COURAGE AND CONSEQUENCE!
A REVIEW OF KARL ROVE’S NEW BOOK

by Steve Fair

On a recent business trip to Mexico, I read Karl Rove’s book, Courage and Consequence-My life as a conservative in the fight. The 520 page book was interesting and gave a great deal of insight into Rove. A brilliant political strategist, Rove gives some insights into how to run campaigns that is both practical and insightful. The Rovian Campaign model is one that is well thought out. Few politicos can brag they ran two successful presidential campaigns, so when Rove talks strategy anyone who is interested in the mechanics of politics should listen.

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Where Rove gets off the tracks is when he begins to deal with the multiple attacks he endured while he served in the White House. He spends page upon page recounting the incidents that is designed to convince the reader there was never any justification for any investigation into anything Rove had done.
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He spends a inordinate amount of time on the “Joe Wilson/Valarie Plame’ incident and is critical of Patrick Fitzgerald, the Special Prosecutor assigned to investigate. Fitzgerald, a Chicago Republican, has earned a reputation of being hard nosed and fair, but Rove paints Fitzgerald as a being petty.
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Rove’s total life has been politics. He started volunteering in campaigns while in high school and has never done anything else. But unlike true political activists and most volunteers, Rove has made a very good living in the political consulting industry. In reading his book, you would think he was broke. Rove says the reason he left the White House was because he needed to provide more money for his family. No one begrudges a person who wants to make an honest buck, but Rove should not have painted himself as someone who has sacrificed while being involved in politics. He gets big bucks making speeches and commenting on politics on FoxNews. He still is a highly sought out political consultant, so the poverty line rings hollow.

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Rove defends former President George W. Bush throughout the book, which is understandable because not only are they friends, but Rove has earned a pretty good living running Bush's campaigns. I do believe Bush is a principled man, but he did expand government and Rove defends that action to preserve his conservative credentials.

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The most disturbing thing in the book is near the end- page 514 where Rove quotes Barrick Obama in his book The Audacity of Hope. Rove is mentioned in Obama’s book along with Newt Gingrich, Grover Norquist and Ralph Reed as "‘conservative operatives’ who believe the fiery rhetoric of NO NEW TAXES and WE ARE A CHRISTIAN NATION."

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Rove says he never said ‘America is a Christian nation’ and goes on to detail how he confronted then Senator Obama in the White House for ‘misquoting’ him. The disturbing part is that Rove says he doesn’t believe America IS a Christian nation, but a ‘nation of faith.’ Whether the grandson of a Presbyterian minister was just trying to ‘spin’ the message to be politically correct or is intelligently lazy doesn’t matter. The majority of the fifty six signers of the Declaration of Independence would have disagreed with Rove, as well as George Washington.
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I would recommend the book for it’s ‘textbook’ on campaigns (Chapter 4), but all in all, Rove’s memoir is too self serving and detailed. Rove is a secularist whose reputation of situational ethics in politics and campaigns is not diminished by what he writes in the book.

Weekly Opinion/Editorial

OPT OUT!
by Steve Fair

President Obama signed the health care bill into law last Tuesday. The highly controversial bill squeaked by in the U.S. House in a 219-207 vote late Sunday evening. No Republican voted for the bill. The Congressional Budget Office says the president’s health care plan will reduce the deficit over 10-years’ time, but voters are skeptical of the official government projections. According to a Rasmussen poll, eighty one percent (81%) believe the health care plan will cost more than projected. Voters overwhelmingly believe passage of the plan will increase the deficit and is likely to mean higher middle class taxes.
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On Tuesday, the Oklahoma State Senate approved House Joint Resolution 1054, authored by State Senator Randy Brogdon, (R-Owasso) by a bipartisan vote of 36-11. The Joint Resolution puts a state question on the ballot in November, which would allow Oklahoma businesses to opt out of Obama Care. Brogdon called the vote on an Obama Care opt-out measure an important step toward reasserting Oklahoma’s sovereignty as a state. “Overwhelmingly, the people who have contacted my office and those of Representatives Ritz and Reynolds ((the House authors) have expressed frustration and outrage at how Congress and President Obama railroaded the American people,” Brogdon said. “HJR 1054 would give voters that opportunity to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to include the “Freedom of Healthcare Choice Act." Brogdon is vying for the Republican nomination for Governor. Brogdon’s opponents are Congresswoman Mary Fallin and Yukon businessman Robert Hubbard.
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If the voters approve JR 1054 in November, it would prohibit any law or rule from directly or indirectly compelling an employer from participating in any health care system. It would also allow employers to pay directly for health care with paying fines or penalties. It would also stipulate that the purchase or sale of private health insurance not be prohibited.
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Other states are not just placing the issue on their ballots, but their Attorney Generals are suing the federal government. The list of states includes Texas, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Utah, North and South Dakota and Washington.
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According to the new Rasmussen poll, forty-nine percent (49%) of U.S. voters favor their state suing the federal government; thirty seven percent (37%) disagree and oppose their state suing to challenge that requirement. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided. The poll also found most voters (53%) oppose a provision in the new health care law that requires every American to buy or obtain health insurance. Just 42% favor it.
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Thus far, Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson has not joined the other A.G.s. "We will review the bill once it becomes law,” said Edmondson, who was called on Monday by Fallin and both leaders of the Republican- controlled state Legislature to take action against the bill. “We also will review the case law and we will do what’s in the best interest of the state of Oklahoma, which may be filing litigation or joining litigation that’s already been filed. It is way too early.” Edmondson continued "I’ll not be stampeded into doing something by people playing politics with this issue.” Perhaps Edmondson has learned from past experience about filing lawsuits with other states.
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Back in 2000, Edmondson joined the state of New Jersey in suing the Boy Scouts to accept homosexual leaders. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Edmondson's position, ruling that the Boys Scouts of America had the authority to set the criteria for leadership within their organization. After the suit, three fourths of the state legislature condemned Edmondson’s action. It has widely speculated that is what kept Edmondson out of the 2002 race for Governor. He is a candidate for the Democrat nomination for Governor this year. His opponent is current Oklahoma Lt. Governor Jari Askins.
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The real question is; will the national health care bill pass constitutional muster? Randy Barnett is a Georgetown law professor and U.S. Constitutional expert who believes the bill violates the founding document. Barnett says, “A mandate requiring all individuals to purchase health insurance would be an unprecedented form of federal action. The government has never required people to buy any good or service as a condition of lawful residence in the United States. An individual mandate would have two features that, in combination, would make it unique. First, it would impose a duty on individuals as members of society. Second, it would require people to purchase a specific service that would be heavily regulated by the federal government.”
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If the health care bill is found to be constitutional, I suggest the next ‘federal mandate’ for purchase be peanut butter and jelly. Every consumer in America should be required to have at least two jars of peanut butter and jelly in their pantry at all times. That would substantially increase individual consumption and in the process, my income. You say that’s foolish, but that is what the health care mandate does- it requires businesses and individuals to purchase a product. Not only does this health care bill violate the Constitution, but it seriously erodes our individual personal liberty. Oklahomans should ‘opt out’ when the issue appears on the ballot in November and we should elect an AG who will sue the feds.

Weekly Opinion/Editorial

DISTANCE LEARNING!
By Steve Fair

Clay Christensen is an economist and teacher who coined the term- Disruptive Innovation- to describe the process that a product or service takes in moving ‘up market’ to displace more established, conventional competitors. He believes that ‘distance learning’ will eventually replace conventional education institutions, much like discount retailers(Wal-Mart) replaced conventional retailers(Sears). Christensen says when established institutions pursue only ‘sustaining innovations’ that perpetuate what has historically helped them succeed, they unwittingly open the door to ‘disruptive innovations.’ He maintains that ‘distance learning’ is one of those ‘disruptive innovations’ to conventional education.

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‘Distance learning’ is not just for college students According to a December 2009 report by a seven member Oklahoma legislative task force on ‘Internet based instruction,’ http://www.oksenate.gov/publications/issue_papers/state_govt/ok_iitf_final_report_2009.pdf 2,500 fulltime Oklahoma high school students are taking their high school classes completely online this school year. That’s up from 1,100 students last year- an increase of 163%.

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The task force cites Christensen in their report. In his book, Disrupting Class, Christensen says, “We anticipate that most of this on-line learning will occur within the schools. Teachers will be supervising, tutoring, helping and mentoring these on-line learners. Many of the activities in today's schools that provide important lessons in socialization, learning how to work with others, behaving responsibly, and so on, will continue to be done. But of the instructional component of the work in our schools, the trajectory suggests that 50% will come from on-line sources, rather than a teacher in front of the classroom, in 2019.”

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The legislative task force concluded that "we should strive to provide the best educational
experience for each student based on their individual learning styles and needs. While online learning will never replace traditional classrooms entirely, it does provide for the needs of many students to accelerate or broaden their learning experiences, as well as provide opportunities for credit recovery for students who have fallen behind."

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The legislative task force’s conclusion is much like the response that Sears had to Wal-Mart. Sears refused to recognize the ‘disruptive innovation’ the big box retailer brought to the marketplace until it was too late. By stating, ‘online learning will never replace traditional classrooms entirely,’ the task force displays the same naïve mindset of Sears. If Christensen is right that most learning will be via the Internet in ten years, then it is reasonable to expect that five years from then- 2025- the majority of formal education/learning will be via the web- from home. That’s right- homeschooling.

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Homeschooling is not a new concept. More than 2,500 years ago, Alexander the Great was taught ‘at home’ by Aristotle, who was trained ‘at home’ by Plato. Many of our early Presidents and national leaders were ‘home schooled.’ According to the US Census Bureau, over two million school age children are homeschooled in America, with that number growing at a 15-20% rate annually.
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This ‘distance learning’ presents a challenge to conventional education. According to BYI professors, Drs. Scott Howell and Peter Williams in their thesis, “32 trends affecting Distance Education," “Faculty members tend initially to try to use their conventional classroom methods to teach at a distance and then become frustrated when attempts are unsuccessful.” They also say the faculty tends to resist the change to online teaching and feel isolated. Teachers also want more money to teach classes via the net because they spend more time on their distance courses than they do on traditional courses.

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Higher education will need to train teachers proficient in written communication as well as verbal. The on-line educator will also need to be able to have strong computer skills and be less subjective and more analytical.

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The trend in distance learning could present traditional common public education with a dilemma. First, in the foreseeable future, the bulk of the educational dollar will not be spent on buses and buildings, but on bright innovative teachers who are technologically savvy. There will be less students in the classroom and more on-line. Both student and teacher will work from home and the hours of instruction may be flexible. The current model of buildings and infrastructure will be replaced by technology.

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Second, with children being ‘home schooled,’ parents would logically take more equity in what their child is studying. The options for parents in texts and courses could be more diverse. Parents may elect to procure a curriculum consistent with their educational or religious philosophy instead of using their taxpayer provided text. With the ‘start-up’ costs equal to the conventional educational institution, the options for a child’s education will be increased substantially.

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President Lincoln was our first ‘poor’ President. Before he was elected, virtually all the Presidents were fairly wealthy men with formal educations. Despite his humble beginnings and no formal education, Honest Abe had a thirst for knowledge. He is widely considered to be one of our wisest Presidents. Lincoln loved to read and would read Shakespeare by candlelight as a young boy.

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Who knows- perhaps a future President will boast they read Aristotle at home by the light of their LCD computer monitor.

Weekly Opinion/Editorial

RINOS HURT SENIORS!
by Steve Fair

State Senator Jim Reynolds, (R-Oklahoma City) is the author of Senate Joint Resolution 57, which if approved by Oklahoma voters would have exempted people over the age of sixty five from ‘increases’ in their property taxes. The bill would not ‘exempt’ seniors from paying property tax- it would just freeze their property tax where it is. Reynolds has been working on getting the proposal through the Senate since he was first elected back in 2000, but it looks like he will have to wait at least another year. The estimated impact on the state budget would be a modest $3.2 million annually. Texas, California, Florida and several other states freeze property tax on seniors, so this is not a novel concept.

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Currently seniors in Oklahoma who make less than the county median income can apply for a property tax increase exemption annually, but few Oklahoma seniors know that or bother to apply for the exemption. Reynolds proposed to tie the freeze to age, which would make it easier for seniors. Reynolds got his resolution to a floor vote twice. The first time it failed, but a member of the Senate has the option to having it voted on again.

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SJR 57’s encore vote came up on Thursday and was defeated by a 25-22 margin. Four Republicans joined Democrats to defeat the proposal. Reynolds understands Ds not supporting the issue, but not the Rs. "If I have any frustration, it’s with members of my own party,” Reynolds said. "It’s been hard to get some members to understand the issue. I have fought for this issue for nine years at the Capitol. I did it when the Democrats were in control of the Legislature,” Reynolds said. "Republicans have always said they support tax relief. Now that we have the majority, it’s like pulling teeth.”

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I share Reynolds frustration with the Republicans whose vote on SJR 57 in effect expanded government. Three of those Republican Senators are up for re-election in 2010- Senators Anderson, Crain, and Schulz. I’m not sure if any have announced primary opponents, but if so, this vote will hurt them with conservative Republicans in a primary. With the current anti-government sentiment among voters, votes against stopping the growth of government could keep them from getting re-elected. Some Republicans in the legislature are so obsessed with getting re-elected, or afraid of crossing the education and county government lobby, they don’t deserve to have an ‘R’ behind their name
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Two reasons why Reynolds proposal should have passed the legislature unanimously.

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First, the proposal would not cost the state, schools or county government any money. Reynolds proposal would only stop the growth of taxes, not cut them. One of the arguments made by Republicans who voted to defeat the resolution was that it would hurt their county government and schools. Rural counties have higher percentages of seniors, so some rural Rs wrongly believe their counties will be hurt more because of the ‘potential loss of future income.’ I fail to see how ‘stopping the growth’ of taxes is a bad thing. Aren’t Republicans all about standing up against the growth of government and taxes?

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Second, even if you disagree with the resolution, what’s wrong with sending it to a vote of the people? Nothing! But some in the legislature (including the aforementioned Republicans) recognize the resolution would be approved by voters by a wide margin. Those legislators are more interested in trying to appease the education and county government lobby than they are about standing up for the seniors in their district. Legislators that display such lack of courage are RINOs- Republicans In Name Only- and should face tough questions about this vote from not only seniors, but every fiscal conservative.

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To add another twist to the vote, Senator Kenneth Corn, (D-Poteau) switched his vote from Yea to Nay at the last minute. Like John Kerry, Corn was ‘for’ the freeze before he was ‘against’ it. Senator Glenn Coffee, (R-OKC), said Corn "owes every senior citizen in the state an explanation of his flip flop on this important vote.” The vote will likely hurt Corn who is running for the Democrat nomination for Lieutenant Governor.

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Bottom line, this week Oklahoma seniors on fixed incomes needed help and the Oklahoma legislature failed them. These seniors wanted a chance to vote on stopping the growth of government. Sadly some members of the legislature failed to give them that chance.

STEELE IS STEALING!

By Steve Fair

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is in Oklahoma today. He’s not here to congratulate the Oklahoma State GOP organization on a job well done. He’s not here to recognize Oklahoma grassroots volunteers and activists on helping elect the most conservative federal delegation in the country. He’s not here to announce the RNC is going to use the Oklahoma GOP as a ‘model’ of how to convince states with conservative Democrats to vote Republican. He’s not here to help the state and local Party to raise money for the 2010 elections. STEELE IS HERE TO SOLICIT MONEY FROM OKLAHOMANS TO USE IN CAMPAIGNS IN OTHER STATES! Now Lord knows other states need help in getting conservatives elected and Oklahoma Republicans recognize that, but Steele's idea to breeze into town, raise some bucks and hit the road is just flat wrong! Steele and the RNC’s campaign to raise money in Oklahoma is misguided and shortsighted. Here is why:
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First, any organization that wants to have long term success has to be built from the ground up. You must have a solid foundation. One of the major problems the modern Republican Party faces is that simple principle has been ignored. In the past, the RNC has paid lip service to ‘building the grassroots.’ Training sessions are put on by young people who have done nothing telling seasoned veteran volunteers how to do everything. It’s comical if it were not so sad. Tip O’Neil was right- politics is local- and while the RNC says they want a strong foundation, their past and now immediate actions dictate otherwise. Steele’s campaign to take money from Oklahoma to use in other states doesn’t build anything in Oklahoma- it hurts the Oklahoma GOP and our efforts. It’s difficult enough to get people to volunteer to serve in Party official positions- Precinct/County/District level. When they find out the RNC Chairman is coming to town to solicit money from their donor base, many will lose faith in the cause and who can blame them?
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Second, our Party bylaws clearly state we are to be organized from the PRECINCT level up. Steele should be meeting with Oklahoma activists within the Party and asking for their input as to how the RNC can help them in their efforts. It is difficult to get big donors to get involved with the grassroots- local candidates/county organizations. It will become increasingly more difficult when Steele gets on TV and tells those same donors to send a check to him and doesn’t mention helping the local county/state organization or candidates. That strategy might work for 2010, but it does nothing to build an organization long term- it undermines it! It fuels the disconnect with the grassroots that causes mistrust within the GOP.
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Third, the Oklahoma GOP has done a stellar job in the past few years! Against a Democrat tsunami in 2006, Oklahoma Republicans picked up seats in the state legislature. In 2008, Oklahoma was the only state in the country where EVERY county voted for John McCain. Oklahoma is the Reddest of the Red states. Oklahoma gets minimal fiscal help from the RNC. We have always been a donor state- sending more money to the RNC than we get back. But when Steele takes it to the next level and comes to town with a plan to tap more of our money and send it to other states, he better have a detailed itemized plan of how he is going to help Oklahoma. What Steele should do is sit down with a empty pad and a pencil in a meeting with Oklahoma GOP activists taking notes on how Oklahoma Republicans accomplished what they did in 2006 and 2008. Steele’s actions in Oklahoma should send a clear message to other state GOP organizations- DO A GOOD JOB AND WE’LL COME AND TRY TO TAKE YOUR DONORS AWAY FROM YOU! Lest you think, Oklahoma GOP activists are isolationists and not team members, the Oklahoma State GOP has organized efforts to send volunteers to campaign in Mississippi, Colorado, Missouri and other states, at their own expense. The Oklahoma GOP wants to see Republicans elected across the country, but not at the expense of losing precious hard fought ground in our state.
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Fourthly, there is just so much political ‘donor’ money in the marketplace. When Steele taps money from a donor in Oklahoma who might have given to a state legislative, county official, school board, or city council race, he has hurt the local effort. It has taken Oklahoma Republican activists years of hard work to get to the place where we are now. It’s hard enough for local candidates and Party organizations to raise a buck without the increased competition from the top. In effect Steele is stealing donor money from Oklahoma.
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A more prudent, wise and long term plan would have been for Steele to come to Oklahoma and ‘partnered’ with the State GOP to raise money. That would have done three things; (1) It would have rewarded Oklahoma for a job well done. (2) It would have sent a message of teamwork and cooperation. (3) It would have built the GOP from the grassroots up. A sample TV spot could have been:

I’m Michael Steele and I am so proud to be in Oklahoma. Oklahoma, a state which has the most conservative federal Congressional delegation in America. Oklahoma, a state that has voted Republican for President for over forty years. Oklahoma, a state that stands for traditional values. Oklahoma is a model for other states in our Party. I would ask you to get involved with your local GOP organization by attending meetings and helping on local campaigns. I would also ask you to write a check to help the local, state and national Republican Party. 50% of the money you donate will stay right here in Oklahoma to help elect solid conservatives. Oklahoma- you’re doing fine!
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Steele’s media campaign to solicit money in Oklahoma to take to other states just reinforce a common observation the average citizen has about Republicans- elites that don’t listen to the working class.

I’m Steve Fair and I approve this message

PS: Call me Chairman Steele- I would love to discuss this with you at your convenience- 405.990.7449

LEONARD ANNOUNCES ADVISORY BOARD!

Ryan Leonard, Republican candidate for Attorney General, today announced a statewide advisory committee for his campaign. "I will work day and night as Oklahoma’s next Attorney General to protect our families and fight those who threaten our constitutional freedoms. I am grateful for the support of so many Oklahomans who have worked so hard to make this state great." Committee members include Honorary Chair, former Attorney General G.T. Blankenship, former U.S. Senator Don Nickles, former Governor Frank Keating, Hobby Lobby CEO David Green, Tulsa businessman Ken Lackey, Sandridge CEO Tom Ward, rancher Bob Drake and conservative leader Marc Nuttle.
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Other Advisory Committee Members are:
Stanley Barby, Mike Cantrell, William Chapman, Herschal Crow, Charlie and Julie Daniels, Dan Dillingham, James Everest, Dr. Joseph Ferretti, Jerry & Jane Jayroe Gamble, Dr. Gib Gibson, Joe Neal Hampton, Ralph Harvey, Skip & Sue Healey, Tom Hill, Jason Hitch, Grant Humphreys, Dan Keating, Albert "Kell" Kelly, Jr., Tom and Susan Kimball, Jay Lemon, Duke Ligon, Rob & Karen Luke, The Hon. Neal McCaleb, Robert McCampbell, Aubrey McClendon, Chad McDougall, Frank McPherson, Rodd & Donna Moesel, Bond Payne, Bill Price, Tom Price, Carl Renfro, Ambassador Francis Rooney, Bob Ross, Dustin P. Rowe, Meredith Siegfried, Tom Seth Smith, Renzi Stone, Robert J. Sullivan, Jr., Bill Swisher, Lew Ward, The Hon. Wes & Lou Watkins and Lynn & Donna Windel
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Ryan Leonard bio

Ryan Leonard is an attorney, former state prosecutor and former senior aide to U.S. Senator Don Nickles. A fourth-generation native of Beaver in the Oklahoma panhandle, Ryan presently resides in Oklahoma City with his wife Carrie and their three children. Ryan is a candidate for the Republican nomination for Attorney General.
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Ryan was shaped by the values he learned growing up in western Oklahoma. As a young man, he worked on the farm with his grandfather where he learned the traits of hard work, honesty and integrity. Ryan earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and he applies the common sense, conservative values he learned in western Oklahoma to everything he does.
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As a state prosecutor in Canadian County, Ryan fought to protect our families and children, and to put dangerous criminals behind bars. As an attorney in private practice, Ryan has fought for small businesses, which form the backbone of this state’s economy. Ryan has also been proud to defend the rights of individuals, including representing pro bono children in the state’s foster system.
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Ryan previously served for four years as a senior legislative aide for U.S. Senator Don Nickles in Washington, D.C. In that capacity, Ryan served as the Senator’s chief aide for issues involving agriculture, transportation, the federal judiciary, natural resources and Indian affairs. While working in the Senate, Ryan was intimately involved in crafting federal legislation benefitting Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, building Oklahoma roads and bridges, securing the rights of hunters and fishermen and working with tribal governments. Ryan was also honored to assist Senator Nickles in the drafting and passage of legislation aiding victims of the Oklahoma City bombing and establishing the Oklahoma City National Memorial.
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Ryan is dedicated to his community, having served on numerous civic boards, including the Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma City National Memorial, the Board of Directors of the Central Oklahoma Red Cross and the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Academy for State Goals. Ryan has also served on the Legal Ethics Committee of the Oklahoma Bar Association, and currently represents the state of Oklahoma as a national commissioner on the Uniform Law Commission. Ryan is also a member of Leadership Oklahoma, Rotary Club 29 and the State Chamber of Commerce.
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Ryan earned his law degree from the University of Oklahoma and undergraduate degree from Boston College. In his spare time, Ryan enjoys spending time with his family, coaching his childrens’ activities, reading, fishing and travel. Ryan and his family attend Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City. For more information about Ryan Leonard, please visit:
WWW.RYANLEONARD2010.COM

PRUITT TO SEEK AG POST!
A STATEMENT FROM SCOTT PRUITT

After much prayerful consideration with friends and family, I’ve decided to launch a campaign for Attorney General. While a formal announcement is still forthcoming, I’m now in the process of filing the necessary paperwork and getting my campaign team in place.
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I’d like to thank my good friend, Charlie Polston, for his guidance and encouragement in regards to this decision. He began a Draft Pruitt blog many months ago, (www.pruitt4okag.blogspot.com ) and I’d ask that you please sign up for updates there until my website is up and running.
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I look forward in the coming days and weeks to sharing with you my vision for the office of Attorney General. In the mean time, I leave you with this quote:
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." -Ronald Reagan
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Thank you and God Bless,


Scott Pruitt

PRUITT'S BIO- FROM OKLAHOMA REDHAWKS WEBSITE
As a kid in Kentucky, Pruitt could most often be found on a baseball field. And in college, he played second base for the Kentucky Wildcats, whose winning record brought them within one game of the College World Series. After graduation, he hung up his cleats and moved to the great state of Oklahoma, where he attended law school at the University of Tulsa.
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In addition to his involvement with the RedHawks, Pruitt was elected to the State Senate in November of 1998, where he completed two four-year terms. After winning his bid to the Oklahoma State Senate over a 16-year incumbent, Pruitt became one of the most respected and influential voices in the Senate on crucial economic and social policies. He was elected by the Republican caucus to serve as Republican Whip in 2000 and as Assistant Republican Floor Leader in 2002, a position he held until 2006.
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In 2004, Senator Pruitt returned to his baseball roots by becoming the Managing General Partner of the Oklahoma RedHawks, Oklahoma City's lone Triple-A baseball club. Under his first season of leadership, the RedHawks saw a 25% increase in attendance. The club broke the all-time record for attendance in 2005. In 2007, despite 22 games with rain and two rainouts, the club ranked second-highest in attendance in franchise history.
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Under Pruitt's leadership, RedHawks fans have enjoyed a renaissance in Triple-A baseball that leads the nation in quality and authenticity. Whether it's serving the true Fenway Frank on fresh lobster rolls flown in weekly from Maine, or ticket collectors greeting you with a smile in pinstriped suspenders and seersucker suits, Pruitt believes no detail is too small in working to create the most timeless and classic experience of America's favorite pastime.
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His investment, along with Bob Funk, into Oklahoma City baseball has come at a time in which the RedHawks rank among the premier sports attractions in the region while playing in a showcase stadium - AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. In baseball, business, and at the legislature, Pruitt has achieved much in his young life, but he is most grateful for his wife Marlyn, and their two children, McKenna and Caden. He is devoted to his family and to his deep faith in God. The Pruitt's are members of First Baptist, Broken Arrow, where Scott serves a Deacon.