Norman — Editor, The Transcript:
I saw the Larry Steele article, “Look at the Facts,” in the Feb. 21 Transcript. I try not to miss anything he writes, and certainly appreciate his bringing facts to the unenlightened. He wrote a really long column to tell us how insignificant the number was, of Tea Party people who went to their convention, and how that means they don’t matter. Is that a fact? And if so, why did Mr. Steele spend so much ink on it?
He was amused that their featured speaker spoke from notes written on her hand — would he have been more impressed if Sarah Palin had used a teleprompter? Obama uses a teleprompter any time he speaks, even when he was reading a story to some school kids. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has been seen on the news, speaking using only the notes on her hand. I was impressed by both ladies. And that is a fact.
Did Steele want us to believe that Oklahoma Tea Party people are racists? He wrote, “Why are they appearing just now that we have a black president?…” Has he forgotten the Oklahoma was the first Southern state since the post-Civil War Reconstruction era to elect a black state official? Or did he miss the fact J.C. Watts is black?
Steele notes that Norman schools will be squeezed next year by state budget shortfalls. That’s probably a fact. And he blasted the Republicans in the Oklahoma Legislature. I remember the bigger slashes in funding that Norman and other school systems suffered in the Oil Bust of the 1980s. But I don’t remember Mr. Steele writing Transcript articles blasting the Democrats who held the majority in the Legislature back then. Is that not a fact, Mr. Steele?
But that time passed, and this too shall pass, Larry Steele. Trust that fact. Things do change — just ask the folks in Massachusetts. President Obama recently was asked what grade he would give himself after his first year in office. He said he thought he deserved a B+. In November he will take his mid-term tests, and his Tea Party Sarah Palin Republican lady is betting he won’t get a passing grade. Time will pass, but Obamanomics will not. And yes, that is a fact.
And another thing — Steel calling Republicans “…the party of no”? I have no reason to believe Mr. Steele is not a gentleman, so I would like to remind the gentleman that sometimes “no” is the right answer, even if he wishes the lady would say “yes” or even “maybe.” Like when Congressional Democrats dare to double the debt on our children, and our grandchildren’s credit card to pay for today’s politically expedient programs. This lady says “no” — and that’s a fact.
TAMARA M. HELM
Norman
