📚 Summer school. Tom Cole holds 4 of seven stars — but fails a critical Article (Open Books & Free & Fair Elections). Assignment: summer school for Civics, watch every Schoolhouse Rock episode five times, and submit a one-page report — due before the end of the year. Report to summer school →
“…the property of the people.” — Cicero, De Re Publica
Own campaign is 41.0% PAC, but Runs COLE PAC, a leadership PAC accepting PAC/corporate money (OpenSecrets). Running a corporate-funded leadership PAC fails Open Books. (FEC/OpenSecrets 2026)
60
2Free & Fair Electionscritical
35%☆ not yet
“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” — Abraham Lincoln
Voted to overturn the 2020 election (Jan 6, 2021 certification objection). Fails Free & Fair Elections.
60
3The Dignity of the Opponent
84%★ earned
“Treat humanity … always as an end and never as a means only.” — Kant
Chickasaw Nation member and Appropriations chair widely respected across the aisle for institutionalist civility.
60
4Fear Is Not Fuel
72%★ earned
“…the better angels of our nature.” — Lincoln, First Inaugural
Governance- and regular-order-focused; not a grievance or alarm messenger.
60
5Truth & a Kept Word
68%★ earned
“…living within the truth.” A representative owes “his judgment.” — Havel · Burke
Generally honest record, though he voted to sustain 2020 electoral objections (scored separately).
60
6Against the Spirit of Party
55%☆ not yet
“The baneful effects of the spirit of party.” — Washington, Farewell Address
Institutionalist who has defended regular order and foreign-aid packages, occasionally against his party's base.
60
7Morality
75%★ earned
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
No documented personal-ethics or corruption matter on record.
60
Engage Cole
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This review is offered freely and openly to correction. A challenge is considered only when it states a specific reason and links to sources that substantiate it — an assertion without evidence is not reviewed.
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Scores are Independent 2026’s own editorial read against the Seven Articles — ≥60% earns the star. The first two Articles are critical: fail Open Books or Free & Fair Elections and there is no seal, whatever else holds. Each Article carries its founding quote as the yardstick. On bias →