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March 17, 2010

Okla. GOP lawmaker says he switched Obama photo

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A Republican member of the Oklahoma House said Tuesday he moved a portrait of President Barack Obama that hangs near his seat in the House chamber, an act that angered House Democrats who called for a public apology.



Rep. Lewis Moore, R-Arcadia, issued a statement through GOP House Speaker Chris Benge's office in which he took responsibility for swapping Obama's portrait with a portrait of Democratic Gov. Brad Henry that also hangs in the House chamber.



Moore said he switched the portraits because he disagrees with "the liberal policies coming from the Obama administration," including a federal health care overhaul measure that is supported by the Democratic president. Obama's and Henry's portraits hang near each other on a wall in the rear of the House chamber.



"I absolutely respect the office of the president, but disagree vehemently with our current president's policies," Moore said in the statement.



Democrats said Moore's actions had nothing to do with public policy.



"This issue is solely about respect for the office of the president of the United States," said Rep. Scott Inman of Del City, the House's Democratic leader designate. "Whether it's a photo of President George W. Bush or Barack Obama, this type of childish behavior has no place in our Legislature."



Inman and Rep. Mike Shelton, D-Oklahoma City, called on Moore to publicly apologize.



"There's no excuse for his behavior," said Shelton, who raised the issue of the swapped portraits last week during debate on a measure to send to a public vote a proposal to allow the state to opt out of any federal health care plan passed by Congress.

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