One week from today is primary run-off day for both parties for OK-05, the open seat centered on Oklahoma City (+ Edmond, Shawnee and Seminole). Right-wing extremist James Lankford gave up the seat so he could run for Tom Coburn's Senate seat. The last Democrat to hold that seat was John Jarman, a reactionary who switched to the Republican party in 1975, claiming the Democrats were "too liberal." Before he jumped the fence the district had been a Democratic Party bastion since the GOP caused the Great Depression. Tom Guild came in first in the primary with 11,597 votes (42.1%) to Al McAffrey's 8,505 (30.9%). The two Republicans in their own runoff next Tuesday are Steve Russell and Patrice Douglas.Blue America has endorsed Tom Guild, a populist with distinctly progressive ideas that fit an overwhelmingly middle-class district. His opponent is a lot like Jarman-- with a very tenuous connection to Democratic Party principles and values. If you;d like to help Tom's grassroots get out the vote effort, you can contribute to his campaign on this page.Recently he told us that "expanding Social Security by implementing the plan put forward by Oklahoma native Senator Elizabeth Warren would give peace of mind and a semblance of economic security to tens of millions of American seniors. Her plan to provide an additional supplement to the income of Americans when they reached the age of 75 and again at the age of 85 would help account for the additional cost of living seniors have in providing for added medical needs. Her plan would also make the program completely self-sustaining for additional decades. Expanding benefits will make a great program even better… The federal government currently lends to banks at very low interest rates. I support a plan to extend those low rates to student loans. Making big profits on student loans is unseemly and adds to the tremendous burden that many students graduating from American colleges and their families currently bear. Students should be treated at least as well as banks, who benefit by extremely low interest rates." That's the kind of Democrat we'd like to see represent Oklahoma City-- and expressing ideas like that is why he came in first in the primary.Desperate, McAffrey is trying to poison the well, claiming Guild, who he endorsed for Congress last cycle, isn't a real Democrat. Democrats in Oklahoma City know better. Bryan Jackson, who worked for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the union representing the workers at Tinker Air Force Base in the Oklahoma City area, said that they could always count on Tom Guild, when the AFGE held demonstrations outside James Lankford’s office protesting benefits cuts and sequestration, and demonstrated against facing the possibility of 22 furlough days. He said that Tom Guild was always there for the workers, and McAffrey never showed up or spoke up to lend support to the hard working members of the AFGE, who were under siege by the right wing in the U.S. House.Serena Blaiz, a local progressive activist, notes that McAffrey-- who is openly gay and relatively good on that and only that issue-- was rarely or never present for events promoting progressive issues, except gay rights, either in his legislative district or the OKC area. She noted that Tom Guild was always there for progressive events large and small promoting reproductive justice, minimum wage, mass transit etc. Blaiz noted that Tom Guild will be there for the middle class while representing the fifth district in Congress, and not the big corporate interests. She noted that McAffrey will be courting the monied elite and the powerful, just like the Republicans in Congress.A former state legislator who used to share a desk with McAffrey on the floor of the Oklahoma State House, Rep. Al Lindley, had this to say when he recently announced his support for Tom Guild:
It has come to my attention that state Senator McAffery, a candidate for US Congress, recently used a photograph taken with me several years ago at the Capitol in a political ad. The use of the picture implies that I endorse him for this important office. Nothing could be further from the truth. Although Senator McAffery and I were seat mates during my last term in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and I consider him a friend, I am voting for Dr. Tom Guild.While Dr. Guild served the Oklahoma County Democratic Party as Secretary (2009-2011) I was elected Chairman. During the two years we worked together, I discovered that Dr. Guild is not only a leader but can be a team player. Those attributes caused me to support him in subsequent elections for Fifth District Congress in Oklahoma. Dr. Guild will be a leader but as situations arise, he can sit down with others as a team player and search for common ground.I’m voting for Dr. Tom Guild for Congress and I hope you will too.
This is a tough district for Democrats. The way to win it isn't by nominating someone, like McAffrey, from the Republican wing of the Democratic Party. People who like Republican policies will vote for the Republican candidate. Let's make sure there's a real choice for voters. If you can spare even a small amount, keep in mind that Tom is putting every cent he gets now into get out the vote efforts. So it matters. Again, you can contribute here.
