America needs leaders. It's time Rep. Cole and Sen. Lankford took a stand.
Rep. Tom Cole and Sen. James Lankford have been praised for defending their constituencies when Elon Musk tried to close Tinker Air Force Base, Fort Sill, the National Weather Center and the Oklahoma City Federal Building (which replaced the Murrah Building, which was destroyed by the 1995 OKC bombing).
But I see their statements as ambiguous at a time when Americans need leaders who openly stand for the rule of law, and the rights of all of us.
Yes, Rep. Cole had the nerve to tell Musk that he doesn't have the authority to order those closures.
But when it came to restraining President Donald Trump on the budget, Cole told NBC News that 'Trump's spending discretion is a red line for his party,' and 'I don't think you're likely to see a Republican House and Republican Senate try to limit a Republican president."
Moreover, it is hard to believe that Cole really believes what he also said: 'President Trump is moving quickly to restore common sense.'
Sen. Lankford seems to have shown a few more signs that he was willing to stand up for national security, his Christian values (that are not consistent with Christian Nationalism) and his voters' interests. Lankford was best known, nationally, for pushing a tough, but bipartisan, immigration bill in 2024. Trump killed it, however, because it would hurt his presidential campaign.
Lankford also had the nerve to tell The New York Times, 'President Trump was president, but it's wrong to say, 'OK, he's the boss.'' Lankford said: 'No, he's not. He's a coequal branch.' He also said, 'I don't work for the president. I work for the people of Oklahoma. ... I think we do have to protect that constitutional integrity of government.'
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In a teleconference after President Trump's State of the Union address, Lankford praised the president's approach to illegal immigration and tempered concerns about trade wars and foreign relations by saying Trump is "negotiating.'"
I believe Lankford's ambiguity must be seen in a wider context. As Fox News reported, he still issues an 'annual book of 'federal fumbles.' Fox proclaimed, 'Sen. James Lankford's 'federal fumbles' book tackles USAID, NPR and border blunders.'
And this leads to questions about a crucial national security issue that is currently unfolding. When speaking to a reporter for the Tulsa World, which was recently damaged by a cyberattack, Lankford implicitly criticized Trump and Musk, by saying that Russia has "literally privatized cyberattacks.' When asked about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's decision to halt cyberoperations against Russia, Lankford was quick to say he "wanted more answers about that, too.'
However, he added he was 'confident the Trump administration wouldn't abandon national security by dropping cyberoperations.'
Since then, Trump briefly stopped cyberoperations in support of Ukraine. So, what happens if CNN and other news organizations are correct, and operations and planning for offensive cyberoperations against Russia have been suspended? Will Lankford take a stand on that dangerous policy?
And, will Lankford or Cole support an investigation into the use of Signal chat by Hegseth to disclose secret attack plans in a way that upends "decades of military doctrine about operational security."
As Lankford and Cole switch back and forth, mildly questioning President Trump's behaviors, and then proclaiming their support for him, we should remember Tom Cole's mother, Helen Te Ata Gale Cole.
Helen Cole, a Republican mayor, House representative and state senator, was known for her integrity. Democratic Senate Pro Tem Cal Hobson explained in her eulogy:
Helen Cole was a woman of great dignity and character and was admired by members of both parties. … Her service on the Ethics Commission underscored Senator Cole's commitment to making government in Oklahoma something of which our citizens could be proud. Her son Tom continues the family tradition of service in the U.S. Congress and our thoughts and prayers are with Congressman Cole and the entire Cole family."
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Previously, Rep. Cole would stand up for his mother's values. The Lugar Center has ranked the younger Rep. Cole as 'the ninety-first most bipartisan member of the House during the 114th United States Congress,' which started in 2015.
I now wonder what Rep. Cole thinks his mother would say about his failure to risk his seat by standing up to the Trump/Musk dictates. After all, during Helen Cole's 18-year career in public service, she had victories and defeats in terms of creating a more honest Oklahoma Tax Commission and in the creation of the state Ethics Commission. When she announced that she would not seek re-election, Sen. Cole was praised for her belief that service in the Legislature need not be a lifelong career.
I have no idea what Cole or Lankford really think in terms of their pro-Trump positions. But surely they understand that their duty is to represent both their voters and American democracy, and the rule of law.
Or to quote Lankford, their job is to 'protect that constitutional integrity of government.'
When I was growing up, Republicans like Helen Cole and Henry Bellmon were among our state's most honest defenders of civil rights and justice. The voters I know are relieved that Rep. Cole and Sen. Lankford defended the interests of their constituencies. And Democrats like me don't expect them to agree with us on most issues.
But some point, I believe they need to take a stand, clearly demonstrating that they put our constitutional democracy over political gains.
John Thompson is a former Oklahoma City Public Schools teacher.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: On Trump, Oklahoma needs Lankford, Cole to speak up | Opinion
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