Cole Responds to Rep. McCollum's Remarks on OKC Bombing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04) made the following statement in response to comments by Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) on the House floor today politicizing the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing:

"These outrageous remarks are deeply offensive to all Oklahomans - indeed all Americans. The fact that a Member of Congress would invoke this tragedy to make a cheap political statement is reprehensible. Members of both parties should show respect for the victims' families and refrain from using rhetoric that politicizes this tragic event.

"Governor Frank Keating and President Bill Clinton did a superb job at the state and national levels responding to this event. Neither of them has ever used this event to make a partisan point. Others should follow their lead.

"As Oklahoma's Secretary of State at the time, I witnessed remarkable cooperation and unity in the aftermath of the attack. My current House colleagues Frank Lucas, whose district office was devastated in the explosion, and then- Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin were a part of the remarkable bipartisan efforts to help Oklahoma City recover.

"This tragedy was not a partisan political event and should not be exploited now for divisive, partisan purposes. As the 15th anniversary of the bombing approaches, our thoughts should be with the 168 victims of the attack and their families."

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