Email we received yesterday from former ODP Chair Dr. Ivan Holmes

I read your post today on Senator Coffee. Clearly it appears that something is terribly wrong behind closed doors inside the Republican caucus. Since I am a Democratic political operative and former party chairman and you, Mr. Arps, are a conservative Republican, there are most assuredly many items in the public policy arena on which we will disagree. But there is one item on which we are in complete agreement: we despise corrupt public officials.

In 1974, I served as the campaign manager for a then-unknown college professor who traveled across Oklahoma in a crusade to sweep out corruption. I’ve never tolerated corruption. The Boren Broom Brigade lives on in the hearts of many reform minded Oklahomans. I am also a former journalism professor, and I’ve been very disappointed at the press’ nonchalant attitude toward Senator Coffee’s unethical behavior. When I read the details of the smear on AG candidate Jim Priest, and the compelling evidence that Senator Coffee was involved, a light went on for me.

Last Thursday I received a late night phone call from a man who identified himself as Sen. Coffee. This individual sounded as if he were intoxicated. Slurring his words, he said he heard I was thinking about holding a press conference on the ethics report he turned in concerning his travel, lodging, and meal reimbursement in 2008 and I better be careful of what I did or I would be sorry. That incident was consistent with the reports coming out of OKPNS these past few weeks. That incident settled in my mind the accuracy of the reports I’ve seen in your blog. While we disagree on many public policy issues, I nonetheless appreciate Republican reformers such as you and, Chair Gary Jones. Sen. Coffee offers Democrats a prime target in this year’s elections.

Ivan Holmes

The blogosphere is abuzz with stories regarding “turmoil” at the Oklahoma Democratic Party. But according to well-placed sources, much of what has been reported is simply not true. Much of the speculation surrounds the agenda of new party Chairman Dr. Ivan Holmes.

Reports have indicated that Holmes’ election signaled a rise to power by the “radical fringe element” within the party. Those who know Holmes, including Republicans, tell the Oklahoma Political News Service that Holmes’ election actually signals a turn away from the extremists who have run the party in the past.

Other errors include reports that Holmes campaigned for a trio of extreme resolutions at the party convention and that he was unaware that some party employees he has fired were funded by the Democratic National Committee. “Just bad reporting,” a source tells us.

Another source tells OKPNS that it appears some bloggers have been fed misinformation in an effort to undermine Holmes, since Holmes has pledged to give voice back to the mainstream grassroots Democrats. “It appears he’s angered the extremists with first his upset victory, and then his house cleaning, and it is the extremists who are manipulating the bloggers to trip him up,” the source says.