Are You Registered as an Independent?

I realize that I may ruffle a few feathers here, but the truth is what the truth is.

I am running for the Republican nomination for US Congress in the 5th Dist of Oklahoma, so lets start there. We will use 2006 as an example because it was the last time the 5th Dist had an open seat in a mid-term election.

The 5th Dist has been represented by a Republican for over 30 years and that is likely to be the case for the foreseeable future. So if we accept that the next representative of the 5th dist is likely to be a Republican then we must also accept that the next representative will be elected in the primary and not the general election.

So who really chooses your elected representative? In 2006 there were only 42,417 votes cast in the Runoff between Mary Fallin and Mick Cornett and only 48,287 votes cast in the Republican Primary. That's right only 25% of registered Republicans even voted to choose your next Representative.

In November 2006, there were 56,059 registered Independents in the 5th dist. Now here I have to make an assumption, but I think it is safe to assume that about 70% of Independents would describe themselves as conservative. So that would be 39,241 conservatives who had no role in electing their representative. If only 25% of Independents had voted in the Republican primary that would be 9,810 votes. That is only 1908 votes less than Mick Cornett received total in the primary and he went to the runoff. If those 9810 votes had gone to any other candidate in the primary (except for one) that candidate would have been in the runoff. And if all of the Independents had rallied behind one candidate there would not have even been a runoff and they would have chosen the next Representative for Oklahoma's 5th Dist. But of course they can not rally behind one candidate because they can not vote in the primary. As a registered Independent your only choice is to confirm the candidate that a few thousand registered Republicans have given you.

I understand what it means to be registered as an Independent and we do it for a multitude of different reasons; "Neither party represents my values", "I don't need anyone to tell me how to think","I am a fiscal conservative and a social liberal" or vice versa. The reasons don't even matter, what matters is that you have been squeezed out by both parties. Even if your vote counts in the general election you are still forced to choose between the lesser of two evils that someone else has given you to choose from. The real choice was made in July by everyone but you.

The time for politics as usual has passed. Our Country is in a desperate situation and She needs the support of enlightened and informed voters. Independently minded candidates can not get elected in this state unless Independently minded voters register to vote in the primary. Whether your vote is for me or another candidate, an informed Independent minded voter is necessary if we truly want to turn this around. Become enlightened, become informed, become a voter.


Here is a link to change your registration. http://www.ok.gov/~elections/vrform.pdf It takes 5 minutes and 44 cents to make a difference.