GOP Takeover Planner Was Registered Independent

The man who last fall began planning to take control of the Oklahoma Republican Party was at the time a registered Independent voter, Oklahoma County Election Board records show. Al Gerhart of the Oklahoma Constitutional Alliance, who has stirred emotions and controversy both within and without his group with his talk of an armed citizen militia and attacks on GOP State Chairman Gary Jones, changed his registration to Republican at year's end. As related below on this page, Gerhart outlined his plan to take control of the state GOP in a website posting six months ago. Meanwhile, the fallout from Gearhart's statements during a Tea Party rally continues.

Stuart Jolly, head of Oklahomans For Prosperity, announced over the weekend his group is withdrawing from Gerhart's group because of Gerhart's statements and today, Jolly released an email he sent Gerhart:

... Al Gerhart's other goal: The takeover of the Oklahoma Republican Party as mentioned above is also hitting the fan with increased attention statewide. Last week, he lashed out at GOP State Chairman Gary Jones, a move that, combined with his talk of an armed citizen militia to confront the federal government, prompted lots of talk about his "far out" rhetoric and concern about whether he'd taken over the Tea Party movement in Oklahoma City.