Resolution to name Rock & Roll song debated, defeated despite vote of the people

Oklahoma City (April 23, 2009) State Capitol – After a year-long process to determine what song Oklahomans wanted designated the state’s Official Rock & Roll Song, Oklahomans made their wishes crystal clear – but House Republicans apparently heard only static.

“Do You Realize??”, a song penned and performed by nationally renowned group and Oklahoma natives The Flaming Lips, won the contest – which was sponsored by the Oklahoma Film and Music Office – in a landslide, defeating all other contenders by a two to one margin.

But when SJR24, a resolution authored by Rep. Joe Dorman, D-Rush Springs, that would codify the vote on the Official Rock & Roll Song, came before the House on Thursday, House Republicans narrowly defeated the measure 48-39.

“I was absolutely floored when the measure was defeated,” said Rep. Dorman.  “I couldn’t believe that the one time we as a body have the opportunity to pass a law based on the will of the people of our state – not our own will – the Republicans won’t do it.  I am quite simply appalled at the behavior of my colleagues, and at the message they’re choosing to send to and about our state.”

Several Republican members, though claiming not to really know the band or the song, justified their stance in a floor debate over the resolution by saying that they noticed one band member wearing what they called an “inappropriate” t-shirt to the Capitol, and that they’d heard another band member had used “offensive” language at a city event years before.

“If all it takes to undo a democratic vote of the people is to be offended by something a person says or wears, then we are in grave danger,” Rep. Dorman said.  “They may as well have burned Flaming Lips albums on the House floor today.”

Rep. Dorman added that he was outraged at the hypocrisy several Republican colleagues showed by voting down the resolution, but being welcoming and star-struck when the Flaming Lips visited the Capitol to hear the resolution read earlier this year.

“Many of the same Republicans who voted against this resolution were excited just a few months ago to have their picture taken with the band, and requested signed copies of the picture,” he stated.  “I marvel at those members – I absolutely marvel at the fact that they’ll go home and sleep tonight, thinking they’ve done some sort of service to our state, when all they’ve done is hypocritically trample free will, free speech and democracy.  And all this fuss, over a rock and roll song.

“The signed photos are being delivered to my office, and I will make sure that all members who voted ‘no’ on this resolution won’t get them,” he added.  “I’d expect they would just turn around and sell them on eBay, anyway.”

He also noted that the vote totals on Thursday did not reflect the word of several members in the days leading up to the vote.

“Three Republican members said yesterday that they would vote for this resolution, but ran with the mob today and voted against it.  Had those three members kept their word, this resolution would have passed, and Oklahoma wouldn’t be experiencing national embarrassment today,” he concluded.

Out of the 21,061 votes cast in the contest, 10,738, or nearly 51 percent, picked “Do You Realize??” by the Flaming Lips from their 2002 album, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.

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