Oklahoma Congressman John Sullivan Defends Conservative Record

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

TULSA, OK – The race to fill the First Congressional seat is ending with a flurry of e-mails between incumbent John Sullivan and his challengers.

Congressman Sullivan is trying to hold onto his seat by beating back criticism that he's not conservative enough.

Despite John Sullivan's ad touting his Republican credentials, the four-term Congressman is taking hits from the right.

Last weekend, he fought back with a right hook of his own.

He released an email entitled "The Truth About This Campaign." In it, Sullivan blasts his opponents for claiming that he voted for the stimulus. He says no Republican in Congress voted for the stimulus, period.

Challenger Nathan Dahm responded with what he calls, "The Actual Truth," where he links to a 2008 Sullivan vote for a stimulus bill, sponsored by Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Speaker of the House.

A News On 6 investigation showed the Dahm claim is misleading.

Sullivan voted in 2008 for the George W. Bush Stimulus, which was really $600 income tax breaks for taxpayers.

Sullivan's email also pushes back on a claim that he supports amnesty for illegal immigration.

The Congressman points out he has an A+ rating with a national immigration reform group. And that he worked to allow Tulsa County officials to check the immigration status of everyone who is arrested.

Dahm's website says Sullivan talks about reform not enforcement. It links to an article that quotes Sullivan talking about the DREAM Act, which would allow young illegal immigrants to earn conditional citizenship by completing college or two years of military service.

Again, this is misleading.

The article Dahm's referring to was published in June on the Hispano de Tulsa website.

A translation of the article quotes Sullivan as saying he hasn't "forgotten" about the DREAM Act, not that he supports it.

And on Sullivan's website it plainly states that the Congressman opposes backdoor amnesty attempts like the DREAM Act.

Another Republican Challenger Kenneth Rice weighed in on the debate on his website but his claims seemed to echo Nathan Dahm.

To see a complete list of candidates and where they stand on issues like immigration, taxes, and jobs, check out our Primary Election Guide.