Carson Clothespin

Another OK Blogger Dons the Clothespin

David Rain already decided to hold his nose when he got our message. He tells the story on his Make me one with everything blog.

I called Brad Carson's campaign office a few weeks ago and told them I was going to hold my nose and vote for Mr. Carson for the U.S. Senate despite my strong disagreement with most of his policies and actions in Congress.

Yesterday I learned there's an actual campaign underway encouraging all of us progressive and liberal Oklahoma voters who believe in the principles espoused by the Democratic Party to let Mr. Carson know just that: that while we disagree with most of most of his votes and policies in the House of Representives, we want a Democrat from Oklahoma in the Senate and our "swing votes" can make the difference in whether he wins or loses the race.

Clothespin Comments on KOS

Now we're starting to get hits from this post on Daily KOS: OK-Sen: Brad Carson campaign stop in El Reno

I had no idea about this group - excellent link. If nothing else, it's great to know that there are more than 6 progressives here in OK :) I've bookmarked the link and will peruse it in depth. But at first glance, even the tag line is fantastic... "Hold your nose and be counted"

Two More Progressive Sites

We're getting links from OkiePundit and the new Scissortail Café online community site.

OkiePundit is a long-standing progressive blog hosted by Alfalfa Bill. I'm glad to find it again (it had fallen off my radar) and add it to our "Where to find OK Progressives" list (see right margin of this page). Scissortail is not a blog, but an interactive site. If you're a progressive, you'll want to go there and check the online event calendar and list of websites -- or maybe add your own entry.

More Virtual Press

Life and Deatherage comments on a recent online editorial suggesting OK gays withold their vote:

If Oklahoma gay people deny Carson their votes, they don't win. Coburn wins, and then gay people lose. Coburn has said that the "gay agenda," as he calls it, "is the greatest threat to our freedom that we face today." He is against AIDS prevention for anyone who has sex outside of opposite-sex marriage, he is against all laws and rules that prohibit discriminating against gay people simply because they are gay, and if he favors the death penalty for abortion providers, you can just imagine what kind of anti-gay laws he'd pass if he thought he could.

Whee! This is getting to be FUN!

The message string on the Puckin' Refublican site is getting lively. Watch Marty take it to them! Only I really have to start work now. Fun is fun, but blogging don't pay the bills.

Another LiveJournal Link

I met Ethan last night at the Poeformance, and he asked me about the Clothespin Campaign. He must have posted when he got home, because I am already getting hits from the link he provided at his orgdotcom LiveJournal site. He's one of the many young, thoughtful people who are going to turn out on Nov 2 and turn the polls on their heads. People who don't get included in the "likely voter" category because they 1) Haven't voted in the previous "X" election cycles and 2) Will never get called by a polling company because their phones are in their pockets and not on any directory listing. Even without these undercounts, John Kerry (and Brad Carson, God bless him!) are leading in the polls.

Right On Carson

Now the Republicans are getting in the game. I found this link on the OKGOPChat discussion site.

Here's a funny website--about how a lot of D's have to hold their nose to vote for Carson! My advice to them? Don't bother!

http://martinjensen.typepad.com/clothespin/

This gave me an opportunity to give my campaign pitch (click below). Can my Clothespin Brigade forgive me for registering as a Republican chatter?

Badly Drawn Blog

The Class Warfare Guy gave us a postlette. Go see his site, or better yet, meet him at The Cains. (Okay, we made him laugh, but was he holding his nose?)

Okie Doke Covers the Nose

Just posted on Okiedoke's blog:

Okies, clothespins, and the senate race Oklahomans agree - this Senate election stinks. When it comes to Brad Carson and Tom Coburn, many voters are holding their nose while marking their ballot for one of these guys. And still others are considering Sheila Bilyeu (hits to the Okiedoke interview with her have increased dramatically). This Okie decided to brave the stench and vote for Carson. But he wants something in return.

First Press Coverage

From Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights' eNEWS :

INNOVATION IN POLITICAL POWER BROKERING
I received a most interesting email today from one of those progressive bloggers who have been speaking out on the Oklahoma anti-gay marriage amendment, among other things. He's got a pretty interesting idea. This guy's a Democrat who is disgusted with Brad Carson. His initial salvo reported something that none of the news outlets did: "[Carson's] operatives placed anti-gay campaign flyers at a 'Pro-Marriage' rally sponsored by the Religious Right." Disgusted or not, the guy says he's figured out a way to vote for Carson and then twist some power out of Brad should he win the election. The blog has already got some of the state's more visible progressives pushing the idea. Calling his ambitious plan "Clothespins for Carson" he intends to deliver the election to Brad Carson, but at a price. Voters hold their noses while voting for Carson, and join a "Clothespins for Carson" list. Carson and his party will get the loud and clear message that if they want future support in the next squeek-by election, they're going to have to deal gays and progressives in. It's an interesting twist on power-snatching by a gay voting block. Here's how his idea works: http://martinjensen.typepad.com/clothespin/
[Disclaimer: As you know, we don't allow TOHR to become embroiled in politics---not entirely because we don't want to, but because it would be a flat violation of the tax code. I hope you'll agree that the eNEWS has been equally demanding of the candidates of all political parties. By way of balance, I should let you know that those incorrigible Bush-bashers, the Log Cabin Republicans, just had an organizational meeting at our Tulsa GLBT Community Center. Regardless what your political orientation may be, TOHR supports your right to live it out loud!]

The same issue linked to a poll that shows Carson with a margin-of-error+sliver lead. How many progressives do you think are on the Coburn side of that equation?

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