Democrats keep heat on governor

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- As some Democratic House members talked Friday of boycotting Republican Gov. Frank Keating's State of the State speech, a Democratic senator jokingly sought outside help with

Friday, February 4th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- As some Democratic House members talked Friday of boycotting Republican Gov. Frank Keating's State of the State speech, a Democratic senator jokingly sought outside help with Oklahoma's "own John Rocker-like problem."

In a letter to Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, Sen. Larry Dickerson, D-Poteau, said he was impressed with Selig's handling of the case of John Rocker, the pitcher suspended for making remarks that offended large segments of American society. He asked for advice in dealing with "insensitive" remarks by Keating that have offended many Oklahomans.

"During his tenure as chief executive," Dickerson wrote, "Governor Keating has referred to teachers as 'slugs,' labeled low-income Oklahomans as 'white trash' and suggested that many rural Oklahomans are either 'illiterate or are on drugs.'

"Just last week, the governor told an audience at Oral Roberts University that Democratic state legislators didn't 'have religion.' When asked how one should deal with Oklahoma's teachers' union, Governor Keating replied, 'homicide."'

Dickerson continued it would take several pages to document all of Keating's "insensitive" statements, "but as you can see, Oklahoma has its own John Rocker-like problem."

Keating first refused to apologize for his "homicide" remark made Monday, but changed his mind and said Thursday he was only speaking in jest and recognized how his comment could be misunderstood and offensive.

Carolyn Crowder, president of the Oklahoma Education Association, said making the comment in jest was still inappropriate since a student could be suspended or a teacher fired for such a statement during a time of tension over school violence.

Keating has refused to apologize for his remarks about Democratic legislators. A spokesman said he was not attacking lawmakers' spiritual or moral standing but expressing the view tha tthey had not seen the merit in his programs.

But some Democratic House members were not buying that explanation as they planned to skip Keating's address to a newly convened Legislature on Monday. Rep. Darrell Gilbert, D-Tulsa, said he would be working on legislation on Monday and would listen to the talk over the public address system.

"If you want to call it that," he said when asked if it was a boycott of the governor. Rep. Opio Toure, D-Oklahoma City, said he would not attend because he would be working on a march on the Governor's Mansion later this year to protest Keating's record on appointing minorities to state boards and commissions.

Toure said Democratic members are talking to each other and his sense is there will not be an organized boycott. "But I think there will be members who will make the symbolic gesture not to attend the speech to protest the atmosphere the governor has created," Toure said.