Dr. Oscar “Omar” Dantzler, who didn’t hold back any punches in an interview with Sound Off Louisiana on Monday, September 16, 2019.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We normally provide embedded YouTube videos; however, that function on YouTube appears to be unavailable for the foreseeable future, so we are opting to use hyperlinks to YouTube videos until the issue is resolved.
On August 5, 2019, Sound Off Louisiana published this feature indicating that Dr. Oscar “Omar” Dantzler, D-Hammond, intended to file paperwork to run against Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. We also stated that, aside from a Hayride feature, there had been zilch in the way of media coverage of Dantzler’s candidacy.
At the conclusion of the article, we invited Dr. Dantzler to contact us if he would like to conduct an interview. On Sunday, September 15, 2019, Dr. Dantzler contacted us and indicated a desire for just such an interview. Let’s cover what all he had to say.
First, we provided a opportunity for Dr. Dantzler to give a two-minute introduction of himself to our viewers. After that introduction, we asked him what was his primary motivation for entering the race, and he did not mince his words in staring the primary motivating factor is the rampant “corruption” of Gov. Edwards’ family.
In backing up Dantzler’s assertion of Edwards-family corruption, he spoke candidly about his run against Edwards’ brother, Daniel, for Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff in 2015 and his assertion that Edwards offered him $10,000 to drop out of the race.
Dantzler further illustrated Edwards-family corruption by providing his thoughts on the recent Federal felony conviction of former DEA agent (and Tangipahoa Deputy Sheriff) Chad Scott. Dantzler also volunteered that he felt things essentially didn’t smell right entailing former DARE instructor and Tangipahoa Deputy Bud Cason (note: click here for background on that matter).
Dantzler also sharply criticized the Democratic Party in referring to the party itself and its selection process for making endorsements as “a big joke out there.”
Dantzler emphatically cited “racism” in stating his case that there is a concerted effort to quash his candidacy. He provided a very specific example entailing a recent Morgan City Parade in which he states he paid the same $700 fee to participate, but that, when his crew passed by, the news media, “took the cameras and shoved the cameras toward the ground. They refused to take my photo…and showed very racial against me.” He then expressed his extreme frustration that Advocate reporter Tyler Bridges declined to even mention in this article about the parade that his campaign was among those participating.
Dantzler stressed the need to visit his social media pages because the media is attempting to quash his candidacy. He subsequently had much harsher words for candidates, to include “the incumbent” who are bound and determined, in his assessment, to quash his campaign as if it doesn’t exist. He also indicated that, given that he has not even been provided as an option on recent polls for respondents to choose, he fully intends to attend LSU’s debate of Thursday (9/19/19) and demand that he be permitted to participate. It’s our intent, as we expressed on the preceding video, to be there and videotape Dr. Dantzler’s attempts to be included in the debate and any response he receives.
The interview then proceeded to some on Dr. Dantzler’s platform initiatives. He began by bluntly stating that Gov. Edwards’ $1,000/year teacher pay raise is a, “slap in the face!” Dantzler also criticized Gov. Edwards for going too far on the “heartbeat bill” and stated his belief that exceptions ought to be in place in instances of rape or where the life of the mother is at stake.
Next, Dantzler provided his platform for criminal justice reform, and he followed that with his proposal to provide first responders with a pay raise. Regarding taxes, he was emphatic that a sales tax exemption be in place for all grocery purchases. He then gave his sentiments on Louisiana’s minimum wage, and that was soon followed by his economic development proposals where he focused heavily on promoting opportunities for Louisiana citizens to open small businesses.
Finally, Dantzler expressed his strong belief that term limits should apply to ALL elected officials in Louisiana. In stressing the fact term limits, in Dr. Dantzler’s view, would help prevent Sheriff dynasties from developing in Louisiana where corruption goes unprosecuted for decades, he actually expressed the same sentiments as former FBI New Orleans Bureau Chief Jeffrey Sallet when, in describing Louisiana as an absolute hotbed of political corruption, stated his belief that it is the long tenures of these Louisiana sheriffs and DAs that has fostered Louisiana’s corrupt environment.
In the video, we referenced a recent publication by a fellow blogger, Tom Aswell, entailing the corruption of Louisiana sheriffs. Our subscribers can feel free to click here if they may have interest in purchasing the book as we have.
We concluded the interview with final wrap-up and appeal by Dr. Dantzler for voters to support his candidacy.
As our subscribers can tell, Dr. Dantzler doesn’t mince his words when it comes to his take on “Edwards family corruption,” his assertions that the mainstream media is attempting to quash the fact that he’s even in the race, and that Gov. Edwards and other unnamed candidates are actively trying to block him from debate participation. We welcome our subscribers to view Dantzler’s interview in its entirety with Sound Off Louisiana by clicking here, and we look forward to a follow-up regarding how organizers of Thursday’s debate plan to handle his attendance and demands that he be permitted to participate!
We conclude this feature with Dr. Dantzler’s flyer which he graciously provided to us for the interview:
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