JC Watts

The Republican Party hosted an event Tuesday, June 15, 2009 to honor the hard work each of its women organizations does for candidates in Cleveland County. Bob Cleveland was elected chairman of the County GOP a few months ago and believed it was time the women’s clubs were recognized.

“The women’s clubs in Cleveland County work together for our candidates, and great things are done. Cleveland County is fortunate to have 3 successful women’s clubs to choose from,” Chairman Bob Cleveland stated as he addressed the group last night.

The event was held at the Cleveland County Fair Grounds’ Event Center. A scrumptious dinner of barbeque, loaded baked potatoes and cakes was donated by the Hal Smith Restaurant Group and Kendal’s Restaurant in Noble.

The Frontier Women’s group was represented by former County Commissioner Jan Collins who gave an informative oration of her group’s past, present, and future expectations.

Pat Allen of the Helen Cole Republican Women’s Club gave an informative address emphasizing the importance of participation and friendship with any women’s club.

Pat Tautfest of the Cleveland County Women’s Club spoke on the long history of the oldest Republican women’s club in Cleveland County. Founded in 1954 the Cleveland County Women’s Club is among the oldest organization in the state.

Two Lieutenant Governor Candidates visited the event to announce their intentions to run for the open position in 2010. Representative John Wright of Tulsa and Colby Schwartz of Yukon addressed the crowd.

Congressman J. C. Watts was the honored guest speaker. Congressman Watts took time out of his busy schedule to come back home to Norman and address fellow Republicans. He also gave an update on his family. Watts stated that all is fine and that his youngest son Trey is graduating high school in Virginia on Wednesday. Trey will be attending the University of Tulsa in the fall.

As in the spirit and humor of J. C. Watts, he told the story of how he received a call from the United Negro College Fund asking for donations. He replied, “I am sorry but with three kids attending college right now, I am the Negro College Fund.”

Many Oklahomans myself included, were hoping Congressman Watts would run for Governor. He did not expound on his reasons for not running. However, he did address one issue that has been brought up about him siding with the ACLU. The issue was a vote that he and 5 other representatives went against the party line on sentencing guidelines for cocaine and crack cocaine. He believed along with the ACLU that there was a disparity on the time of sentencing for a very similar drug.

 Congressman Watts gave an analogy about Christmas gifts for his girls to express the state of the Republican Party today. He went on to tell of putting together a doll house for his girls on Christmas Eve and having all the parts spread out over the floor with only a few hours to finish. He said in one hand he had the directions and in the other hand was the glue. He asked the crowd which was more important the directions or the glue. Rhetorically he replied the picture on the box and that he relied on the picture on the box most of all at this critical time.

“What kind of picture are we Republicans portraying today?” he asked.

Congressman Watts went on further to commend State Party Chairman Gary Jones for his work and stated the picture was clear of what Oklahoma State Republicans stand for.

He said, however, the national picture is blurred and needs a leader like our former President

Ronald Reagan “who will once again bring into focus the conservative ideas.” J. C. Watts could certainly be that leader.

 It was a successful event with well over 100 in attendance. We raised more than $4,000 to further our cause for a full-time party headquarters.

If you missed the event, you missed a good dinner, good fellowship, and a chance to shake the hand of a gentleman who exhibits all the characteristics of possibly the next President of the United States.