Democrats state grievances about Cole, Trump
With the hottest day of the summer so far in Oklahoma, protesters were at the Purcell Walmart attempting to put the heat on U.S. Congressman Tom Cole (R-CD4).
The mostly Democrat gathering at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 30 was organized by the Congressional District 4 Democrat chair to protest several issues they feel are important and that they believe are not being heard by Rep. Cole.
The Congressman was in Purcell for a 10 a.m. Chamber of Commerce meeting at Sonny’s Cafe (related column on page 4 of this issue).
Sherrie McNall, McClain County Democrat Party vicechair, said, “It was hot and most of us were holding umbrellas and drinking a lot of water. We had several people join us from Norman, Pauls Valley and Ardmore. They lined the street going up to Sonny’s Cafe.”
She said these are all areas served by Cole. Many of those in attendance are members of the Tri City Women in Action group. They are a group of women who care about the current issues of the community, according to McNall. They meet at the Newcastle Library on the first Thursday of each month.
“It is important for CD-4 to let this representative of ours know how unhappy we are for his support in all the things that Trump is doing,” McNall said. “So much of what Trump is doing is against our Constitution. Cole just supports his bills instead of doing what Congress should be doing.”
McNall said the protest was the best way to let Cole know that a lot of people don’t agree with him.
“We are worried about what is happening to our country, and to our freedoms,” McNall said.
She said they are stressed out about the way masked people are picking up immigrants and throwing them in jail, without giving them their rights.
“That’s not what we are in America,” McNall said. “There are ways to determine if these people are criminals or not. They are even picking them up when they are going to court to get their green cards.”
She said she personally is sad that the U.S. government is lacking in empathy and compassion to these families. She added that they deserve better. McNall said the protest was a way to show they were against the recent signing of the “Big Beautiful Bill.”
“Cole helped sign this Big Beautiful Bill of Trump’s which is going to take away Medicaid from our poorest people, and give tax breaks to the richest people — giving to the rich and taking away from the poor,” McNall said.
She added that the issue went even further politically since “the Medicaid issues won’t go into effect until after the election next year when they go up for election in 2026.”
She said, “They promised they would not take away from Medicaid, but they passed a bill that puts it into effect after the next election is over.”
The Tri City Women in Action provided a 13-point list of grievances. Their members are quoted with saying the following: 1. “Cole voted no to release the Epstein files which are protecting pedophiles.”
2. “Cole has had no town hall meetings for the last six years.”
3. “Cole has lied about Norman weather center funding.”
4. “Cole votes for MAGA issues, not for us — his constituents.”
5. “I am ashamed that he is our representative because I am not being represented at all.”
6. “He is a part of the destruction of our precious democracy. People have died in years past fighting for it!”
7. “He has been there too long ... we need term limits. He is drunk on power to MAGA, not to all of us.”
8. “Mr. Cole seems to care little for the U.S., Oklahoma, his constituents, or making anything better. He has turned his back on all of us, including the Constitution and his sworn oath thereto. He needs to care more about his job and less about his position, power, and fealty to the cult of Trump.”
9. “I’m upset that the Congress has failed to use their power to stop Trump’s illegal actions. They have clawed back funds appropriated in earlier bills such as funds for public radio and television.”
10. “They have failed to put sanctions on Russia to stop their war on Ukraine.”
11. “They accuse our citizens of crimes for our free speech against the Israeli war creating starvation in Gaza.”
12. “They allow masked ICE agents to attack people of color on the streets and ship them off to detention camps. This is inhumane.”
13. “They promised to not cut Medicaid and have a huge cut on the big, beautiful Trump bill. They are so devious that they put it in effect after the 2026 elections. They know it is wrong!”
A couple of discrepancies to note include that Cole has been available in communities in the last six years, visiting community meetings, and visiting all nine counties he represents. As well, Cole has been in contact with the administration and they have responded that the Trump administration proposed cuts of the National Weather Service would not be pushed through.
McNall said the protest at Purcell was carried out peacefully and thoughtfully.
“We didn’t want to break any laws, and we wanted it to be a safe protest,” McNall said. “We used social media to get the information out to the people of Congressional District 4.”
She said she felt it was successful from the makeup of those protesting and it addressed the issues they felt were important.
