Oklahoma offers America a lesson in manners

IT IS A coincidence that two of America’s best-known bipartisan political organisations were, until recently, led by Oklahomans. David Holt, the Republican mayor of Oklahoma City, helmed the US Conference of Mayors, while Kevin Stitt, the Republican governor of Oklahoma, led the National Governors Association (NGA). These groups offer something novel in American politics: civility. Last year 81% of Democrats and 70% of Republicans said the opposing party makes them angry. But at recent gatherings in Long Beach, California (the mayors), and Oklahoma City (the governors), Democrats and Republicans high-fived, hugged and waxed eloquent about the dangers of America’s hyper-partisan politics.FILE - Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks with an individual following an event at the National Governors