Somewhere between the hate- led rhetoric and the childish name-calling, Sen. Shane Jett has lost his way.
Years ago, it seems, when Jett was st in o_ce, he was focused on issues and trying to solve problems. Today, however, Jett simply wants to start a ht.
For more than a year, since his ascent as a leader in the Freedom Caucus, Jett has attempted to vilify state employes and the public health system. He’s attempted to make Oklahomans afraid of their government and, most recently, he has been calling his Senate colleagues ‘cowards.’
This isn’t the way to govern.
Jett’s biggest target is Senate Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, a Republican from Tuttle. For months, Jett has railed against Paxton, alleging Paxton isn’t conservative enough and implying the Senate’s leader is a political scoundrel.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Paxton is a decent, honorable man who has surrounded himself with a top-_ight legislative sta. He’s focused on trying to make the state stronger while addressing the problems this state faces.
Yes, Paxton is a conservative. And I there will be times when dierent people across this state will disagree with the Senate leader’s approach to addressing their problems. That doesn’t mean Paxton is evil or bad; it simply means the people and their elected leader disagree.
Now in his sophomore year as the Senate’s chief, Paxton knows listening is a necessary skill. He listens to his sta. He talks with and listens to his caucus. He meets with agency heads and state leaders. He talks to tribal o_cials. He even talks to Democrats in the Legislature. Paxton wants to hear every voice. He goes out of his way to talk and listen to those who ask. He’s respectful, professional, and hardworking.
Paxton is all about making the best decisions possible. He’s focused on the issues. He’s approachable, smart and has a rocksolid understanding of Oklahoma politics. He is all about governing. And yet, Jett is trying to remove Paxton from his post.
In just a few months, Jett will essentially be out of office. His term ends in November, and soon a different person will hold his seat.
Jett has a choice. He can embrace his lame duck status, focus on issues at hand and leave a positive legacy, or shake his fist and shout at the rain, continue his attempt to remove Paxton as pro tempore and hope all his fitthrowing draws enough attention for him to run for another office.
Still, the state’s problems remain.
It’s time for Jett to do the right thing: apologize for his childish behavior and all the name-calling and realize that Lonnie Paxton is a decent and honorable man.
It’s time for Jett to roll up his sleeves, act like an adult and address the state’s issues. It’s time for Shane Jett to follow Paxton’s lead.
It’s time because right now this state needs all the decent, honorable people it can d to address the myriad problems it faces. Those issues won’t be solved by temper tantrums and name-calling.
M. Scott Carter is an award-winning political and investigative reporter with more than 40 years’ experience covering federal and state government and politics in Oklahoma. He can be reached at scott. carter@swoknews.com.