Curry signs, then announces for president

In what can only be billed as one of the country’s more unusual political announcements, retired Major General Jerry Curry launched his bid for the Republican presidential nomination Thursday night at the Cleveland County Republican Club’s Helen Cole Awards Banquet.

For about 10 minutes Curry delivered a scathing attack on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and said Illinois Senator Barack Obama might make a good presidential candidate several years from now.

But prior to that speech, Curry did something few other national candidates have attempted.

He sang.

Listed on the program under “music,” Curry — without the aid of music or microphone — sang a chorus of the songs “God Bless America” and “My Country ’tis of Thee” for the 150-plus audience.

“I’ve been asked to sing a patriotic song,” he said. “So I’m going to do that even though I did graduate from the University of Nebraska.”

Following the song, Curry switched to campaign mode.

Blasting Mrs. Clinton, Curry said the former First Lady “could not fulfill the duties” of Commander in Chief because she “called General Petraus a liar last year” in front of the U.S. Senate.

“She did this with no cause,” he said. “And no facts to back her up, without even paying him the respect of having a private conversation with him. It was a cheap political stunt and it undermined our military leadership’s loyalty and confidence in the office of president — should she be elected.”

Saying Mrs. Clinton acted “cowardly” Curry said she had “forfeited her right to ever become the Commander in Chief of our military forces.”

Referring to Mrs. Clinton again, Curry then quoted the country’s first president, George Washington, saying “congressmen who wilfully take actions during wartime that damage morale and undermine the military are saboteurs that should be arrested, exiled or hanged.”

Acknowledging he was seen as a dark horse candidate in the race, Curry said Americans are seeking a candidate who will “capture their imagination” and gain their respect as the “person best able to lead the country.”

“I am running for president because I am convinced that none of the current candidates — of either party — can fix America’s problems.”

Curry said he chose to make the announcement in Oklahoma because the people here “have already responded so favorably” to him.

“Oklahoma is a proving ground for my message,” he said. “If it resonates in this state, it will resonate with the American people everywhere.”

A former deputy assistant secretary of defense in the Carter administration, Curry also served as press secretary to the secretary of defense in the Reagan administration and as the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the Bush Sr. administration.

Married, Curry and his wife, Charlene, have four children. He said his “mixed racial and cultural ancestry is as colorful as America itself.” Curry said he will be campaigning throughout the state Jan. 22-29.