said five of his "best friends" had caved on the GOP idea of more expansive drilling. Inhofe has said the public's demand for more drilling has given Republicans a winning issue on the campaign trail. By The Associated Press

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	Report Comment Lawrence, Tulsa (9/17/2008 8:25:45 PM) Inhofe is a loser
	Report Comment James, Weatherford, Weatherford (9/17/2008 8:36:45 PM) The article describes "Jim Inhofe, who is known for tough campaign tactics. " In reality, Jim Inhofe is known for lying for his oil industry pimps and for lying to get re-elected.
	Report Comment getreal, (9/17/2008 8:47:20 PM) Dear Sen. Inhofe; Iraq Iran Wall Street Honesty Russia The federal deficit Joblessness Talk these issues! It is what matters.
	Report Comment Eagle 4, Tulsa (9/17/2008 9:31:35 PM) Jim Inhofe does not have a conscience nor morals of any merit. Many years ago I was put into a position where I was able to observe Jim for about a week and I decided from that experience that I would never vote for him. He is a cold, ruthless, extremely selfish man. Be ready, Andrew Rice, for the most vicious attacks you can imagine and then prepare for worse. Jim Inhofe makes a pit bull look like a teacup chihuahua!
	Report Comment Tulsonian, (9/17/2008 10:36:48 PM) What a piece of scum. What is Jim afraid of??? Could it be his record??? Or lack of one. When you are less popular than Randi Miller you lie and portray your opponent as a homosexual. I saw his campaign ad that shows that picture of Andrew. First thing that came into my mind was Jimmy boy is in fear for his political life. I am getting sick and tried of this politicians who act like they are good christian men, then lie out of both sides of their mouth to get elected. Someone please send Jimmy a copy of the 10 commandments it specifically forbids false witness and misrepresenting the truth. Jim Inhofe needs to get down on his knees and beg Jesus for forgiveness for his trespasses.
	Report Comment Okie1948, Tulsa (9/17/2008 10:50:18 PM) Inhofe 56% Rice 31% A lead of 25%. Poll taken September 14, 2008. Jim Inhofe, like most Oklahomans, loves America and espects the Constitution. He's a conservative that fights for freedom, opportunity, prosperity and a civil society. Rice = Obama = LOSER McCain-Palin will win 60% or more in Oklahoma and carry all 77 counties.
	Report Comment James, Weatherford, Weatherford (9/17/2008 11:06:33 PM) Okie1948, please help me understand your claims: What freedom has Jim Inhofe fought for? He has fought AGAINST equal rights for gay Americans. He has fought AGAINST the freedom of choice for women. He has fought AGAINST equal pay for equal work. I will grant you that he has worked hard for the freedom of terrorists to purchase .50 caliber sniper rifles in America (thanks, Jim!) In what way does Inhofe, who voted NOT to ban torture, respect the Constitution? How does Inhofe, who wants to make mandatory prayer in schools the law of the land, respect the Constitution? How does Inhofe, who votes consistently to continue a pointless war that enriches his wealthiest contributors but has killed over 4,000 of Americas finest, love America? In what way is Inhofe, who has voted 100% with "borrow and spend" W, and refuses to consider conservation of natural resources, a conservative? In what way does someone who pays for and airs misleading and outrageous campaign ads that appeal to the basest instincts of the reddest of rednecks, work for a civil society? Is this opposite day or do you just have your head in the sand? Inhofe, whether or not he gets what he deserves in this election, is a loser. He has a place waiting for him in Hell, along with Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, etc.
	Report Comment Tulsonian, (9/17/2008 11:09:46 PM) If it's a sure thing like "Iraq is going to be a cake walk" then why the desperate attack ads. Isn't it a better choice to just sit back and basque in your awesomeness and keep that big oil money for yourself? There are all kind of things that effect the outcome of a poll. Jimmy boy realizes this. I think his internal polling might be revealing a different outcome.
	Report Comment Okie1948, Tulsa (9/18/2008 5:34:25 PM) Liberalism is a form of mental illness. Your comments just verify that this statement is true.
	Report Comment redbeard, Stillwater, Stillwater (9/19/2008 3:01:42 PM) Inhofe voted against legislation for tax credits for wind power and other alternative energy programs. That right there is a good reason to vote against him. Do you like $4 dollar per gallon gas? The oil companies sure do and they are supporting Inhofe.
	Report Comment redbeard, Stillwater, Stillwater (9/19/2008 3:23:09 PM) Inhofe's biggest donors Koch Industries $24,200 National Rural Electric Cooperative Assn $22,000 Murray Energy $19,400 Contran Corp $17,500 Devon Energy $16,700 A little summary of Koch Industries from SourceWatch dot com, a non -profit watchdog organization. Koch Industries is also a major polluter. During the 1990s, its faulty pipelines were responsible for more than 300 oil spills in five states, prompting a landmark penalty of $35 million from the Environmental Protection Agency. In Minnesota, it was fined an additional $8 million for discharging oil into streams. During the months leading up to the 2000 presidential elections, the company faced even more liability, in the form of a 97-count federal indictment charging it with concealing illegal releases of 91 metric tons of benzene, a known carcinogen, from its refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas. If convicted, the company faced fines of up to $352 million, plus possible jail time for company executives. After George W. Bush became president, however, the U.S. Justice Department dropped 88 of the charges. Two days before the trial, John Ashcroft settled for a plea bargain, in which Koch pled guilty to falsifying documents. All major charges were dropped, and Koch and Ashcroft settled the lawsuit for a fraction of that amount. Koch had contributed $800,000 to the Bush election campaign and other Republican candidates. Alex Beehler, assistant deputy under secretary of defense for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health, previously served at Koch as director of environmental and regulatory affairs and concurrently served at the Charles G. Koch Foundation as vice president for environmental projects. [4] Beehler was later nominated and re-nominated by the Bush White House, to become the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Inspector General. [5] Elizabeth Stolpe, previously in-house lobbyist for Koch Industries, is now Associate Director For Toxics & Environmental Protection at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. No wonder he's considered one of the worst Senators. Inhofe is a career politician (since '68, 40 years) that is owned by some of the biggest polluters in the nation. Is this who we want representing Oklahoma in the Senate?
	Report Comment James, Weatherford, Weatherford (9/19/2008 11:48:19 PM) Okie1948, Thanks for your logical response -- you added so much to the conversation. I am so swayed by your uber-intellectual name-calling that I just might vote for Inhofe. And I might walk on the ceiling after that... But seriously, why don't you answer my questions? Or do you have anything other than calling names?

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