Truth Test: Do Oklahoma Governor Candidate Joe Dorman's Ads Pass Or Fail?

Democrat Joe Dorman launched an attack ad, so we put his ad to the Truth Test.

Thursday, October 2nd 2014, 11:24 pm

By: News On 6

Truth Test: Do Oklahoma Governor Candidate Joe Dorman's Ads Pass Or Fail?

When it comes to campaign ads and mudslinging, some say the current Governor's race has been pretty mild, but the gloves have recently come off.

Democrat Joe Dorman has launched an attack ad, so we put his ad to the Truth Test.

Joe Dorman's campaign paints Mary Fallin as a governor who puts Washington politics first, saying she's out of touch.

10/2/2014 Related Story: Fallin, Dorman Face Off In Sole Debate Of 2014 Governor's Race

Fallin's campaign says Dorman is a liberal, aligned with President Obama's agenda and that he's pushing Obama's failed policies.

In the first attack ad of the race, Dorman's ad claims Fallin: “sided with Washington bureaucrats on Common Core.”

That statement is true according to our Truth Test.

In 2010, Fallin supported Common Core standards set by the federal government. In late 2013 she scaled back her support and ultimately signed a bill repealing them in Oklahoma.

Dorman's ad also claims: “she vetoed three second amendment bills.”

That's also true.

Last legislative session, Fallin vetoed a bill supported by the NRA that would have stopped local law enforcement agencies from withholding certain gun permits when the applicants are not prevented - by law - from having them.

10/2/2014 Related Story: EXCLUSIVE: Poll Shows Tight Race For Next Oklahoma Governor

That wasn't enough to stop the NRA from endorsing Fallin.

Another bill Fallin vetoed modernized the language in a justifiable homicide law and the third vetoed bill would have put regulation of knives under the state rather than the current patchwork of local laws.

The vetoes were three of 15 Fallin issued in one day, describing the proposed bills as serving "no significant interest of the citizens."

Dorman's ad claims: "I worked with leaders in both parties to override her veto."

That's true too. Representative Dorman successfully voted to override a veto of one of those bills.

Dorman's ad also claims he has: "An A-plus rating with NRA."

That's true as well.

Dorman is one of only a handful of state lawmakers who received an A-plus NRA rating. Fallin gets an A, but again, got their endorsement.

Finally, Dorman claims he's “a champion for our schools.”

You decide that one.

Last session he voted to repeal Common Core standards, voted no three times on Governor Fallin's school safety bill and co-sponsored a bill that allows third graders to move on to fourth grade even if they fail the reading test.

As a candidate, Dorman proposed a plan that would provide our education system $35 million through the state franchise tax.