NORMAN — While several expressed hope that presidential candidates would heed the advice of a bipartisan panel and state their positions more clearly, a former independent candidate for Oklahoma lieutenant governor called Monday's event a waste of time.
"It was all a bunch of liberals, there wasn't a single conservative who was invited to participate,” said E.Z. Million of Norman. "It was just another political act by Boren.”
Million, a frequent critic of University of Oklahoma President David Boren, said voters don't need a group of current and former politicians to tell them how to vote, as evidenced during last week's Iowa caucuses when the presidential candidates who talked the most about change and idealism won their races.
Another former independent candidate in the audience, however, said something must be done to bring presidential candidates in touch with American voters.
"My message to independents is how bad does it have to get before you're going to stop putting them into office and give somebody else a chance,” said Dean Barkley, who was appointed in 2002 by then-Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, an independent, to fill 62 days remaining in the term of U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, a Democrat who was killed in an airplane crash.
"Politics has become a blood sport ... getting into power and doing nothing once you're there, and once you're out of power trying to prevent them from doing anything to make them look good,” he said. "It's turned into a game. And the people that suffer are the people in the center, and when are they going to have enough?”
Ivan Holmes, chairman of the state Democratic Party, said he believes the two-party political system works well, but concedes there are times when partisanship interferes with what's best for the country.
"We've not focused like we should have, both the Democrats and the Republicans,” he said. "I'm for any type of a move that discusses politics and the issues.”
An overflow crowd of more than 1,000 attended the session on the OU campus. The Catlett Music Center, which can accommodate 1,040, was considered full a few minutes before the forum's start.
Those who were still wanting to get in to the event were told to go across the street to an overflow area in the Rupel Jones Theatre.
Two fathers protest war
Those going to the forum who walked past Boyd and Elm passed by about 20 war protesters, several of whom held up signs opposing U.S. military action in Iraq.
Among them were two Oklahoma fathers whose sons were killed in Iraq.
Warren Henthorn of Choctaw and John Scripsick of Wayne each held a flag that read, "Lest they be forgotten.”
"Most people have kind of forgotten about the war,” said Scripsick, whose son, Bryan, was killed in September.
It's frustrating, he said, that presidential candidates have talked less in recent weeks about the war.
Henthorn, whose son, Jeffrey, was killed in 2005, said no end appears in sight for the war.
"We're approaching the five-year anniversary and we're still losing our troops over there,” he said.
Several politicians attended the forum, including Rep. Scott Martin, R-Norman.
"The national election's on everybody's mind, but for me, being a state representative, I'm concerned about our upcoming election and more importantly can we as a state rise above the partisanship ... to really do good work for the citizens of Oklahoma,” he said. "I think we can rise above the partisan bickering that goes on so much.”
ALSO AT THE FORUM
Joking aside ...
Joking aside ...
Football was a popular subject during the forum, as it was brought up four times during the hourlong event. It was expected with OU, a Big 12 football powerhouse, hosting the session that included politicians from conference rivals Texas and Nebraska.
University of Oklahoma President David Boren started the football comments by apologizing during his opening remarks that U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., was listed originally as being from Iowa.
The senator rose from his seat and joked, "I'm leaving.”
Former Texas Gov. Mark White said he reminded Boren that he went to Baylor University.
"We've never done a thing to hurt OU,” White said. "We don't come to Norman looking for linebackers; Baylor University comes to Norman looking for mercy.”
New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg noted OU never tried to schedule a football game with St. John's University, Fordham University, New York University or Columbia University.
"Maybe the New York teams are just too tough,” he said, as laughter turned to groans.
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