John R. Bennett

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For the Newfoundland politician, see John Robert Bennett.
John Bennett
John R. Bennett.jpg
Chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party
Assumed office
April 10, 2021
Preceded byDavid McLain
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
from the 2nd district
In office
January 4, 2011 – January 3, 2019
Preceded byBud Smithson
Succeeded byJim Olsen
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Nicole
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
Battles/warsIraq War
War in Afghanistan

John R. Bennett is a U.S. politician from the state of Oklahoma who currently serves as the Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party. He formerly served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2011 until 2019.

Early life and career[]

John R. Bennett is a retired U.S. Marine and pastor of Lee Creek Assembly of God in Muldrow.[1] He is married to Nicole Bennett. He is a Christian of the Pentecostal denomination. He served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.[2]

Politics[]

Oklahoma House of Representatives (2011–2019)[]

Bennett was first elected to the Oklahoma Legislature in 2011. He served in the 53rd Oklahoma Legislature, 54th Oklahoma Legislature, 55th Oklahoma Legislature, and the 56th Oklahoma Legislature before retiring in 2019.

He was the author of successful legislation to require school districts to treat student expressions of faith in the same manner as any other permissible subjects.[3]

Chairman of Oklahoma Republican Party (2021-Present)[]

On April 10, 2021 John Bennett was elected Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party.[4][2]

As state party chairman, Bennett broke tradition by publicly criticizing several incumbent Republicans such as James Lankford and Mitch McConnell.[5]

Controversies[]

Islamophobia[]

John Bennett has made Islamophobic comments on multiple occasions.[6][7][1]

In 2013, Bennett helped create the "counter-terrorism legislative caucus" and worked with Frank Gaffney and his Center for Security Policy (CSP) to try to "ban any foreign law that may limit Oklahoman's constitutional rights". The law was seen as an attempt to ban Sharia Law. The law was denounced by both the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)'s Oklahoma affiliate and the Oklahoma American Civil Liberties Union.[8] Bennett was later given the "National Defender of Freedom" award by the CSP in 2016.[9] The CSP is a Southern Poverty Law Center designated hate group.[10]

At an 2014 event with constituents in Sallisaw, Oklahoma, Bennett referred to Islam as "a cancer in our nation that needs to be cut out"[11] and claimed that there is "[no] difference between moderate and radical Islam."[7] Bennett also claimed that "90%" of the Qur'an "is violence."[12]

In 2016, Bennett campaigned on introducing legislation to ban the CAIR from Oklahoma calling them a "terrorist organization."[7][1] He later hosted an interim legislative study to examine the threat of "radical Islam" posed to the state.[1]

In March 2017, during CAIR's third annual Oklahoma "Muslim Day" at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City, Bennett gave a questionnaire to three Muslim students who came to meet him. The questionnaire said: "The Koran, the sunna of Mohammed and Sharia Law of all schools say that the husband can beat his wife. Do you beat your wife?"[7][13][14] According to CAIR, this questionnaire "intentionally misinterpreted ideas [from the Koran] to try to slander Muslims." The survey was written by ACT! for America.[15]

CAIR-Oklahoma executive director Adam Soltani said that Bennett told him all mosques in Oklahoma are "jihadi training grounds" and that Bennett personally accused him of being "one of the biggest terrorist in Oklahoma."[7] Imad Enchassi, senior imam of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, was told by Bennett that he would "demolish my mosque and every mosque in town" and that he "was the biggest threat for the state of Oklahoma.[1]

Calls for political violence and calling state agencies "terrorists"[]

In November 2016, Bennett posted on his Facebook page a photograph of Hillary Clinton with a caption suggesting that she should be executed by firing squad. After the post caused controversy, Bennett said that it was "barracks talk" and that he was not advocating for Clinton's execution, but said that he viewed Clinton as a traitor who should be imprisoned.[7] Later, Bennett continued to claim that Clinton was guilty of "treason" but called the remarks "sarcasm" and said he would never wish death toward any candidate.[16]

In a 2017 debate on a proposal to increase taxes on oil and gas producers to fund services, Bennett said, regarding state agencies' reports that budget cuts would lead to service cuts: "That's terrorism. We should not be negotiating with terrorists, period. These agencies are using our citizens as pawns." Bennett also asserted that state agencies would later "threaten to extort money from us again." The "terrorist" agency that he was referring to provides long-term care to individuals with intellectual disabilities, services to elderly Americans, as well as those whom are living in poverty.[17] Then-Governor Mary Fallin called the statement "unacceptable"[7] and it was condemned by the Oklahoma Public Employees Association.[17]

Media[]

After becoming Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party, Bennett started declining to give interviews citing that "the media lacks intellectual honesty."[18]

2020 Presidential Election[]

After the 2020 election, Bennett said he would support a primary challenge against incumbent Oklahoma Senator James Lankford because Lankford declined to object to counting of the electoral votes in Congress, formalizing Biden's victory.[5] Bennett also criticized another fellow Republican, U.S. Representative Stephanie Bice, for voting to create a January 6 commission to investigate the U.S. Capitol attack.[5]

Electoral history[]

2010[]

John Bennett ran unopposed in the Republican Primary.

Oklahoma House District 2, General Election, November 2, 2010[19]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John R Bennett 4,794 54.49
Democratic Glen Bud Smithson (incumbent) 4,004 45.51
Total votes 8,798 100.00

2012[]

John Bennett ran unopposed in the Republican Primary.

Oklahoma House District 2, General Election, November 6, 2012[20]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John R Bennett 6,316 53.7
Democratic Rick Agent 5,437 46.3
Total votes 11,753 100.00

2014[]

John Bennett ran unopposed in the Republican Primary and General Election

2016[]

John Bennett ran unopposed in the Republican Primary.

Oklahoma House District 2, General Election, November 8, 2016[21]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John R Bennett 6,657 54.42
Democratic Tom Stites 5,576 45.58
Total votes 12,233 100.00

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e Forman, Carmen (9 April 2021). "Ex-Oklahoma lawmaker who asked Muslims if they beat their wives now running for GOP chairman". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Anti-Islamic ex-lawmaker named Oklahoma GOP chairman". apnews.com. Associated Press. 11 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  3. ^ Lanning Curtis. Oklahoma Legislature Approves Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act 5NewsOnline.com (accessed March 14, 2014)
  4. ^ "Congratulations to our newly elected Chairman, @USMC Veteran, 1st Sgt John Bennett!". twitter.com. OK Republican Party. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Blake Douglas. "Sen. Lankford responds to 'unheard of' lack of neutrality from state GOP chairman". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  6. ^ Staff, Transcript. "State rep says local Muslim organizations are "here to destroy us"".
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Goforth, Dylan (18 February 2021). "Oklahoma's leading pro-gun group endorses 'Anti-Islam' former lawmaker for chairman of state's Republican Party". The Frontier. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  8. ^ Murphy, Sean (22 April 2013). "Oklahoma Muslims fret about anti-Islamic rhetoric". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  9. ^ Piggott, Stephen (4 November 2016). "Oklahoma State Representative Receives Award from anti-Muslim Hate Group". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  10. ^ "CENTER FOR SECURITY POLICY". splcenter.org. Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  11. ^ Sherman, Bill (September 16, 2014). "Rep. John Bennett stands behind 'threat of Islam' statements at Sallisaw Republican meeting". Tulsa World. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  12. ^ [1] Oklahoma Republican under fire for racist anti-Muslim comments, accessed November 02, 2014.
  13. ^ Wang, Amy B. (5 March 2017). "Muslim students tried to meet with a lawmaker. They were first asked: 'Do you beat your wife?'". The Washington Post.
  14. ^ CAIR-OK to Host 3rd Annual 'Oklahoma Muslim Day at the Capitol' CAIR
  15. ^ "Muslim students trying to meet with a lawmaker were asked: 'Do you beat your wife?'".
  16. ^ "Oklahoma lawmaker writes 'firing squad' on Clinton post". apnews.com. Associated Press. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Apology demanded after lawmaker calls state agencies 'terrorists'". opea.org. OPEA – Oklahoma's Public Employees Association. Retrieved 2017-11-08.
  18. ^ Jones, Perris (12 April 2021). "State Democratic leaders, Muslim community call out Oklahoma GOP after Bennett named chair". KOCO News 5. ABC. KOCO.com. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  19. ^ "SUMMARY RESULTS General Election — November 2, 2010". oklahoma.gov. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  20. ^ "OFFICIAL RESULTS Federal, State, Legislative and Judicial Races General Election — November 6, 2012". oklahoma.gov. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  21. ^ "OFFICIAL RESULTS Federal, State, Legislative and Judicial Races General Election — November 8, 2016". oklahoma.gov. Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
Party political offices
Preceded by Chair of the Oklahoma Republican Party
2021–present 		Incumbent
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