By M. Scott Carter
At first, 29-year-old Laura Clarbour wasn't really interested in politics.
Clarbour, a graphic designer from Moore, said she didn't really pay much attention to politics -- at first.
"I grew up in a Ronald Reagan house all the way," she said. "I remember him, I was very young, maybe fifth grade."
This year, things changed.
Clarbour developed a newfound interest in the political process and, as a result, the Republican Party.
"When I started paying attention, I learned about Ron Paul and I thought, 'This is our guy.' So I went and registered as a Republican."
That was in February.
Today, Clarbour -- and about 130 or so other Oklahomans -- are on their way to Minnesota for the 2008 Republican National Convention. "I joined the party, decided to become a precinct chair, then went through a district level," she said.
This week, Clarbour will attend her first national convention as an alternate. She'll be there along with three other Cleveland County residents --?David Weston from Lexington, Bobby Cleveland from Slaughterville and Carissa Darling from Moore.
And Clarbour plans to enjoy herself.
"I want to go and have a great time," she said. "Ron Paul is having a Campaign for Liberty rally and I'm really looking forward to hearing Barry Goldwater Jr. speak."
In addition, Clarbour said she would be attending the GOP's political training school, and attending various seminars and caucus meetings. "I'm really looking forward to making contacts and building bridges," she said.
For David Weston, the weekend trip to Minnesota also represents his first political convention. But unlike Clarbour, it's not Weston's first venture into the political arena.
"I've worked for the state party in the past," he said. "And I'm looking forward to renewing acquaintances and the opportunity to network."
Additionally, Weston said he hoped the convention would "renew interest" in fiscal conservatism.
"To me, it's very obvious that we are a very dangerous situation fiscally. I hope that with Senator Coburn speaking, people will listen and we can begin to erase our deficit. I'm worried about our children's future."
But monetary policy and campaign rallies aren't Weston's and Clarbour's only reasons for making the 800-plus mile trip.
With presumptive presidential candidate John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as a running mate drawing headlines across the country, Weston says Palin "will energize the party's base."
"I think she's been an exceptional governor," he said. "She's a very strong fiscal conservative and she also gives credence to the fact the Republican party was on the forefront of suffrage."
It's very appropriate, he said, that the GOP have a vice-presidential candidate who is female.
With four Oklahoma speakers, the convention is also a chance for Oklahoma to display its political clout. This week party officials announced that Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole, U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and Fifth District Congresswoman Mary Fallin will speak at the convention.
And that, state party chairman Gary Jones said, is a major accomplishment for Sooner State conservatives.
Minneapolis, Jones said, is generating "a great deal of excitement" because of its Oklahoma connection.
"We're seeing a lot of excitement," he said. "We're seeing large numbers of Oklahomans coming. And we're polling the highest margin for John McCain in any state in the nation."
The Okies are popular, Jones said, because "of the particular message they're bringing and their common sense approach to government."
Still, like the Democrats, Republicans, too, have to unite the supporters of those candidates who didn't make the primary's final cut.
"I don't think it's going to be anything that's disrupting," Jones said. "There will be a number of Ron Paul delegates there. But that's one of those things that happens at the precinct meetings and the district conventions. If you get organized -- and they were organized and very efficient -- then you send delegates."
Clarbour agreed.
"I don't think there will be problems," she said. "Congressman Paul asked us not to make any waves at the convention. But some of us delegates are such fanatics, so we're kinda laying the groundwork for the next four years."
And Clarbour said she didn't mind waiting.
"They might think that we'll be going away, but we won't," she said.
The 2008 Republican National Convention opens Monday and continues through Thursday evening.
M. Scott Carter 366-3545 scarter@normantranscript.com
