Tom Coburn is mean

[Boarder]

http://www.thelostogle.com/2010/02/08/tom-coburn-is-mean/

Anyone know what he did?

[OUHOMER]

He's my hero, i would like to know as well?

[SoonerInKCMO]

A TLO post about one of Coburn's staffers may have led to the firing of that staffer. TLO is denying any responsibility and is now posting BS on FB like "your (sic) assuming we knew he'd get fired".

[Boarder]

I remember the staffer thing and figured that was it. So, the staffer got fired?

[SoonerInKCMO]

I believe so... there are a lot of posts on TLO's FB page that go into some more detail. Looks like TLO deleted the original post about the staffer.

[OUHOMER]

Umm, i must have missed it

[Boarder]

I looked on the FB page, but didn't see anything. I did find this group, though. (http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=the+lost+ogle&init=quick#!/group.php?v=info&ref=search&gid=349519349376)

I checked again and there are some posts that haven't been deleted, yet. I remember people taking them to task a bit on the original blog post about the staffer.

[SoonerInKCMO]

Looks like they've gone on a deleting spree on their FB page as well.

[SbOrOiNaEnR]

Basically, the fired staffer in question was "following" dozens of porn stars on Twitter. And if there's one thing Tom Coburn hates, it's pornography. Especially since all pornography is homosexual pornography, because it turns your sexual desires inward.

[47straight]

If he's already fired, why did they delete it? So the staffer wouldn't be pissed?

[Viking Kitten]

Don't know quite what to make of this. As I recall from the original TLO blog post, the staffer was following three porn stars, all Oklahomans. I use Twitter professionally, and I make a habit of re-following anyone from Oklahoma who follows me. The three actresses in question aren't really household names, so I don't think it beyond the realm of possibility that the staffer may not have even known who these skanks were. Twitter itself is not porn. (In fact the only reason I would have known who were they were is from reading TLO.)

So I'm not sure who is at fault at here. Clearly TLO's post was an attempt to embarrass the guy, but Twitter is public and the staffer should have known that. Coburn has the right to fire anyone he wants, but seriously... what kind of a dick fires somebody over that?

My problem with TLO is not what they did in the first place, it's the way they are trying to cover it up. They (like a lot of bloggers) want to act like "journalists," but real journalists have ethical standards we have to abide by, and we don't get to go around whistling "what? who? me???" when something we do has consequences. We don't get to hide behind some false Internet persona either, we are held accountable. (Granted I am hiding behind one right now, but nothing I am saying would get the TLO guys fired from their own blog.)

I guess my point is that this kind of thing is the natural consequence of confusing bloggers with journalists. They both have their place of course, but I hope this is a learning experience for everybody involved.

[yermom]

Ashlynn Brooke, Jesse Jane, and ???

:D

[Viking Kitten]

Yep... those two plus one more. Her name escapes me. Living proof that everyone who is a porn actress should not be referred to a porn "star."

[GKeeper316]

hey ashlynn brooke's friggin hot... jesse jane just kinda looks like a worn out skank. buddy of mine swears up and down he worked at sonic on 12th street with her back in high school.

but i wholeheartedly agree... tom coburn is a dick. he rails against a government sponsored health insurance option, while all the other doctors in america are for it (coburn was a doctor before entering politics). he doesnt care about the health and well being of his constituents... he cares about the health and well being of insurance companies profits.

[SoonerStormchaser]

but seriously... what kind of a dick fires somebody over that?

http://s.buzzfed.com/static/imagebuzz/web03/2009/8/21/16/scott-the-dick-from-south-park-20542-1250886786-11.jpg

[Boarder]

I would bet that they really were trying to embarrass Coburn and didn't realize it would ge the staffer canned until too late. This cover-up is cutting into their credibility, though. I've generally thought they were pretty funny with most of the shenanigans, but this really isn't being handled well. Can't wait to see what tomorrow's post is.

[OUHOMER]

he rails against a government sponsored health insurance option, while all the other doctors in america are for it (coburn was a doctor before entering politics). he doesnt care about the health and well being of his constituents... he cares about the health and well being of insurance companies profits.

Funny, my wife just had her gall bladder removed and her doctor was NOT for government sponsored health care.

[Okla-homey]

Yep... those two plus one more. Her name escapes me. Living proof that everyone who is a porn actress should not be referred to a porn "star."

"porn actress?" puh-leeze! Highly-paid prostitute is more accurate.;)

[Okla-homey]

tom coburn is a dick. he rails against a government sponsored health insurance option, while all the other doctors in america are for it (coburn was a doctor before entering politics). he doesnt care about the health and well being of his constituents... he cares about the health and well being of insurance companies profits.

I know a lot of medical doctors. I don't know a single one who favors a government take-over of our current health care delivery system, a/k/a Obamacare. And for the record, Coburn still treats patients.

[picasso]

hey ashlynn brooke's friggin hot... jesse jane just kinda looks like a worn out skank. buddy of mine swears up and down he worked at sonic on 12th street with her back in high school.

but i wholeheartedly agree... tom coburn is a dick. he rails against a government sponsored health insurance option, while all the other doctors in america are for it (coburn was a doctor before entering politics). he doesnt care about the health and well being of his constituents... he cares about the health and well being of insurance companies profits.

wrong and you're quite misinformed if you think so.

You guys are also missing the fact that nearly any politician would fire a peon for following visual prostitutes around on a public forum.

[StoopTroup]

Funny, my wife just had her gall bladder removed and her doctor was NOT for government sponsored health care.

Glad she did OK. I lost mine too a few years ago. I heard this morning that Jack Murtha died from an infection after having his out.

[TheHumanAlphabet]

the TLO seems like a bunch of loser TV addicts that have nothing better to do but blog and read comic books...

[TheHumanAlphabet]

Funny, my wife just had her gall bladder removed and her doctor was NOT for government sponsored health care.

And she survived the surgery, unlike Murtha's government furnished doctor...

[OklahomaTuba]

And for the record, Coburn still treats patients.But, but, but that doesn't matter that he treats the sick, often times at no cost to the patient.

The fact that he doesn't let government employees surf for porn at work while being paid by all of us just makes him mean and evil and racist and stuff.
;)

[Crucifax Autumn]

"porn actress?" puh-leeze! Highly-paid prostitute is more accurate.;)

What's wrong with that? :P

[Boarder]

The fact that he doesn't let government employees surf for porn at work while being paid by all of us just makes him mean and evil and racist and stuff.
;)

Why stop at just equating following some "actresses" on Twitter with surfing for porn at work? Let's just say the staffer was hiring prostitutes and bringing them back to his cubicle for the servicing. Or, better yet, he was running a bordello from Dr. Tom's office. He's the new OKC madam. And Dr Tom was the ringleader who fired him to escape being entangled in the evil plot. Yeah, that's it!

[MrJimBeam]

Jesse Jane is from Oklahoma? I didn't know that.......

Here I spend $29.95 a month and don't get important bio information.

There is a porn star that goes by Oklahoma but I don't know if she is from here. She probably is cause I don't know why anyone would go by Oklahoma if they weren't from here. A star could go by Georgia or Texas and not be from there, that makes sense. But if a girl was from Montana she probably wouldn't pick the stage name "Oklahoma". Anyway, what did Coburn do again?

[badger]

Coburn doesn't want to associate with that stuff, I guess.

[Tulsa_Fireman]

COBURN HATES BOOBIES

[OklahomaTuba]

Why should he?

Their job is to serve us, not stalk hot chicks on twitter while cashing a government check.

[Tulsa_Fireman]

Crap.

Who is it I talk to about changing my job description?

[SoonerEMT]

he rails against a government sponsored health insurance option, while all the other doctors in america are for it (coburn was a doctor before entering politics). he doesnt care about the health and well being of his constituents... he cares about the health and well being of insurance companies profits.

You obviously don't visit with a lot of doctors...

Don't confuse the AMA being bribed by Obama into supporting his plan with "all the other doctors in America are for it"... By and large, the vast majority of physicians are not supportive of the plans put forward by the democrats in the health care debate...

[yermom]

But, but, but that doesn't matter that he treats the sick, often times at no cost to the patient.

The fact that he doesn't let government employees surf for porn at work while being paid by all of us just makes him mean and evil and racist and stuff.
;)

who says he was doing it at work?

i don't think you can even post pr0n on Twitter, can you?

dude was an idiot for doing that anyway. if you work for a politician, you need to keep your image clean

either way it's embarrassing for Coburn though

[Viking Kitten]

The staffer in question apparently was following several thousand people on Twitter, which once again, is not a porn site. Three of those people were porn actresses. All three of those actresses also happen to be constituents of his boss. I hardly think that constitutes "stalking hot chicks while cashing a government check."

[yermom]

ok, yeah, that could be hard to keep track of...

[TheHumanAlphabet]

All this electronic following is bad....mmmkay!

I mean, I don't twitter, facebook or anything else, but Soonerfans message boards. How can a person "follow" several thousand people and how can they get any work done?

[GrapevineSooner]

I think there's a number of you that could stand to learn how some of these social networking tools work.

You know, so you don't come off as sounding ignorant to those of us who are familiar with how Facebook, Twitter, etc. work.

For instance, do you not think it's possible that this staffer owns a personal computer and pays for Internet service out of his own pocket? And perhaps it was from home where he was catching up on all the Twitter feeds he was following?

Thus, destroying your argument that he was "Stalking" porn actresses on the Fed's dime?

[yermom]

heh

[GKeeper316]

You obviously don't visit with a lot of doctors...

Don't confuse the AMA being bribed by Obama into supporting his plan with "all the other doctors in America are for it"... By and large, the vast majority of physicians are not supportive of the plans put forward by the democrats in the health care debate...

so its actually ok for so many americans to not have access to affordable health care, according to all the doctors, then?

that doesnt surprise me. doctors are overpaid *******s anyway.

[GrapevineSooner]

so its actually ok for so many americans to not have access to affordable health care, according to all the doctors, then?

that doesnt surprise me. doctors are overpaid *******s anyway.

http://www.therightscoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/strawman.png

[GKeeper316]

look as long as so many good, hard working americans cant afford to see a doctor on a regular basis, and unpaid medical bills are the number one reason for bankruptcy in america, theres a problem.

you asses can neg me all you want, but doctors and insurance companies are just trying to protect the status quo, which has made them a ton of money.

how many doctors would still be practicing medicine if it only paid them 50k a year?

i was watching 60 minutes a couple weeks ago. they did a story about a guy who had been working for a trucking company for 16 years. while he was still employed, he was diagnosed with a brain anurism, and was recieving treatment and prognosis was excellent. then he lost his job. tried to find a job for over a year, couldnt, lost his cobra, and his wife's new job offers family benefits, but hes uninsurable because of the preexisting condition, and will likely die soon because he cant afford his treatments.

as long as that is the way its done, theres a giant problem, and your unwillingness to accept that fact is atrocious and callous, to say the least.

[yermom]

yep

[MamaMia]

look as long as so many good, hard working americans cant afford to see a doctor on a regular basis, and unpaid medical bills are the number one reason for bankruptcy in america, theres a problem.

you asses can neg me all you want, but doctors and insurance companies are just trying to protect the status quo, which has made them a ton of money.

how many doctors would still be practicing medicine if it only paid them 50k a year?

i was watching 60 minutes a couple weeks ago. they did a story about a guy who had been working for a trucking company for 16 years. while he was still employed, he was diagnosed with a brain anurism, and was recieving treatment and prognosis was excellent. then he lost his job. tried to find a job for over a year, couldnt, lost his cobra, and his wife's new job offers family benefits, but hes uninsurable because of the preexisting condition, and will likely die soon because he cant afford his treatments.

as long as that is the way its done, theres a giant problem, and your unwillingness to accept that fact is atrocious and callous, to say the least.We do not need heath care reform. We need health insurance reform. We do not need, nor can we afford a whole new system. We need things like portability, medical savings accounts and tort reform. Lets fix the system we already have. Its broken but its not in need of being totally scraped.

[Crucifax Autumn]

This again? The problem with any form of insurance reform is if they are forced to accept pre-existing conditions the rates will go through the roof for everyone. A medical savings account would work, but only if people somehow managed to stick away hundreds of thousands of dollars before needing a transplant or long-term cancer treatment. Tort reform is a cute idea, but it has to be done state by state and it would actually have little to no effect on actual costs, despite what some doctors claim. So, that only leaves options that are more socialist in nature and as we can tell reading all the threads about such things, too many people are against even sensible forms of socialism, particularly people who haven't been dropped by insurance as soon as they get seriously ill or who haven't lost coverage when leaving a job and then couldn't get new coverage due t a pre-existing condition.

...and the beat goes on...

Loo-loo-loo I got some apples Loo-loo-loo you got some too Loo-loo-loo let's get together have ourselves a loo-loo-loo. Loo loo loo i’ve got some apples loo loo loo you’ve got some too loo loo loo let’s make some applesauce take off out clothes and loo loo loo!

[Okla-homey]

i was watching 60 minutes a couple weeks ago. they did a story about a guy who had been working for a trucking company for 16 years. while he was still employed, he was diagnosed with a brain anurism, and was recieving treatment and prognosis was excellent. then he lost his job. tried to find a job for over a year, couldnt, lost his cobra, and his wife's new job offers family benefits, but hes uninsurable because of the preexisting condition, and will likely die soon because he cant afford his treatments.



Sux to be him. However, where do we draw the line? It's tough to be unable to feed yourself or keep a roof over your head, but neither are "rights." Notwithtanding that without food, clothing and shelter, people die.

We set this country up, originally, so people might "pursue" happiness. I fear many on the left, want to change "pursue" to "be guarenteed." And you know what else? We can't afford to do that.

And before you go throwing the Euro-social-welfare-model on the table, I would remind you, no capitalist nation with anywhere near our population, provides free government healthcare to all its people.

[NormanPride]

Aid: Um, Mr. Coburn, TLO just reported that Jimmy follows porn stars on Twitter.
Dr. Tom: What the hell is Twitter? And why the hell is Jimmy watching pornography on it?
Aid: Well, sir, it's not really watching porn, and Twitter is a social networking site.
Dr. Tom: So one of my people is socializing with porn actresses? That is unacceptable, Intern A. This is embarrassing to my entire operation, and Jimmy can no longer work here if these are his interests.

I bet that's about how it went. Coburn probably has no idea how Twitter really works, but even if he did something like this getting out means that a grunt worker gets let go. I bet just about any politician with his stance on pr0n would do the same. TLO is completely at fault here, and if they were real journalists they would print a retraction or an apology like real publications do.

[Crucifax Autumn]

Sux to be him. However, where do we draw the line? It's tough to be unable to feed yourself or keep a roof over your head, but neither are "rights." Notwithtanding that without food, clothing and shelter, people die.

We set this country up, originally, so people might "pursue" happiness. I fear many on the left, want to change "pursue" to "be guarenteed." And you know what else? We can't afford to do that.

And before you go throwing the Euro-social-welfare-model on the table, I would remind you, no capitalist nation with anywhere near our population, provides free government healthcare to all its people.


I agree a solid 50% with what you just said. I also disagree a solid 50% since as a society we can't afford to keep going the way we are either.

We're just screwed either way honestly, and I don't see a real way out from either side of the political spectrum.

:mad:

[yermom]

Aid: Um, Mr. Coburn, TLO just reported that Jimmy follows porn stars on Twitter.
Dr. Tom: What the hell is Twitter? And why the hell is Jimmy watching pornography on it?
Aid: Well, sir, it's not really watching porn, and Twitter is a social networking site.
Dr. Tom: So one of my people is socializing with porn actresses? That is unacceptable, Intern A. This is embarrassing to my entire operation, and Jimmy can no longer work here if these are his interests.

I bet that's about how it went. Coburn probably has no idea how Twitter really works, but even if he did something like this getting out means that a grunt worker gets let go. I bet just about any politician with his stance on pr0n would do the same. TLO is completely at fault here, and if they were real journalists they would print a retraction or an apology like real publications do.

meh.

i mean, i didn't see the blog entry before they posted it, but we are talking about public info that anyone could see. if you don't want to get fired for following pr0n stars on Twitter, don't work for someone like Coburn

[NormanPride]

meh.

i mean, i didn't see the blog entry before they posted it, but we are talking about public info that anyone could see. if you don't want to get fired for following pr0n stars on Twitter, don't work for someone like Coburn

It's an honest mistake made by someone who most likely just wanted to follow Oklahomans and didn't know who they were. Even if they did, it's just Twitter, right? TLO stirs up **** like the rag it is and now someone's lost their job.

[SbOrOiNaEnR]

TLO is completely at fault here, and if they were real journalists they would print a retraction or an apology like real publications do.

This. I don't necessarily agree with Coburn's porno position, but the man has an image to maintain, and a guy Intern A (I can't even be bothered to remember his name) is completely expendable.

And that's what torques me off the most about this whole sordid affair. The way TLO has completely swept this under the rug, removed all evidence from its site, and pretend it never happened. Saw this recently in an unreleated post from a different blogger, but the whole "citizen journalist" movement really chaps my ***. Blogging is nothing more than written karaoke, and if you want to be a REAL journalist, have some melon farmer-ing accountability.

[Chuck Bao]

This. I don't necessarily agree with Coburn's porno position, but the man has an image to maintain, and a guy Intern A (I can't even be bothered to remember his name) is completely expendable.

And that's what torques me off the most about this whole sordid affair. The way TLO has completely swept this under the rug, removed all evidence from its site, and pretend it never happened. Saw this recently in an unreleated post from a different blogger, but the whole "citizen journalist" movement really chaps my ***. Blogging is nothing more than written karaoke, and if you want to be a REAL journalist, have some melon farmer-ing accountability.

Well said. Spek.

[yermom]

maybe someone on huffpo is a journalist blogger, i thought TLO is just supposed to be funny?

i wouldn't think of it much above something on the South Oval or the Fark Board here

[Stitch Face]

how many doctors would still be practicing medicine if it only paid them 50k a year?

A better question: how many people would write off an entire decade of their young adult lives and amass hundreds of thousands of dollars in educational debt to become doctors if they knew it was going to compensate them 50k a year?

[yermom]

it only costs that much because it pays that much :D

[Bourbon St Sooner]

Just so I'll know, how many of you are porn stars? I don't want to get fired at work for following porn stars on SF.com

I already figured badger for one.

[soonervegas]

maybe someone on huffpo is a journalist blogger, i thought TLO is just supposed to be funny?

i wouldn't think of it much above something on the South Oval or the Fark Board here

I was reading the website the day it was posted. Pretty much TLO has a liberal hard on for anyone who is conservative. (Which is ok, because exposing idiocy on both sides is kind of cool) Unfortunately, they went a step too far and posted this staffers twitter followings which happened to include some porn stars as a way to implicate Coburn's hypocrisy. Which was a stretch at best and cost a dude his job at worst. I don't think the guys meant any harm, they just need to realize the reach their website has.

and really, what male in Oklahoma doesn't follow Ashlynn Brooke?

[Chuck Bao]

I was reading the website the day it was posted. Pretty much TLO has a liberal hard on for anyone who is conservative. (Which is ok, because exposing idiocy on both sides is kind of cool) Unfortunately, they went a step too far and posted this staffers twitter followings which happened to include some porn stars as a way to implicate Coburn's hypocrisy. Which was a stretch at best and cost a dude his job at worst. I don't think the guys meant any harm, they just need to realize the reach their website has.

and really, what male in Oklahoma doesn't follow Ashlynn Brooke?

Agreed. You don't necessarily have to trust what blogs say, but some of them certainly has a large following. They shouldn't have deleted their original blog, as SbOrOiNaEnR mentioned.

My department has a popular website and there is no way that I would ever allow an archived stock report get deleted even if the recommendation was way, way, way wrong. Everything going out, I have to approve and then it is my responsibility.

If this is public record, they shouldn't be afraid of a lawsuit. Then why did they delete the blog? Or, why did they allow it to be posted in the first place?

[C&CDean]

Here's what I'm gathering from this thread:

You're a backwards hick if you don't twitter.

Everybody here actually saw who's computer this guy was on, and what he was doing there.

Everybody here knows WTF "tlo" is.

Did I ever mention how glad I am I've never twittered/my face/what the **** ever? And like somebody said, if dude is all twitters when he's supposed to be working, then **** him. If he's at home playing with himself while on the computer then no problem. I'm pretty sure somebody can't be fired because they're a twit while up at the house.

[yermom]

ok, i'll explain some of this for Dean :D

TLO=thelostogle.com

on twitter you post a blurb about what you are doing in 140 characters or less. you can subscribe to other people's updates by "following" them. or people can "follow" you. it's a lot like being someone's friend on myface. it's not necessarily an active thing. also twitter doesn't always show a lot of personal info, but often people use their full names.

so this guy could have possibly been following Ashlynn Brooke and not known who she was. but also, he was probably using his full name. some politicos use twitter for public/business. he could have easily been using it for public and private use, maybe at work, maybe at home, i don't really know

[GKeeper316]

1) tom coburn stopped being a doctor the second he decided to run for office and...

2) if this guy was employed in the state of oklahoma, he can be fired at any time, for any reason that doesnt violate his civil rights.

my opinion... if hes going to be working for a guy who is a hard core right wing family values crusader, he shouldnt have associated himself in any way with porn stars on a public profile for everyone to see.

[GrapevineSooner]

A better question: how many people would write off an entire decade of their young adult lives and amass hundreds of thousands of dollars in educational debt to become doctors if they knew it was going to compensate them 50k a year?

I don't think he really thought that point through.

Fact is, there isn't anything even remotely resembling a silver bullet that is going to cure all of our ills.

I recognize there are major issues with our current health insurance system. I don't think it's right for somebody to develop a major illness and get dropped from their insurance when they lose their job.

OTOH, the fact of the matter is if you force insurance companies to accept people with long term pre-existing conditions, the rates will go through the roof.

And a lot of these issues I see can be traced back to FDR coaxing companies to offer health insurance as a benefit to employment without allowing such things as portability of insurance. I wish we had a reset button to hit on this, but we don't.

Now as for the actual issue at hand...

I like visiting TLO on a regular basis. They take shots at some of the nutjobs on the right and deservedly so.

But they need to man up here and admit they were trying to embarrass the Coburn staffer with the knowledge that the goods they had on him could get him fired.

You also can't just flush this whole episode down the memory hole when you've got the kind of readership they have.

[soonerhubs]

1) tom coburn stopped being a doctor the second he decided to run for office

I suppose that was his evil clone who saw me and prescribed me medicine a few years back. :D

[Stitch Face]

I suppose that was his evil clone who saw me and prescribed me medicine a few years back. :D

I called Coburn's senate office last week and some staffer answered "Doctor Coburn's office..." I thought it was odd that his congressional staff would be instructed to answer that way.

[SbOrOiNaEnR]

I called Coburn's senate office last week and some staffer answered "Doctor Coburn's office..." I thought it was odd that his congressional staff would be instructed to answer that way.

I'm actually amazed they didn't answer "Deacon Doctor Coburn's office..."

...you think I'm kidding.

[MamaMia]

I called Coburn's senate office last week and some staffer answered "Doctor Coburn's office..." I thought it was odd that his congressional staff would be instructed to answer that way. I've had to call his office in D.C. They answer that phone "Dr. Coburn." I always thought that was really weird. Unless he's practicing medicine in that office and since he is acting as a Senator on behalf of his constituents, why would they not answer the phone "Senator Coburn." Hes our Senator, not our doctor. :confused:

[47straight]

Because he actually earned the title "Dr." but is only "senator" at the pleasure of his constituents?

[MamaMia]

Because he actually earned the title "Dr." but is only "senator" at the pleasure of his constituents?
He probably makes his kids call him Dr. Daddy. :D

[OUMallen]

I came for SFW pics of these actresses...

[Stitch Face]

I came for SFW pics of these actresses...

A little premature, don't you think?

[RacerX]

Premature for whom?