::::::::
Commissioner Brent Rinehart's a Piece of
...Toast,
(his future, that is)
(Oklahoma City) Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart from District 2, a practicing public homophobe, was formally arraigned earlier this month for serious Oklahoma campaign law violations (ten by my count) ranging from perjury and filing false campaign reports to accepting illegal contributions from third parties and conspiracy against the state during his campaign in 2004.
According to Attorney-General Drew Edmondson's office, Rinehart, and his campaign manager, Tim Pope (Pope, a former state legislator, carried a gun in his boot on to the floor of the House because gays were after him, he said, He was also found guilty of illegal campaign telemarketing in March for calls directed against Commissioner Jim Roth) are charged in Oklahoma County District Court with one count of conspiracy against the state, two counts of money laundering and three counts of knowingly accepting a contribution to a political candidate through an intermediary or conduit with unlawful intent. Additionally, Rinehart faces four counts of perjury.
Run-of-the-mill political shenanigans you might yawn, but stay with me.
If you're LGBT or a friend of one of us, you know that Mr. Rinehart, only just past the half-way mark in his first term, is finally getting his come-uppance as a public figure. From day one of his term he has ragged on Commissioner Jim Roth, District 1, for advancing what Rinehart thinks is the much talked about, but seldom seen, "gay agenda".
Why does Rinehart think he's had a look at the "gay agenda"? I haven't seen it and I've paid lots of dues in time and money. Does Rinehart know somebody I don't? Does he have a secret handshake? He seems to walk and talk in the normal way.
The only gay agenda I've seen is my own: to be treated under law in the same way as any other tax-paying citizen, irrespective of my sexual orientation, and according to my own observance of existing law. I'm paying the same fare as a straight man; I expect the same first-class ticket.
Rinehart, one of three 'no' votes in January of 2005, wanted to rescind a non-discrimination, LGBT--neutral, hiring/employment policy in Oklahoma County that was put in place under the sponsorship of Commissioner Roth just a month previously. Such a policy is good government because it saves money in discrimination lawsuits and attracts good potential employees.
There have been numerous articles in the Oklahoma City media about Rinehart being unable to work effectively with the other OK County officeholders. All the County elected officials issued a group letter the same day as Rinehart's arraignment in which they promised to maintain character and integrity in the face of these serious allegations of misconduct by Rinehart.
In his defense, Mr. Rinehart has spoken of a personal vendetta being directed against him by the Attorney-General and the "good 'ole boy" system he claims is responsible for his predicament. At a press conference Rinehart said, "I will continue to serve the public despite the good old boy demands that I abandon public office. I look forward to my day in court where the facts will reveal that I am innocent of the politically motivated charges made by Drew Edmondson."
Does the "good 'ole boy" system include the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation which did the ground work for the indictments? Does it also include the OK County District Attorney David Prater who, on April 11, 2007, made the legal determination that there is no current law which can remove Rinehart from office under only allegations of wrongdoing? Conviction must first be found in court concluded DA Prater.
It's so easy to tease Rinehart as he leaves himself so wide open, and his delusions are indeed grand. In an interview with KFOR he said (and I paraphrase) "the good 'ole boys want to get me, want to get me, right now, want to get me, take me down, because they know one day I'll be governor."
These words are nearly verbatim, repetitions included. His mantra of referring to the "good 'ole boys" so often makes me think no one played with him as a child. He still feels like an outsider. He prides himself on his role as a maverick yet he has nothing constructive to show for it. He never learned to socialize and he's carrying this grudge even now as he digs his hole of seclusion ever deeper.
Who would have thought he wanted to be governor? Would such a mark of victory expunge the feelings of exclusion from his psyche? Does he need something bigger than a county commissioner's office to assuage his private demons?
Personally, I can hardly wait for Rinehart's day(s) in judicial court as well as the court of public opinion. Even should he be found not guilty, I doubt if the voters of District 2 will want to continue Rinehart's employment for another term as commissioner.
Challengers from all political viewpoints now have a good lead time in establishing themselves with the voters of District 2.
Who wants stale toast to represent them at the County office?
