Political Pulse

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL (AP) - John McCain’s V.P. pick is energizing
conservative religious leaders who worried the Arizona senator
would choose an abortion rights supporter.
Focus on the Family founder James Dobson calls Alaska Governor
Sarah Palin (PAY’-lin) “an outstanding choice.” Dobson has said
in the past he couldn’t vote for McCain, but now says her selection
should be “extremely reassuring to the conservative base.” Palin
calls herself “as pro-life as any candidate can be.”
Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention, based in
Tennessee, says Palin is “straight out of veep central casting.”
As a politician, Palin has sided with the majority evangelical
view in opposing gay marriage and has expressed a desire to see
creationism discussed alongside evolution in schools.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Rocker Don Henley will perform a fundraising
concert for U.S. Senate candidate Andrew Rice the night before the
Eagles play in Tulsa.
Rice’s campaign says Henley will play at Cain’s Ballroom in
Tulsa on Sept. 5. The following night, the Eagles are scheduled to
be the first act to perform at the city’s new BOK Center.
Tickets to Henley’s concert will cost $250, $500, $1,000 and
$2,300 in contributions to Rice’s campaign and can be obtained from
Rice’s campaign office in Oklahoma City.
Rice is a Democrat who is trying to unseat incumbent Republican
Sen. Jim Inhofe in November’s election.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma Republicans said they were both
surprised and pleased by presumptive presidential nominee John
McCain’s choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.
McCain, a 72-year-old U.S. senator from Arizona, yesterday made
the 44-year-old Palin, the GOP’s first female vice presidential
nominee.
Palin is the only person on the ticket of either major party to
have executive experience, having served as a governor and the
mayor of her hometown of Wasilla, Alaska.
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett says he wasn’t expecting McCain
to choose a former mayor. He says McCain is trying to reach out to
both supporters of former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary
Clinton and to conservatives.
State GOP Vice Chairman Cheryl Williams also praised McCain’s
choice, calling Palin young, vibrant and conservative.
Williams says Palin also will be the only person on either
ticket that will know what it is like to be a mom.

What do you think of the selection of Sarah Palin as John McCain’s vice-presidential nominee? We’d like to hear from you.

OETA’s Oklahoma News Report and KOSU Radio will begin week-long coverage of the Republican National Convention Tuesday night, September 2 with KOSU’s Michael Cross reporting from Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Watch OETA each night, September 1-4, for prime-time coverage (7:00-10:00 p.m.) of the GOP convention from PBS’ NewsHour.

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma Ethics Commission has issued a
public reprimand of former House Speaker Lance Cargill for
“multiple violations” of ethics rules.
The Republican’s State House Committee and Oklahoma County
Republican Committee also drew a reprimand.
The case revolves around rerouting campaign funds donated to the
state party to the county party.
Cargill resigned as speaker in January after revelations about
late property tax filings, not filing state income tax returns and
the ethics probe.
He did not immediately return calls to his office and his home
seeking comment.
The Ethics Commission issued a statement saying it found
“deliberate intent to circumvent the law” by rerouting the
donations.
It said Republican House members testified they were surprised
to learn that campaign checks they wrote to the state GOP wound up
with the county GOP.
A dozen House Republicans wrote $44,000 in checks from their
surplus campaign funds for use by the state GOP in 2004 but the
money was diverted to the county party.

Cargill issued the following statement: I certainly worked to promote the election of Republicans, but I never intended to violate any rules of the Ethics Commission, and I acted in good faith in regard to the events at issue.Although I disagree with the reprimand, I respect the role of the Commission. It is appropriate that they have investigated so that this matter can now be concluded.

Said Cargill’s attorney, Robert G. McCampbell: At the time of these events, Todd Hiett was the leader of the House Republicans, and everyone agrees that he was the one who solicited the funds. If he should have provided more information about the intended use of the funds, I am mystified why the Commission would reprimand Lance Cargill.I am also disappointed by the Commission’s procedure in issuing a public reprimand based upon testimony we have not even seen and without giving us any opportunity to respond. If we had had the opportunity, we would object based upon the facts and the law.Nevertheless, we recognize the Commission’s role as the body constitutionally vested with authority in this regard. As the Commission has now concluded the matter, we respect that determination.