I Want to Paint it Red

Me, Gov. Fallin, Brittany Reed (Oklahoma Christian University)

When you go to a GOP convention, be prepared to see red, especially in Oklahoma.

I went to the annual Republican State Convention at the Clarion Hotel and Convention Center in Oklahoma City yesterday with my dear friend and fellow conservative, Brittany Reed. She is a native Oklahoman, I am only an honoree (some would say wannabe). Though this state is 46th on the national obesity scale, the people also have the biggest hearts and the most pride in their values than most I’ve seen.

All of Oklahoma’s 77 counties voted for Sen. John McCain in the 2010 election. There are at least four major tea parties with members in the hundreds and thousands in central Oklahoma alone. A person cannot drive to Wal-Mart without getting stuck behind at least one clay-spattered pickup with an NRA sticker or terrorist hunting license glued to the bumper. As King Leonidas would say, This. Is. Oklahoma!!! And these Okies are proud of it.

Git 'er done.

I’ve never seen so many artistic recreations of a single animal in one place. Elephants on parade! Another thing to expect at a GOP convention is the vast display of elephants parading the hall as proud Republican women flaunt them on pins, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and even shoes. The men sport elephant ties and all are wearing at least one article of red clothing.

I go to these sorts of events on regular occasion, but it never ceases to amaze me how passionate these people are about their freedom. Yes, the love ‘em some fried catfish and a gun show at the State Fair Grounds, but they are deeply committed to the native desire of all men: liberty.

Seeing Charlie Meadows again – still in his trademark denim overalls – and shake hands with Okies representing their counties from every corner of the state is a political experience I will always cherish. These people are not uppity. They are not overly competitive (most of them). They are simply and jealously possessive of their most treasured possessions, those being their lives, the lives of their families, and the ability to live their lives to the fullest with limited inhibition by a government or its laws.

I hope to see the Oklahoman pride catch across America as we gear up for yet another election in 2012. This country will need it.

In the words of Moore native Toby Keith,

“American girls and American guys, will always stand up and salute.
We’ll always recognize, when we see ol’ glory flyin’

There’s a lot of men dead,
So we can sleep in peace at night when we lay down our heads.