<HTML><BODY STYLE="font:10pt verdana; border:none;"><DIV>Oh-klahoma! </DIV> <DIV>Where the lesbians come sweeping down the plain</DIV> <DIV>Where the waving wheat</DIV> <DIV>Can sure smell sweet</DIV> <DIV>When the lesbians</DIV> <DIV>Make out in the rain!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>North of Tex-ass and east of Lousy-anna, Republican Senate candidate Tom Coburn has charged that lesbianism is "running rampant" in Oklahoma schools. I'm forwarding his complaint to this list in the hopes that Saundra Lund, Intolerista Extraordinaire, first baseman for the Nasty Nine, Bishop of Moscow, and, most important of all, a bonified Oklahoma native will please confirm or deny the truth of Coburn's charges. If she confirms, then folks, I must apologize to the denizens of that great prairie state. Clearly, I've misjudged them. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now, because I can't resist continuing my songfest . . .</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Oh the farmer and the lesbian should be friends,</DIV> <DIV>Oh the farmer and the lesbian should be friends.</DIV> <DIV>One just wants to push a plow,</DIV> <DIV>The other wants civil rights right now,</DIV> <DIV>But that's no reason why they cain't be friends.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The word "Okie" will never again pass these lips,</DIV> <DIV>Joan Opyr/Auntie Establishment</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.salon.com">www.salon.com</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=5>GOP Senate candidate warns of lesbianism<BR><!-- Deck --><FONT face="times new roman, times, serif"></FONT></FONT> <P><FONT face="times new roman, times, serif" color=#999999 size=-1>- - - - - - - - - - - -</FONT><BR><!-- Byline --><FONT face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2><B>By Ron Jenkins</B></FONT></P> <P><A href="http://salon.com/news/wire/2004/10/11/lesbianism/print.html" lid="http://images.salon.com/src/print_new.gif"><IMG height=21 alt=print src="http://images.salon.com/src/print_new.gif" width=58 border=0></A><A href="http://salon.com/news/wire/2004/10/11/lesbianism/email.html" lid="http://images.salon.com/src/email_new.gif"><IMG height=21 alt=e-mail src="http://images.salon.com/src/email_new.gif" width=57 border=0></A></P> <P><FONT face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>Oct. 11, 2004 | </FONT> <FONT face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=1>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- </FONT><!-- end default pre content --><FONT face="times new roman, times, serif" size=3>The Republican Senate candidate in Oklahoma warns of "rampant" lesbianism in some schools in the state in a tape released Monday by his Democratic opponent. </P> <P>The remark by Republican Tom Coburn drew a skeptical response from state educators. </P> <P>"I don't believe that," said Keith Ballard, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association. He said the group's attorneys "haven't said anything to me about that." </P> <P>In the tape released by the campaign of Brad Carson, the Democratic candidate, Coburn says a campaign worker from Coalgate told him that "lesbianism is so rampant in some of the schools in southeast Oklahoma that they'll only let one girl go to the bathroom. Now think about it. Think about that issue. How is it that that's happened to us?" </P> <P>Joe McCulley, school superintendent in Coalgate, chuckled when asked about Coburn's remark. </P> <P>"He knows something I don't know. We have not identified anything like that. We have not had to deal with any issues on that subject -- ever," McCulley said. </P> <P>The comment came at a town hall meeting in Hugo on Aug. 31 and was taped by a Democratic campaign worker. </P> <P>John Hart, spokesman for Coburn, said the remark was made during a broader discussion about the challenges parents face in society "where our kids are getting mixed messages about sexuality." </P> <P>Hart would not say that Coburn misspoke. "I wasn't there," he said. </P> <P>Of the educators' skepticism, Hart said: "If that's what they say, I guess we will have to take their word for it." </P> <P>Coburn and Carson are vying for the post that Republican Don Nickles is leaving after 24 years. The race could be pivotal in the battle for control of the Senate.</P></FONT> <P></P> <P><FONT face="times new roman, times, serif" size=-1>- - - - - - - - - - - -</FONT></P> <BR><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML><br clear=all><hr>Get more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer download : <a href='http://explorer.msn.com'>http://explorer.msn.com</a><br></p>