OPINION: False Accusations Must Stop

By State Rep. Justin Humphrey –

It is time for Americans to respond and stop allowing hostile antagonists to assert false political statements.

House Democratic leadership and others have asserted claims of a COVID-19 state cover-up, alleging the governor withheld and misrepresented information given to him by the White House Taskforce. Democrat partisans go on to deceptively declare Oklahomans have lost their voice because Republicans have conceded power to Gov. Stitt.

Claims that Republicans have failed to hold the governor accountable and that this alleged failure falls on the laps of all Republicans are absolutely incorrect.

Let’s recap several vital issues addressed by Republican legislators in 2020. Numerous Republicans openly opposed the governor’s stand on tribal issues. Republicans strongly disagreed with the governor’s budget and Republicans led the veto override of the governor’s budget veto in a historic fashion.

I am proud to work with the governor on issues where we agree, but it is undeniable that we have held the governor accountable.

House Democratic leadership also falsely declared that Republicans are against transparency and accountability. In reality, Republicans recently established the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT), a nonpartisan, bicameral oversight committee to investigate agencies and to provide the public transparency.

The falsehoods continued with accusations against Republican representatives of being divisive, homophobic, misogynistic, racist and endangering the public. Attempts to discredit the Republican party over social issues are ironic considering the lack of examples Democrats provided to prove the charges they make.

House Democratic leadership claims a Republican member used racist rhetoric to attack Thunder players who used their First Amendment rights to speak out against social injustice.

Let’s get the issue straight—Thunder players took a knee during the flag salute prior to several of their games. These players have the right to take a knee, but I have the right to speak out against their anti-American actions. Additionally, the representative being attacked merely called for considering ending the tax credit to the Thunder team.

In another false political statement, I was personally accused by Democrats of using racist innuendos and divisive language to push medical misinformation that was not supported by scientists. I don’t believe sharing my medical results from my experience with hydroxychloroquine could be racist and divisive.

It is disappointing that Democrats engage in such behavior and misinformation in order to promote their own agendas. This behavior is exactly what disenfranchises so many Americans from engaging in the political process today.

Rep. Justin (JJ) Humphrey represents Oklahoma House District 19. He can be reached at (405) 557-7382 or [email protected].