OKC Metro Area Progressives
About the Author
Hurray! There's finally a place for liberal, progressive, and "Radical Middle" folks in the Oklahoma City area, including all the communities nearby. From Guthrie to Norman, and from El Reno to Shawnee, we want to see you here. It's time to gather together and change our state, our party, and our country.

GARNER - About 10 years ago, I interviewed a Southern Baptist seminary-educated minister who was pastor of a Carrboro church. A strong proponent of the Second Amendment, that pastor told me the day might come when American Christians might have to take up arms against the state.His comments, published in The Chapel Hill News, didn't as much as raise an eyebrow at the time. No federal agents asked to listen to the tape recording of my interview with the pastor. Times have changed. Two of the Raleigh U.S. Attorney's claims against alleged terror suspect Daniel Patrick Boyd are that he made "radical statements" and that "he urged the group of young Muslims to raise money and learn how to handle weapons to prepare for a violent jihad by insurgents and fighters overseas." My young children got to know Boyd when he was proprietor of the Blackstone Market, a small grocery store Boyd co-owned and managed in Garner's Forest Hills Shopping Center.

My children said Boyd "was really nice and funny." He gave them discounts when they didn't have enough money to pay for a piece of baklava or a nectar drink. My children were sad when Blackstone closed. The government, however, is painting a very different picture of Boyd, calling him the mastermind of a terrorist cell bent on waging a holy war.   Read More »

Oklahoma Democratic Party, 2009 conventions
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OklahomaDemocrats/message/7853

PRECINCT MEETINGS
March 12, 2009

77 COUNTY CONVENTIONS
April 4, 2009

5 DISTRICT CONVENTIONS
May 2, 2009

STATE CONVENTION
Oklahoma City
May 16, 2009


Mike W
Tulsa+
Who has these dates on his personal calendar

State attorney general asked to protect religious, legal rights

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 12/17/08) A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today called on Georgia Attorney General Thurbert E. Baker to bring sanctions against a judge in that state who has repeatedly barred Muslim women wearing religiously-mandated headscarves, or hijabs, from entering his courtroom.

Yesterday, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reported that a Muslim woman was jailed and then released following a dispute over whether she could enter the judge’s courtroom in Douglasville, Ga., while wearing her hijab. In the past year, other Muslim women have either been jailed under similar circumstances or barred from that judge’s court.   Read More »
Judge jails Muslim woman for refusing to remove her headscarf in court
By DIONNE WALKER
The Associated Press
ATLANTA

http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/wireStory?id=6479903

A Muslim woman arrested for refusing to take off her head scarf at a courthouse security checkpoint said Wednesday that she felt her human and civil rights were violated. A judge ordered Lisa Valentine, 40, to serve 10 days in jail for contempt of court, said police in Douglasville, a city of about 20,000 people on Atlanta's west suburban outskirts.

Valentine violated a court policy that prohibits people from wearing any headgear in court, police said after they arrested her Tuesday.   Read More »
(LOS ANGELES, CA, 12/4/08) Following an action alert sent out yesterday by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Fox television network reported receiving an overwhelming positive response from community members about a recent episode of “The Simpsons” that challenged anti-Muslim stereotypes.

The episode, which aired Sunday evening and is titled "Mypods and Boomsticks," highlights anti-Muslim sentiment by featuring a young Muslim character named Bashir and his family who face prejudice after moving to Springfield. In the program, Homer Simpson wrongly suspects that Bashir's family is involved in a terror plot. Bart Simpson befriends Bashir and defends him from bullies.   Read More »
Muslim civil rights group demands that hostages be ‘released immediately and unconditionally’

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/27/08) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today condemned attacks on a number of sites in the Indian financial capital of Mumbai that left at least 100 people dead and many more injured.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages taken during the attacks. Witnesses say the attackers sought out American and British citizens.   Read More »
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/19/08) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today condemned threatening rhetoric and racial slurs contained in a new video by Ayman al-Zawahri and said Al-Qaida's second-in-command does not speak for Muslims in this country or worldwide.

SEE: Al-Qaida No. 2 Insults Obama with Racial Epithet (AP)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hPtm1yvXGJVcqVpQdQfpQLY8L-cwD94I51J02   Read More »
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/wireStory?id=6261962

From taunts to a beating, Obama election spurs "hundreds" of racist threats, crimes nationwide
By JESSE WASHINGTON
The Associated Press

Cross burnings. Schoolchildren chanting "Assassinate Obama." Black figures hung from nooses. Racial epithets scrawled on homes and cars.

Incidents around the country referring to President-elect Barack Obama are dampening the postelection glow of racial progress and harmony, highlighting the stubborn racism that remains in America.

From California to Maine, police have documented a range of alleged crimes, from vandalism and vague threats to at least one physical attack. Insults and taunts have been delivered by adults, college students and second-graders.   Read More »
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081114/ap_on_el_pr/obama_threats


By EILEEN SULLIVAN, Associated Press Writer Eileen Sullivan, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON " Threats against a new president historically spike right after an election, but from Maine to Idaho law enforcement officials are seeing more against Barack Obama than ever before. The Secret Service would not comment or provide the number of cases they are investigating. But since the Nov. 4 election, law enforcement officials have seen more potentially threatening writings, Internet postings and other activity directed at Obama than has been seen with any past president-elect, said officials aware of the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue of a president's security is so sensitive.

Earlier this week, the Secret Service looked into the case of a sign posted on a tree in Vay, Idaho, with Obama's name and the offer of a "free public hanging." In North Carolina, civil rights officials complained of threatening racist graffiti targeting Obama found in a tunnel near the North Carolina State University campus.

And in a Maine convenience store, an Associated Press reporter saw a sign inviting customers to join a betting pool on when Obama might fall victim to an assassin. The sign solicited $1 entries into "The Osama Obama Shotgun Pool," saying the money would go to the person picking the date closest to when Obama was attacked. "Let's hope we have a winner," said the sign, since taken down.   Read More »

Dean on What's the Matter With Oklahoma, Post-Bush Truth and Reconciliation
by Glenna Goldis
The New York Observer
November 12, 2008
1 hour, 37 minutes ago
[Wed Nov 12, 2008 11:55 pm EST]
http://www.observer.com/2008/dean-whats-matter-oklahoma-post-bush-truth-and-reconciliation
or
http://tinyurl.com/DeanOnOklahoma

“What are we going to do about Oklahoma?" an audience member asked Howard Dean last night at the 92nd Street Y on the Upper East Side.

Actually, Dean explained, Oklahoma is a lot like New York. "But New Yorkers are quicker on their feet about cognitive dissonance."

Everyone picks a candidate according to his or her instincts but coastal types rationalize it better than others. "We're all values voters,” he said. Also, though, "I don't know when we're going to win Oklahoma."

The former Vermont governor, who recently announced he would stepping down as chair of the Democratic National Committee after a second successful election cycle, gave a brief speech and then fielded audience questions read by a moderator.

Most of his remarks addressed strategy, for example advising Democrats to declare their anti-poverty, pro-fairness values proudly. On matters of policy, he did what chairmen do, relentlessly plugging President-elect Barack Obama's plans.

---
complete copyrighted story at link above


If you [or anyone else you know in Oklahoma] is interested in going to Missouri this weekend to volunteer in one of their many Obama HQs, be sure to let them know of the car-pools meeting on Saturday 25-Oct-08 at 7:30 am in Oklahoma City and joining up at 10 am in Tulsa.

FIRED UP, AND READY TO GO TO MISSOURI! (Drive for Change)

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gprct9

Team, I know that some of you would like to travel in carpools to Joplin, Missouri to assist in turning the tide in a very competitive battleground state for Barack Obama. That is why I’m asking you all to please meet-up together in the rear parking lot at the Oklahoma Democratic Headquarters at 4100 N. Lincoln BLVD., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma no later than 7:30AM on Saturday 10/25/2008. I will be there to give you a nice little send off. You should be able to park your vehicles there and proceed in your carpools to Joplin, Missouri. Please make sure the doors of your vehicle are locked and secure. The Oklahoma Democratic Party, entities in residents in the building, or individuals are not responsible for the security of your vehicle. I do know that a group out of Tulsa will be leaving at 10AM. Please refer to the links below, and reserve your time so that we will have a good idea who all will be coming. This is a wonderful time for all of us, and I personally like to thank you all for the time and support that you have put forth on this and all efforts toward getting Barack elected President. I can honestly say that this has become one of the happiest times of my 38 years, and your energy has kept me going. Thank you all for what you do.

GO TO JO' TO DO MO FO' BO #3 (Drive for Change)

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gs5swr

Some Tulsa-area volunteers plan to go to Joplin, Missouri, to campaign in that battle-ground state for Barack Obama [BO]. A car-pool leaves from Oklahoma City about 8 am and joins with us about 10 am on Saturday 25-Oct-08 at the Tulsa County Democratic Party HQ, 3930 East 31st; please park across the street or BEHIND the HQ. Some may return that night and others may stay over-night in free housing provided by the Obama HQ in Joplin and return late on Sunday 26-Oct-08. Tulsa volunteer Jack Francis has offered to drive and even pay for gas and tolls for the first 4 firm over-night volunteers that make commitments to go. Future road trips with the same details will leave Tulsa for Joplin every Saturday until the general election: November 1. This webpage can also be viewed at tinyurl.com/mofobo3

Mike Workman

Tulsa+

Who knows that this road trip is more fun when more make the trip

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081009/ap_on_el_ge/voter_purges

Associated Press


NEW YORK - A newspaper report Thursday said tens of thousands of eligible voters have been removed from rolls or blocked from registering in at least six swing states, but election officials quickly lined up to defend their registration procedures and said they had done nothing wrong.

The New York Times based its findings on reviews of state records and Social Security data, and said it had identified apparent problems in Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Nevada and North Carolina.

The Times said voters appear to have been purged by mistake and not because of any intentional violations by election officials or coordinated efforts by any party. It says that some states are improperly using Social Security data to verify new voters' registration applications, and that others might have broken rules that govern removing voters from the rolls within 90 days of a federal election.   Read More »

SAVE THESE DATES

Oklahoma Democratic Party

PRECINCT MEETINGS
March 12, 2009

COUNTY CONVENTION
April 4, 2009

DISTRICT CONVENTION
May 2, 2009

STATE CONVENTION
Oklahoma City
May 16, 2009
Dr. Khaleel Mohammed: ‘Film demonizes an entire community. I have allowed myself to be used.'

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/27/08) " The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today said that a participant in an anti-Muslim film that is being distributed to 28 million homes in presidential election swing states CALLED the production a “vile piece of propaganda” in a statement sent to www.obsessionwithhate.com/


(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/27/08) " The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today said that a participant in an anti-Muslim film that is being distributed to 28 million homes in presidential election swing states has issued a statement calling the production a “vile piece of propaganda.”   Read More »
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2008/sep/22/uselections2008.republicans
Republican operatives are using an anti-Muslim film and push polling to raise fears of terrorism and smear Barack Obama
Richard Silverstein, Guardian, 9/22/08

We are now entering the closing weeks of what promises to be yet another close and contentious presidential election contest. As each side seeks to maximise its advantages and minimise its weaknesses, the Republican party has chosen the lowest of low roads, engaging in two sleazy political marketing campaigns over the past week.

First, DVDs of an anti-Muslim documentary film are being distributed to 28 million voters in swing states like Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Colorado and Wisconsin. Second, Republican telemarketers have begun push polling aimed at scaring Jewish voters in swing states from voting for Barack Obama…

The mass distribution of Obsession is an obvious Republican scare-tactic, right out of the Rovian playbook. Party operatives believe that scaring Americans into believing there's a jihadist under every bed will play to Republican strengths and Democratic weaknesses on national security. They swiftboated John Kerry in 2004. Now they're jihadising Barack Obama.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=43940
Ali Gharib, Inter Press Service, 9/19/08

WASHINGTON, Sep 19 (IPS) - Millions of voters in U.S. states crucial to this fall's presidential election received DVD copies of a controversial documentary film as advertising inserts in their morning newspapers over the past week, with more expected to be sent out over the upcoming weekend.

The 2006 film, "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West", which has been accused by critics of encouraging Islamophobia, was reportedly delivered, or slated for delivery this weekend, into tens of millions of households in states such as Ohio, Michigan, Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Missouri and other "swing states" that don't vote consistently for either party and usually decide elections.

Republicans and their candidate, Sen. John McCain, have made the battling the threat posed by radical Islamists a central platform of their campaign, while presenting their Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama, as being weak on the issue. Obama has also fought off persistent "smear" campaigns, particularly among Jewish voters, that he is a closet Muslim.   Read More »
By Ahmed Rehab

Word count: 830

[Ahmed Rehab is strategic communications director for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil liberties group. He may be contacted at arehab@cair.com]

You have to wonder about a film that could muster no better an endorsement to adorn its poster than that of CNN’s resident right-wing extremist Glenn Beck. "Obsession is without exaggeration one of the most important films of our time," says Beck. (Who would accuse Glenn Beck of exaggerating?)

The film Beck is lauding, “Obsession: Islam’s Radical War against the West,” is a 2005 work of anti-Muslim propaganda that has recently been widely distributed via an unprecedented campaign.   Read More »
Millions of propaganda DVDs distributed with Florida newspapers promote Islamophobia ahead of US elections.
http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=27925


The mass mailing of a controversial DVD "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" has sparked anger among many in South Florida.

The hour-long video began turning up in mailboxes last week as a direct mailing, and also as an advertising insert in dozens of newspapers, including The Miami Herald and the South-Florida Sun-Sentinel.

The DVD is promoted by Clarion Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to "educating the public about national security threats."   Read More »
Jeff VanDenBerg, News-Leader, 9/17/08

Like other newspapers across the country, this Sunday's News-Leader contained a glossy insert and DVD of the film "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West."

Ordinarily, such a blatant piece of anti-Muslim propaganda wouldn't merit much attention, but this "advertisement" was sent to about 28 million newspaper subscribers in key electoral swing states. It was paid for by The Clarion Fund, an opaque nonprofit organization that doesn't list its directors or staff or sources of funding on its Web site.   Read More »
Agence France Presse, 9/16/08

The mass mailing of a controversial DVD "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West" has sparked anger among South Florida Muslims who say it maligns their faith and fuels hysteria ahead of the fast-approaching US presidential vote.

The hour-long video began turning up in mailboxes last week as a direct mailing, and also as an advertising insert in dozens of newspapers, including The Miami Herald and the South-Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Promoted by Clarion Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to "educating the public about national security threats," it features scenes of young children reciting jihadi slogans, interspersed with footage of Nazi youths.   Read More »
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