Opinion - Some Endorsements
October 30, 2008The Tecumseh Countywide News and The Shawnee Sun
By Wayne Trotter
Against the odds, we have already endorsed John McCain for president and recent revelations about income redistribution have increased our conviction that the Arizona senator has outlined the best course for an American future. But there are a couple of other races where we also believe the choice is clear.
The first is the congressional race in Oklahoma's Fifth District where Tecumseh's Mary Fallin is seeking a second term. In her freshman year, she served well in a difficult atmosphere and deserves the re-election victory she is very likely to achieve. The Democrats haven't bothered to mount much of a campaign against her. Quick. Who is her opponent? For the record, it's Steven Perry. Republican Mary Fallin deserves to be re-elected and has our enthusiastic support.
The second is the U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Jim Inhofe, Democrat Andrew Rice and Stephen P. Wallace, an independent without a prayer. Mr. Inhofe has never been our favorite senator but on the larger issues, he remains in step with Oklahomans while Mr. Rice, a likable young state senator, peddles a philosophy more fitting for New England than the Oklahoma plains. Sen. Inhofe is more in touch with the people he represents and should be sent back to Washington.
We are passing on the Corporation Commission races largely because only one of the four candidates for the two seats cared enough to mount a campaign in this area and we can't make much of a fair comparison. Statewide races demand statewide efforts and that didn't happen. It's a shame.
That puts us in the unusual position of endorsing only three candidates and in this cycle, all of them happen to be Republicans. We're not really comfortable with that but it's the way things fell this year. We assure you our personal ballot won't be for a straight ticket on either side
We also continue to believe a newspaper should provide as much information as possible in strictly local races (State Senate down through county and city) and The Countywide and Sun has tried to do that. We haven't endorsed in local races in years and don't intend to start now. Our readers should have the information and we think you're smart enough to make up your own minds. We endorse in those contests where we feel our very slight media advantage gives us an opportunity to weigh factors readers never find in 30-second television commercials.
Your opinion is as good as or better than ours. The important thing is to vote on Tuesday no matter which way you intend to go. Democracy works best with full participation. Do your part to make it work perfectly on Tuesday.
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