Folks,

I really didn't think this story about inappropriate materials playing on a TV during a State Board of Education meeting would get any weirder.

But it did. 

Speaker of the Oklahoma House, and likely Sherlock Holmes impersonator, Kyle Hilbert released his exhaustive detective work along with his own theory of what really went down at last month's Executive Session. 

To hear Inspector Hilbert tell it, a new TV defaulted to a preset streaming schedule. So he did what any Speaker of the State House would do and called Samsung to investigate their programming. He believes the TV began streaming a preset movie channel containing explicit scenes. 

For the film buffs on this email list, The Protector (1985) and The Foreigner (2017) are the purported culprits. 

Board members by this explanation were correct in their description of events, but at the same time, Walters is simply the victim of an "embarrassing situation."

So everyone is right. Everyone should shake hands, and we can all go back to sending out vouchers and boosting unaccredited private schools being shut down in Arizona. 

Strong work from our State's Republican leaders. 

Except Ryan Walters lied at every step of this even if Detective Hilbert's theory is correct.

He said the TV had only a cable box connection. LIE.

He said the authorities had completed their investigation and cleared him. LIE.

It's worth noting that Hilbert's own investigation completely leapfrogged the work being done by the actual authorities he called for just last week.

Why?

Because Oklahoma's elected Republicans are scared of Lyin' Ryan. And they're scared of his fans. 

To be fair, I'm also scared of Ryan Walters' fans. They did after all call in a series of bomb threats against our kids' schools.

But being scared isn't the same as being chicken shit.

So here I am, once again pointing out that Oklahoma's Republicans will go to ludicrous, pathetic lengths to protect Ryan Walters out of fear of him and of their own voters. 

Democrats on the other hand, remain laser focused on building better schools for our neighborhoods.

We just fell to 50th in Education! Instead of trying to solve that, Speaker Hilbert played phone tag with Samsung as he pondered this mystery with his best pipe and magnifying glass. 

I'm asking you to help us put a stop to this madness. You can help elect Democrats who will hold Ryan Walters accountable!

Your gift today goes toward recruiting the parents, teachers, and leaders of Oklahoma's communities who have had enough of Ryan Walters' lies and incompetence.

Your contribution today builds the campaigns that will oust the do-nothing Republicans that empower and embolden his performative, paranoid extremism.

With Defiance,

Lauren Craig

OKDEMS Executive Director

We are Democratic strong, powered by grassroots efforts and activists of this Great State. Our mission is to fight for Oklahoma’s most vulnerable communities, protect working families and ensure that we live up to the promises of the Oklahoma dream.