Organizing for Oklahoma

Submitted by dog on Tue, 2010-08-10 11:37

Obama’s ‘Organizing for America’ targeting Okla. districts
By ANDREW W. GRIFFIN

Posted: July 30, 2010

OKLAHOMA CITY – Nearly two years after liberal community organizing group ACORN hurriedly abandoned their south Oklahoma City office, there is concern that a similarly-minded group, Organizing for America, is looking to resume working in the Sooner State.

Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Matt Pinnell recently met with Oklahoma Watchdog and explained that Democrats in Oklahoma are looking to organize the grass roots with “Sneaky Sunday” meet-up events where OFA activists can discuss strategies and move forward with their plans.

Organizing for America is the successor organization to Obama for America, the liberal activist organization that is fighting for “a new kind of politics” that embraces a more socialistic approach to governing.

Pinnell provided a screenshot of a “Sneaky Sunday” OFA organizational meeting that was expected to address House District 87, represented by Rep. Jason Nelson and Senate District 40, represented by Sen. Cliff Branan.

Pinnell also discussed at Capitol Beat OK that President Obama‘s liberal allies are working hard in Oklahoma.

Democrat Dana Orwig is working to unseat Nelson. A call to Nelson seeking comment on the OFA activities in his district has not been returned.

On August 7, a “Vote 2010” OFA event will take place in HD 87 where they “will be knocking doors and making phone calls to those people who came out for the first time in 2008 and voted for President Obama.”

“Oklahoma is the reddest state in the country,” Pinnell said. “So, the Democrats are trying to find a different strategy in their efforts to get elected.”

In one of Pinnell’s first press releases since taking over the chairmanship of the Oklahoma GOP after Gary Jones resigned to run for State Auditor, he notes that OFA “activities have centered around political activism in favor of Obama’s most controversial legislative goals such as his corporate bailout and socialized health care bill.”

Added Pinnell: “Democrat candidates in Oklahoma are receiving training and aid straight from Obama’s community organizing machine.”

Writing for Red Dirt Report in 2008, this reporter did a series of investigative articles about ACORN’s presence in Oklahoma County and their role in that year’s elections.

While there may not be an obvious connection between ACORN and OFA, their tactics are similar.

According to the Organizing for America page at BarackObama.com, canvassing activities are taking place Saturday in Cleveland County and in House District 97 in northeastern Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma Watchdog did attempt to contact Organizing for America’s Oklahoma chapter via e-mail. The headquarters is at 4100 N. Lincoln Blvd., location of the Oklahoma Democratic Party. The e-mail went to a Democratic National Committee e-mail address. We have not yet received a reply.