Ex-Oklahoma lawmaker who asked Muslims if they beat their wives now running for GOP chairman

A former state legislator with a history of making controversial remarks about Muslims is running for chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party. 

Former Rep. John Bennett, of Sallisaw, made a name for himself in the Oklahoma Legislature by frequently targeting followers of Islam. 

Now, Bennett, who served eight years in the Oklahoma House, is one of three candidates vying to lead the Oklahoma GOP.

In a 2014 town hall meeting, Bennett said the Islamic faith “is a cancer in our nation that needs to be cut out.” He also called the world’s second largest religion a sociopolitical movement intent on world domination and destruction of Western civilization. 

'A redemption':Muslim leader gives prayer in Oklahoma Senate

Two years later, Bennett hosted an interim legislative study to examine the threat "radical Islam” posed the state. Legislative leaders at the time approved the study, named "Radical Islam, Shariah Law, the Muslim Brotherhood and the radicalization process” despite organized opposition from the faith community. 

He also called the Council on American Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil liberties group that seeks to enhance the understanding of Islam, a terrorist organization. 

Bennett did not respond to a phone call and email seeking comment on his bid for state GOP chairman. When an Oklahoman reporter tried to attend a candidate forum this week, a representative from Bennett's campaign and another candidate for GOP chair said they were uncomfortable with the press being present and the reporter was asked to leave. 

Bennett is a U.S. Marine veteran and pastor of Lee Creek Assembly of God in Muldrow.

Imad Enchassi, senior imam of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, distinctly remembers a conversation he once had with Bennett. An imam is a Muslim faith leader. 

“John Bennett looked me in the eye and told me that he was going to demolish my mosque and every mosque in town,” Enchassi said recently. “He looked me in the eye and told me that I was the biggest threat for the state of Oklahoma.” 

In 2017, Oklahoma lawmaker asks Muslims:'Do you beat your wife?'

Enchassi also attended Bennett's 2016 interim study with members of the Oklahoma chapter of CAIR.

“We came to listen about extremist groups in Oklahoma and it seemed like it only focused on the Muslims, despite the fact that Timothy McVeigh was the biggest extremist in our state,” he said. 

When Enchassi learned about Bennett’s campaign for GOP chairman, he said he sent the former politician a message saying he hoped Bennett had grown spiritually and holistically into someone who can see Muslim Americans as coequal citizens. As of last week, Bennett had not responded, he said.

Should Bennett win, Enchassi said he his willing to work with him for the betterment of Oklahoma. However, should Bennett resume his rhetoric about Muslims, Enchassi said he's optimistic others within the party would not tolerate such language. 

In 2017, Bennett asked Oklahoma Muslims to complete an 18-questionnaire before agreeing to meet with them at his legislative office during the annual "Muslim Day" at the state Capitol. Among the questions was, "Do you beat your wife?" 

Additional questions asked whether the Muslims would denounce terror groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah and whether they believed former Muslims should be punished for leaving the faith. They were also asked if they agreed that Islamic law, known as Sharia law, should apply to non-Muslims.

From 2016:Groups voice opposition to state rep's proposed study on 'radical Islam'

Oklahoma's CAIR chapter called the questionnaire Islamophobic, hateful and bigoted. 

When he was in the Legislature, Bennett passed legislation to allow for display of the 10 Commandments in schools and government buildings and mandated that children in public schools recite the Pledge of Allegiance at least once a week. 

In a YouTube video, Bennett said he feels called by God to lead Oklahoma's Republican Party. 

"We have to take the gloves off and we’ve got to stand and fight for our republic because if we don’t stand and fight for our republic today we won’t have any freedoms to fight for tomorrow," he said. 

His candidacy is supported by the influential Oklahoma Second Amendment Association. 

Oklahoma Republican Party chair is a contested race

Also running for state GOP chair are former state Rep. Charles Ortega and Luther Mayor Jenni White, who lost her reelection bid this week. 

Ortega, of Altus, served in the Oklahoma House through 2020, until he was term-limited out after 12 years. He is a small business owner and describes himself as a conservative Christian and "Republican in mind body and soul." 

In 2018, he unsuccessfully sought to become the speaker of Oklahoma's House by mounting a challenge to Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka. 

A former teacher who fought Common Core education standards in Oklahoma, White helped found Reclaim Oklahoma Parent Empowerment, which seeks help parents advocate for their child's education needs.

An activist, White's campaign slogan is "Growing the Grassroots." 

In an essay for conservative media outlet The Federalist, White said she attended former President Donald Trump's "Save America" rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, but did not participate in the Capitol riot. 

"Many of us at that rally felt disenfranchised, overlooked, and angry, but those I met and heard are Constitution geeks whose main interest was seeking proper redress of government through our right to assemble and have our voices heard," she wrote. "Violence from our side was the last thing we would have expected, encouraged, or participated in, ever. Never would we have thought of breaching the capitol, let alone assaulting congressmen."

Delegates to the state GOP convention will elect a new party chairman to replace current chairman David McLain on Saturday at the OKC Convention Center, 100 Mick Cornett Blvd.

State party leadership will serve a two-year term.