Published: December 16, 2009 09:27 am      

Tuttle man tells Cole conservatives need to have more passion

Oklahomans from Grady County and surrounding areas got a chance to voice their opinions about the nation and how it is being governed at a town hall meeting in Chickasha on Saturday.

Close to 50 people attended the meeting hosted by Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla, who spoke of the current status of multiple bills and ways he thinks the nation can move forward through bipartisan legislation.

Three topics dominated the discussion; each rousing passion and intensity amongst some in attendance.

One attendee jumped at the opportunity to speak his mind. Tuttle resident Gary Monroe was visibly angry as he spoke. He attacked conservatives for their lack of passion and anger, during what he said is nonsense in the Government.

Cole did not agree in terms of intensity. He said he believed it takes bipartisanship and winning elections.

"I wouldn't worry about the intensity of the fight," he said. "I'd worry about the numbers, and when you lose an election it's going to make an impact."

Cole delved into the economy, Afghanistan and healthcare, but people in Grady County were most worried about the economy.

"Remember the time table was to get Cap and Trade done this year and that hasn't happened, it may not happen at all because people stood up and decided to fight it," Cole said. "The healthcare fight isn't over, and it drug on a lot longer. The president's popularity has dropped pretty dramatically...so the country is getting aroused." Cole said.

Cole said he has opposed the three major bills that have been voted upon in the house; the stimulus package, cap and trade and healthcare. He said he plans to continue voting no until a bipartisan alternative is available.

"You can't beat them unless there is a bipartisan opposition," he said.

Cole said the current economic situation is a direct effect of the stimulus package, which he voted against. He said that even though things look bad, they are not anywhere near as bad as the great depression or even the early 1980s. He said he supports the building of infrastructure and expanding green energy efforts, but he also is in favor of opening off shore drilling. He believes less restrictions on the private sector will have a more positive effect than government spending.

He said there is a lot of resistance to cap and trade on his side of the aisle. He said that it is simply "anti-carbon," and will allow India and China to surpass us in world markets.

"It's effectively an energy tax," he said. "It's the best economic development India and China have ever had."

Cole said that India and China are becoming more competitive in world industries such as petroleum and manufacturing. In the near future China will surpass the U.S. in automobile production, and more and more jobs are exported there.

The topic of jobs was an overwhelming concern in all in attendance.

Chickasha resident Jack Thomas works at the local NAPA Auto parts store. His main concern was the effects on jobs. Thomas was a worker at Delta. He said that one afternoon he saw a few Chinese engineers inspecting the pant. It was like writing on the wall to him, and sure enough the plant closed a few months later.

"They made it cheaper so we can afford it, but now nobody in Chickasha has got any money to buy it," he said.

Cole tried to build confidence in his constituents. He said the U.S. is still the largest importer and exporter of goods.

"The idea that the U.S. is in the descent while everybody else is in the ascent just isn't true," he said. "We just live in a very competitive environment."

He said things are difficult now because of the economic follies of last year and because the U.S. is currently fighting two wars. He said the U.S. is winning in Iraq and victory is within our grasp, but Afghanistan will be a challenge on both the economy and families.

He said that Oklahoman's in his district are 20 times more likely to lose a loved one in combat.

Healthcare also has direct implications on families. Cole agrees that changes need to be made within the healthcare system. But, he said the current bill is too expensive and will inundate the system with patients. He said that he does not see how the government can afford it without raising taxes, which is out of the question.

"We are spending too much," he said. "I think this healthcare bill is a disaster."

Cole's plan to revitalize healthcare is to first, nationalize the insurance markets, which would lower costs across the board; second, create tort reforms and forget about the public option.

He said that he wants to eventually vote yes for something, but right now the bill is not right.

"It's pretty safe to say no Oklahoman has voted for this or will vote for it," he said.