Source: ABC News (US), Raw Story, UPI, Oklahoman

 
One panel in OK politician's homophobic campaign 'comic book' targets out gay politician Jim Roth

In the comic, which Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart created along with a friend, a devil threatens a small child with a pitchfork, saying "If I can get the kids to believe homosexuality is normal!" while an angel yells, "Not with Brent around you won't!" [ABC News has a pdf copy of the book here.]

The 16-page comic book features Satan, angels, toga-wearing gay people and crude depictions of public officials discussing "anal sodomy" and "Pedifiles."

Though the book's content has stirred up scandal and been widely condemned by politicians in Oklahoma, Rinehart is unrepentant, misspellings aside.

"I'm proud of it," he tells ABCNews.com. "It's a novel way to tell a story about the last three and a half years. It's informative, entertaining and a good read."

"That's not the first storm that I've stirred up since I was elected to office," says Rinehart, explaining that "in my opinion, there are a lot of people who in their campaign material, it's the same old 'Blah, blah, blah.' I wanted to do something different."

Oklahoma Attorney General W.A. Drew Edmondson is depicted in the comic book holding a sign that says, "Gay rights now!" A caption says Edmondson "put Oklahoma on record to force the Boy Scouts to accept homosexuals as scout leaders, a pedifile's (sic) dream come true."

The book's targets were outraged at their depictions.

Edmondson issued a statement saying, "A drowning man tends to thrash about."

Jim Roth, an openly gay member of the corporation commission in Oklahoma City, is depicted in the cartoons, leading a group of shirtless gay-rights marchers.

"He's a disturbed soul and it's disgusting to see him target people like that," Roth told ABC News. He said that he often tangled with Rinehart when they served together on the county commission.

"I'm very familiar with his twisted thinking. He has a professional history of doing things to distract from his own bad behavior."

In an interview Monday with CNN's John Robert (CNN video), Rinehart, said he believes fighting "the homosexual agenda is an issue in this campaign," just like improving local roads is important to voters.

"Are you homophobic?" Roberts asked.

"I'm not even sure as to what 'homophobic' means," Rinehart replied, "but let's just keep in mind that we are in a cultural war."

Edmondson last year filed felony charges against Rinehart, accusing him of perjury, conspiracy and money laundering in connection with his 2004 campaign. Rinehart faces a campaign corruption trial in September.

In the CNN interview, Rinehart claimed Edmondson filed the campaign complaints against him because of his opposition to "the homosexual agenda."

He has raised only $28,096 for his re-election effort, facing off against two Republican opponents in a primary next week, but predicted to the Oklahoman newspaper that he'll win nonetheless.

The Republican said Monday night that Edmondson's investigation of his 2004 campaign scared off contributors. He called donations to his opponents "a lot of money down the toilet."

"This is one of the strangest things I've ever seen," political science professor Keith Gaddie is quoted saying by Raw Story. "I've never seen a comic book with the phrase 'anal sodomy' in it before. ... He's pretty much grinding every ax he's got from his days in the county commission."

County Assessor Leonard Sullivan said, "I've really encouraged him on more than one occasion to get professional help. He really needs it."

Full article: Mud-Slinging Comic Book Stirs Up Scandal | ABC News (US)
Candidate's anti-gay comic book targets AG | UPI.com
Rinehart is confident he'll win | Oklahoman
Brent Rinehart's comic book plot stirs discussion | Oklahoman
Oklahoma official defends comic linking gays to Satan | Raw Story