watts, jc Rep

<h1 class="widget-title"></h1><div>PR: Philip one P ellender 2 l koch ind PR plays rough → kochfacts www ad hom attacks on reporters inc mayer (lobby firm excongr JC Watts); Michael Goldfarb gop pol op</div><div></div><h1 class="widget-title">
</h1><h1 class="widget-title">The strange tale of Oklahomans for a Conservative Future</h1>

<ul><li>In Oklahoma, a dark money group tried to get the state's GOP

House speaker, T.W. Shannon, elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014. Though

it claimed to be a social welfare nonprofit, Oklahomans for a

Conservative Future spent most of its money that year on pro-Shannon

political advocacy.</li><li>Along the way, at least one of those running the group also worked

for consulting firms paid by the Shannon campaign itself. And an

affidavit given in connection with drug charges against OCF's co-founder

suggested the group may have been acting as an extension of Shannon's

campaign.</li><li>OCF owned up to overspending on politics in a letter to the IRS --

but told the agency not to worry, because in 2015 it made up for the

transgression.</li><li>Even if that kind of accounting were allowed -- which it's not,

experts say -- the group appears to have done little more since

Shannon's defeat than run ads made by a trade group of independent oil

and gas producers.</li><li>The link between the trade group and the nonprofit? Former Rep. J.C.

Watts, lobbyist for the trade group and former employer of several of

the nonprofit's board members.</li></ul>600 13TH STREET, NW, SUITE 790

WASHINGTON, DC 20005===wikifluff...<h3>Reelection and successive terms</h3>

Watts' 1996 reelection campaign featured state representative Ed Crocker as the Democratic candidate<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT960926-16">[16]</a> in a negative campaign.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-LAT990222-2">[2]</a>

Crocker questioned Watts' business dealings because of tax issues for a

real estate company of which Watts was the principal owner, and whether

he was paying child support for one of his daughters born out of

wedlock.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT960926-16">[16]</a>

Crocker suggested Watts might use drugs or sanction their use because

he declined to participate in a voluntary drug screening in the House of

Representatives.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT961008-17">[17]</a> Watts denied the charge, took the test, and accused Cocker of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft_dodger" title="Draft dodger" class="mw-redirect">draft dodging</a> during the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War" title="Vietnam War">Vietnam War</a> and later living at the "center of the West Coast drug culture."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT961008-17">[17]</a> Watts was given a featured speaking role at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Republican_National_Convention" title="1996 Republican National Convention">1996 Republican National Convention</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT961008-17">[17]</a> and was re-elected with 58 percent of the vote in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections,1996" title="United States House of Representatives elections, 1996">1996 U.S. House election</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C._Watts#cite_note-clerkresults-14">[14]</a>

Following the election, Watts switched from the Financial Services Committee to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_Committee_on_Transportation_and_Infrastructure" title="United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure">House Transportation Committee</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-baic-6">[6]</a> He was the only African-American Republican in the House and was chosen to deliver the Republican reply to President <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton" title="Bill Clinton">Bill Clinton</a>'s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_the_Union_address" title="State of the Union address" class="mw-redirect">State of the Union address</a> in February 1997,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT970205-4">[4]</a> the youngest congressman and first African-American to do so.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT001217-5">[5]</a>

In his response, Watts focused on providing a positive vision of the

Republican Party and advocated deficit and tax reduction and faith-based

values.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT970205-4">[4]</a> Watts had previously spoken to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Times" title="The Washington Times">The Washington Times</a> and created controversy by criticizing "race-hustling <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_pimps" title="Poverty pimps" class="mw-redirect">poverty pimps</a>"<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT970205-4">[4]</a> as keeping African-Americans dependent on government. These remarks were viewed as critical of activist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Jackson" title="Jesse Jackson">Jesse Jackson</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mayors_of_Washington,D.C." title="List of mayors of Washington, D.C.">Washington, D.C. mayor</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Barry" title="Marion Barry">Marion Barry</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Jackson,Jr." title="Jesse Jackson, Jr.">Jesse Jackson, Jr.</a> demanded a public apology.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT970205-4">[4]</a> Watts stated he did not speak about Barry and Jackson but about "some of the leadership in the black community."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT970205-4">[4]</a>

In his 1998 reelection campaign against Democrat Ben Odom, Watts

faced accusations about debts, unpaid taxes and over actions in a

federal bribery investigation in 1991, where he arranged to receive

campaign contributions from a lobbyist for telephone companies that were

investigated during Watts' membership on the Oklahoma Corporation

Commission.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT981116-7">[7]</a> Odom used portions of a transcript to try to discredit Watts, and the accusations were widely publicized in Oklahoma.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT981116-7">[7]</a>

Watts argued he had been exonerated from any criminal conduct and that

his financial problems were a result of losses for Oklahoma oil and gas

businesses during the 1980s.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT981116-7">[7]</a> He was re-elected with 62 percent of the vote.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-clerkresults-14">[14]</a>

<h3>Leadership position and retirement</h3>

In Congress, Watts had established himself as a "devoted conservative."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT020702-18">[18]</a> He had a lifetime 94 percent rating from the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Conservative_Union" title="American Conservative Union">American Conservative Union</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-19">[19]</a> and a lifetime "liberal quotient" of 1 percent from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_for_Democratic_Action" title="Americans for Democratic Action">Americans for Democratic Action</a>,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-20">[20]</a> and was regarded as a team player by Republicans.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT981119-11">[11]</a> Watts was elected <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Conference_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="Republican Conference of the United States House of Representatives">House Republican Conference</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Conference_Chairman_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives" title="Republican Conference Chairman of the United States House of Representatives">Chair</a> in 1998, replacing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Boehner" title="John Boehner">John Boehner</a>,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-autogenerated1-21">[21]</a> after a vote of 121–93.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-baic-6">[6]</a> Watts assumed the position in 1999<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-congressbio-1">[1]</a> and was the first African-American Republican elected to a leadership post.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT981119-11">[11]</a>
In his leadership position, Watts opposed government regulations and President Clinton's attempt to restore the ability of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S.Food_and_Drug_Administration" title="U.S. Food and Drug Administration" class="mw-redirect">Food and Drug Administration</a> to regulate tobacco products.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-22">[22]</a> He voted to impeach Bill Clinton,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-LAT990222-2">[2]</a> was appointed by Speaker <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Hastert" title="Dennis Hastert">Dennis Hastert</a> to lead a group of House Republicans to investigate cybersecurity issues,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT000221-3">[3]</a> and became a member of a presidential exploratory committee for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W.Bush" title="George W. Bush">George W. Bush</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-23">[23]</a>

Watts argued for using tax reduction to improve education, job training

and housing in poor urban and rural settings, and advocated letting

religious institutions carry out the work.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT000221-3">[3]</a> Watts worked to make his party more inclusive, promoted African trade, supported historically black colleges and universities,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT020702-18">[18]</a> and was opposed to federal funding of embryonic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell" title="Stem cell">stem cell</a> research.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-24">[24]</a>

To keep a majority of House seats in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2000" title="United States House of Representatives elections, 2000">2000 election</a>,

Watts advised Republicans to moderate their language and criticized the

party for creating the perception it favored a view of "family values

that excluded single mothers."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT000221-3">[3]</a> Watts opposed the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America#Battle_flag" title="Flags of the Confederate States of America">Confederate battle flag</a> flying over the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina_State_House" title="South Carolina State House">South Carolina State House</a> and advised Republicans to go slowly on opposing racial quotas.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT000221-3">[3]</a> By then, Watts had become involved in a contest with other members of the Republican House leadership, including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_DeLay" title="Tom DeLay">Tom DeLay</a>,

over control of the party's message and nearly announced retirement in

early February 2000, due to strains on his family, who remained in

Oklahoma during his tenure in Washington,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-baic-6">[6]</a> but changed his mind after consultations with constituents, Hastert, and his family.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT000221-3">[3]</a> He ran, despite an earlier pledge to serve not more than three terms.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-25">[25]</a> Watts won re-nomination with 81 percent against James Odom<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-26">[26]</a> and was re-elected by his largest margin yet against Democratic candidate Larry Weatherford.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-clerkresults-14">[14]</a>

After George W. Bush took office as president, Watts co-sponsored a

bill to create tax incentives for charitable donations and allow

religious charities to receive federal money for social programs,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT010318-27">[27]</a> and proposed several new tax reductions in addition to Bush's tax cut plan,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT010315-28">[28]</a> targeting the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estate_tax_in_the_United_States" title="Estate tax in the United States">estate tax</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_penalty" title="Marriage penalty">marriage penalty</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-29">[29]</a> Watts was one of ten congressional leaders taken to an undisclosed location following the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks" title="September 11 attacks">September 11 attacks</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-30">[30]</a>

In 2002, Watts stated he would not seek reelection, citing a desire to spend more time with his family,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT020702-18">[18]</a> but stated the decision was difficult because <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Parks" title="Rosa Parks">Rosa Parks</a> asked him to stay.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-31">[31]</a>

Republicans argued Watts complained about the party message and the

cancellation of an artillery system in his district by the Bush

Administration, which Watts denied.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT020702-18">[18]</a> Watts supported the candidacy of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Cole" title="Tom Cole">Tom Cole</a>, who won the election to fill his seat.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-ES090303-32">[32]</a>

<h2>Post-Congressional career</h2>
After he left Congress, Watts was appointed by President Bush to be a member of the Board of Visitors to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Military_Academy" title="United States Military Academy">United States Military Academy</a> for a term expiring December 30, 2003.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-33">[33]</a>

Watts founded a lobbying and consulting firm, J. C. Watts Companies, in

Washington, D.C., to represent corporations and political groups and

focus on issues he championed in Congress.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-34">[34]</a> The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deere_%26_Company" title="Deere & Company" class="mw-redirect">John Deere Company</a> hired Watts as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobbying" title="Lobbying">lobbyist</a>

in 2006 and Watts later invested in a Deere dealership and sought

financial support from United States agencies and others for a

farm-related project in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senegal" title="Senegal">Senegal</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT061111-35">[35]</a> Watts wrote an autobiography, worked as a columnist for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas_Review-Journal" title="Las Vegas Review-Journal">Las Vegas Review-Journal</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-36">[36]</a> and joined the boards of several companies, including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dillard%27s" title="Dillard's">Dillard's</a>,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-37">[37]</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terex" title="Terex">Terex</a>,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-38">[38]</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clear_Channel_Communications" title="Clear Channel Communications" class="mw-redirect">Clear Channel Communications</a>,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-39">[39]</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CSX_Transportation" title="CSX Transportation">CSX Transportation</a>,[<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a>] and served as chairman of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GOPAC" title="GOPAC">GOPAC</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-40">[40]</a>

Watts supported the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War" title="Iraq War">Iraq War</a>

in 2003, stating: "America did not become the leader of the free world

by looking the other way to heinous atrocities and unspeakable evils."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-41">[41]</a> He was later hired as a political commentator by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN" title="CNN">CNN</a><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-NYT061111-35">[35]</a> and following the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2006" title="United States House of Representatives elections, 2006">2006 House election</a>,

Watts argued the Republican Party had lost seats because it failed to

address the needs of urban areas and did not offer a positive message.

He stated: "We lost our way, pure and simple."<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-42">[42]</a>

In 2008, Watts announced he was developing a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_cable_news" title="United States cable news">cable news network</a> with the help of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comcast" title="Comcast">Comcast</a>, focusing on an African-American audience,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-43">[43]</a> and that he considered voting for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama" title="Barack Obama">Barack Obama</a>, criticizing the Republican party for failing in outreach to the African-American community.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-44">[44]</a> Reports showed he contributed to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain" title="John McCain">John McCain</a>, but not to Obama.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-45">[45]</a>

Watts considered running to succeed <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Henry" title="Brad Henry">Brad Henry</a> as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_of_Oklahoma" title="Governor of Oklahoma">Governor of Oklahoma</a> in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_gubernatorial_election,2010" title="Oklahoma gubernatorial election, 2010">2010 gubernatorial election</a>,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-TO090507-46">[46]</a> but declined in May 2009, citing his business and contractual obligations.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C._Watts#cite_note-47">[47]</a>

On April 7, 2015, Watts joined <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate" title="United States Senate">U.S. Senator</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rand_Paul" title="Rand Paul">Rand Paul</a> on stage during <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_presidential_primaries,2016" title="Republican Party presidential primaries, 2016">Paul's announcement</a> speech for U.S. President.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C.Watts#cite_note-48">[48]</a> Watts endorsed Paul in his presidential bid.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C._Watts#cite_note-49">[49]</a>==
2010hat "free money" government grants

informercial that former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) appeared in in 2007?

It was all former Rep. J.C. Watts' idea! At least that's <a href="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/06/hayworth-camp-he-had-no-knowledge-of-infomercial-companys-history.php">what the Hayworth campaign said Monday</a>.

While

it remains unclear exactly what role WattsÂ may have played in

recruiting Hayworth to the infomercial cause, Watts has had quite a

post-Congressional career as both a pitchman and a lobbyist.

Watts' <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/lobbyist.php?lname=Watts,+J+C+Jr&id=U00000033301&year=a">lobbying clients have included</a>

AT&T, the National Installment Lenders Association -- a payday loan

trade organization -- the United Keetoowah Band/Cherokee Indians, and

others.

In addition, he has done pitch work as well. The National Grants

Conferences -- the program promoted by Hayworth -- had previously used

Watts' name to promote its services. The Virginia Pilot

reported in 2005 that a National Grants Conference instructor showed an

audience in Hampton, VA, a photo of Watts and said, "You don't get

Congressman J.C. Watts to endorse your service unless you do things

right." (Via Nexis)

And in an investigative story in 2006, the Sacramento Bee reported:

<blockquote>In a late-night television infomercial played

frequently in areas where a free introductory NGC session is scheduled,

former Rep. J.C. Watts (R-Okla.) urges viewers to attend.

Two of

the company's principals, Irene Milin and her husband, Mike, sit across a

table from Watts and tell viewers that hundreds of billions of federal

dollars are available for purposes such as starting a business or

investing in real estate. (Via Nexis)</blockquote>

Phone calls to Watts's office were not returned.==