This is a story that aired on OETA Public Television's The Oklahoma News Report in Tulsa Oklahoma as reported by Lis Exon and photojournalist Tim Carson. For more information or to contact us, please go to www.oeta.tv
The verbatim script follows below...
UNITED STATES CONGRESSMAN FROM OKLAHOMA'S FIRST DISTRICT, JOHN SULLIVAN IS BACK AT WORK IN WASHINGTON TODAY, FRESH FROM HIS STAY AT THE BETTY FORD CLINIC IN CALIFORNIA.
YESTERDAY SULLIVAN SPOKE CANDIDLY WITH US ABOUT HIS LIFE-LONG BATTLE WITH ALCOHOL AND HIS DECISION TO FINALLY ADMIT HE WAS AN ALCOHOLIC AND NEEDED TREATMENT.
IN PART TWO OF THE CONVERSATION BETWEEN O-E-T-A'S LIS EXON AND THE CONGRESSMAN, SULLIVAN TALKS ABOUT HIS PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FUTURE.
where do you go from here is it AA meetings every day? I am in a program a 12 step program where people share their experience, strength and hope with each other that I do every day. Also I pray every day. I try to also look at situations and relationships and my job not of what I can get from it but what I can bring to it, what I can do to help people. That's a big focus it has changed my life is that what I can bring to the situation to be helpful not only in my job and my family but also to help people with the problem of alcoholism I want to help as well and that is going to be part of my recovery.
Do you have a guide to keep you on track? Yes I do I have a program that I had to develop before I left Betty Ford of what I am going to do and it is something I will be doing for the rest of my life and it is something I am excited about and I enjoy, that I am excited about doing. It is not a burden at all.
I would miss it if I didn't get to do these things. And there are small things that I do every day. In the morning, just thinking about the day... what I am going to do to be helpful. What can I be of service to people, what can I do. Those are the things that set my mind straight and keep me focused on others.
Big question... is this going to hurt your reelection? Well when I went in at first I was very up front and honest wanted everyone to know that I am an alcoholic, I am going into Betty Ford to get treatment and I said that was very known publicly, I was very up front and honest, as a result of that I was scared I didn't know how people would respond. I was frightened. I was embarrassed. But when I was at Betty Ford I couldn't believe the support I got from my colleagues in Congress, from people here in the state of Oklahoma and the first congressional district, democrat and republican, people writing me letters, phone calls,
emails it was overwhelming and it really touched me greatly and I could cry over some of it, it was so thoughtful of the people, they are so kind to me. It has been overwhelming and I feel I have a lot of support.
So you are telling the constituents they can count on you? They can count on me. I have always done my job well every single time, do a good job with constituent service, legislation that I sponsor and support and people have stood by me in high percentages in my last election, very high and I want to continue that. If someone is disappointed I understand that too but you know I had to get help and I think it will make me a better man, better husband, better congressman, better father all those things. I think it will just strengthen me but I understand if someone does have an issue with it. But I did have to get the help that I needed, and I can't really apologize for that, I don't mean that in a sarcastic way or being cocky or anything like that... alcoholism is a disease. In 1955 the American Medical Association classified alcoholism as a disease, my body reacts differently to alcohol than a normal persons. The only way I can get through that is total abstinence. Someone is allergic to peanuts, they shouldn't eat peanuts, poison ivey, don't go roll around in a poison ivey patch, I just can't drink. So if we are talking about another illness like diabetes, or heart disease or cancer we wouldn't even have that conversation. And as we wrap this up I guess you will have a lot of supporters tonight, a big fundraiser, probably one of the biggest ones I have ever had. I am very grateful for the support I do have and we gearing up, I am running for re election so this is a necessary evil, always you have to raise a lot of money for running for congress and I will be prepared to take on any task that lies ahead of me. And you are back to Washington tomorrow? I go back to Washington tomorrow I look forward to working on health care, it is coming up, it is a big issue right now. It is in the committee, the jurisdiction that I serve on, so I will be working on it at the committee level and on the house floor. Looking into energy issues as well, try to control the out of control spending in washington D.C. very good thank you so much for sharing your story.
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9:58Congressman John Sullivan at a Tulsa Tea Party ...by heiscomingagain4782 views
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