The Norman Transcript

Editorials

March 18, 2010

Oh, those joking freshmen

Norman — State Rep. Lewis Moore, a Republican lawmaker from Arcadia, thought it would be funny to swap the portraits of President Barack Obama and Gov. Brad Henry that hang in the House chamber.

Mr. Moore owned up to the prank this week. He told reporters he did it to bring a little “levity” to an otherwise very contentious day. He also did it because he opposes the President’s push to reform the nation’s system of insured health care.

We don’t find much levity in his action. Health care reform is a national issue, one that we hope our elected leaders in Washington will vote on soon. If Mr. Moore wants to speak out against it, that’s his right. But to move official portraits as a form of protest is disrespectful to both offices. Voters in Arcadia should remember the freshman’s prank when they go to the polling places this summer.

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