Kerr-McGee plays both sides of political fence

Monday, August 14th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Los Angeles-AP) -- Is Kerr-McGee Corporation playing both sides of the political fence? Oklahoma City-based Kerr-McGee threw a buffet yesterday for Oklahoma Democrats who are in Los Angeles for their party's national convention. Oklahoma Republicans got similar treatment two weeks ago at a reception on the eve of the G-O-P convention in Philadelphia.

Luke Corbett is chief executive officer of the multinational energy company. Corbett greeted Democrats from Oklahoma at an oceanside spot yesterday to feast on a buffet luncheon.

Corbett sprinkled praise for G-O-P presidential candidate George W. Bush in Philadelphia. He said then that Republicans would give Kerr-McGee the best opportunity to compete. Corbett says he's sticking by his comments, but he says reaching out to both parties is good business.