By John Estus
Staff Writer
The "liberal good ol' boys,” gays and Satan are doing everything they can to get Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart out of office, a comic book prepared by his re-election campaign claims.

The comic book, obtained Wednesday by The Oklahoman, is expected to be mailed to voters by Rinehart's campaign, Rinehart said.

"A drowning man tends to thrash about,” state Attorney General Drew Edmondson, one of the targets in the book, said through a spokesman. "Nothing Rinehart says is worthy of comment or rebuttal.”

Edmondson filed felony campaign finance charges against Rinehart last year, alleging Rinehart and his former campaign manager illegally funded the 2004 campaign for county commissioner. A trial has been scheduled for September.

Another of the book's targets, Sheriff John Whetsel, called it "extremely pathetic and very bigoted. I was taken back that in 2008, a candidate would use that type of inflammatory material and do it under the name of being a Christian.”

Whetsel is depicted on two pages. In one, a sequence alleging jailer abuse of inmates at the county jail is followed by Whetsel demanding taxpayer money so he can buy "more, more and more toys!”

The 16-page comic book makes fun of homosexuals and criticizes Rinehart's political opponents. It features a man and woman admiring Rinehart's often-controversial political career.

Other prominent characters are an angel, who supports Rinehart, and Satan, who supports Rinehart's critics.

"It's more or less a story of my experiences of the last four years of being the county commissioner of District 2,” Rinehart said.

An angel, a devil and county politics
Rinehart acknowledged that the comic is edgy at times, but said it explains important issues in a light-hearted way that his constituents will enjoy.

"It makes it interesting and something that people will actually look at and understand,” Rinehart said.

Toga-wearing gays, political figures, trench coat-clad henchmen, concerned residents and Rinehart round out the comic's cast.

"This is one of the strangest things I've ever seen,” said Keith Gaddie, a political science professor at the University of Oklahoma. "I've never seen a comic book with the phrase ‘anal sodomy' in it before. That was a new one for me.”

Gaddie said comics were common political campaign tools decades ago, but not for today.

"He's pretty much grinding every ax he's got from his days in the county commission,” Gaddie said. "In a way, it's a sophisticated piece.”

In one sequence, Satan says: "If I can get the kids to believe homosexuality is normal!”

The angel replies: "Hey Satan, not with Brent around you won't!”

Rinehart said he doesn't think the depiction is inappropriate and that he is proud of the comic.

"The history of my office is that I do expose the homosexual agenda, and that it does exist in the state of Oklahoma, and my history also would show that I am very much opposed to the homosexual agenda,” Rinehart said.

Rinehart said he spent two months writing the comic. He said his friend Shane Suiters did the illustrations. Rinehart wouldn't say who is managing his campaign, and wouldn't say if he's running it himself.

‘Liberal good ol' boys' targeted in comic
Others criticized in the comic, which was leaked via e-mail this week, joined Whetsel in condemning it as a distasteful hit-piece.

In the comic, Satan endorses Rinehart's opponents in the July 29 Republican primary for the District 2 county commissioner seat. The angel endorses Rinehart.

The strip opens with a proclamation that Rinehart is a Republican and Christian who stands up to "liberal good ol' boys” at the county courthouse.

"I do not know who the good ol' boys at the courthouse are,” said County Assessor Leonard Sullivan, a Republican.

Sullivan and Rinehart have had public disagreements in the past, and Sullivan said the comic is further proof that Rinehart is a troubled man.

"I've really encouraged him on more than one occasion to get professional help. He really needs it,” said Sullivan, who is not depicted in the comic.

Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth, who is gay and often disagreed with Rinehart while serving as a county commissioner, said he is no longer surprised by Rinehart's attacks.

"It's typical Brent Rinehart subterfuge to distract from his bad job performance and likely criminal misdeeds,” Roth said.

Roth is not targeted directly in the comic book. In a scene with five gay men holding up signs, one of the signs says "Jim Roth is our leader.”


_____________________________________

Thoughts anyone?

He's disgusting.

Sorry. But he needs to go. He sounds Like Sally Kern with his homosexual remarks. Sorry, but there are gays in Oklahoma, they are citizens, and he better learn to accept it.

Yep, Rinehart and Kern needed to go a long time ago. See ya!

Since when did "good ole boys" become liberals? I guess "good ole boys" are anyone that is the opposition.

I want to know how I can get a copy! Can't wait for Halloween when the costume-of-choice at 39th & Penn will be Satan wearing an Obama button. Oklahoma politics - you just can't make this stuff up!

what an idiot. Please vote people like this OUT OF OFFICE.

They no longer represent the Oklahoma City we all know and love, which embraces all people!

__________________
Oklahoma City, RENAISSANCE CITY!

comic linked for your viewing pleasure.

-M

A friend of mine hired him to service her central air unit and was very satisfied with the results.

If it wasn't for the nutty anti-gay rhetoric, I'd be inclined to vote for the guy. I think he's actually run his office fairly competently and he's been on the right side of a lot of issues.

That said, due to his antics, he's unacceptable.

That's hilarious.

Looks like a 7th grader drew it.

Well...the thing is, I find it odd that he appears to pump himself up more than anyone...shouldn't his actions to some extent speak for themselves? Also he acted pretty nutty when he was all in handcuffs and whatnot that one time.

It just seems to me that he does a lot of self promotion...maybe everyone does it but his way is kind of strange and makes you want to think he does the opposite of what he says.

To some extent, the media seems to have picked up on this and they go out of their way to make him look like a doofus.

He certainly helps them though.

Did Rinehart draw the comic book himself? Sadly I wouldn't be surprised if he did. Maybe Sally Kern will get her own anti-everyone else comic book.

Let's not forget the guy is under indictment for conspiracy, money laundering and perjury. The only reason he's still in office is the AG (or was it Prater?) said he has the legal right to remain in office. The commission itself wanted him gone. He's been accused of something in every election he's run in and every office he's held. He's toast this time - not because of the comic, but because he's under a felony indictment and probably going to jail.

Oh, his little comic made news in the UK! Check this out....how embarrassing:
An Oklahoma Comic Book

The conspiracy/money laundering crimes still have to survive a serious constitutional challenge. I'm not so sure those claims will survive.

The surest sign of personal corruption is conspicuous virtue.

The spelling and grammatical errors alone are embarrassing.

"Pedifile" for "pedophile"

"Too" used instead of "to" (and the other way around)

There's several.

That bit about his completing the "Roads Scholar" program at OSU. Do you think he would highlight that if he didn't think some people might confuse it with being a Rhodes scholar? Otherwise, why highlight it? Do you know what it is? I sure didn't so I found out.........

The Roads Scholar Program, which began in Oklahoma on 1993, is an educational series designed specifically for County Commissioners, County Road Foreman, and other County Road employees. The program consists of nine courses, totaling 120 hours of training, and is designed to provide employees training related to road and bridge maintenance, construction, and repair. Courses offered in the program include Aggregate Road Maintenance; Excavation Safety; Testing for Soil Properties; Traffic Control; Basic and Advanced Surveying; Equipment Maintenance; Project Management; and Plan Reading.

Wow. The angel is depicted as God's word, while the devil is, well, the devil; and GOD is supporting Brent Rinehart! I am so embarrassed this is traveling the world via the Internet. Oklahoma on display - again.

You know this really came from a disgruntled Seattle fan!!!

The shamelessness of using God as an endorser is amazing.

Well, the Oklahoman lambasted him in an editorial. We sure do have some bozo Republicans in this state. You know its bad when the Oklahoman comes out against them.

What was he thinking? Was he doing this just for spite, or does he think people would actually approve of this? In either case, I think it shows a serious lack of judgment....

Any politictians that encourages the message and action of hate toward fellow citizens will not be getting a vote from me.

I was shocked to see him outright say that the homosexuality is the work of the Satan.

FYI, the guy himself had homosexual experience in the past. Such a hypocrite!

Rinehart is beyond parody at this point. Seriously, he is a total crook and a freak, but he makes watching politics fun here.

I have to admit, while I share NO philosophies with him, he is entertaining. Of course, he's a total lunatic and you're lauging "AT," not "WITH" him.

It is fun watching the local GOP squirm every time this dufus opens his trap.



I

Really? How do you know this?

From the rumors mill. lol