Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pro-Abortion Candidate's Father Assaults GOP Reporter
GOP USA ^ | April 14, 2005 | Dennis Durband

Posted on 04/15/2005 11:23:54 AM PDT by repentant_pundit

A Contentious and Unforgettable Night at the Old GOP Ballpark

Monthly Republican district meetings are usually more staid than argumentative and more sedentary than physical. Tonight's GOP District 22 meeting was definitely one of the exceptions.

I have heard that the Phoenix police have been called in to other GOP district meetings in the recent past. Normally, there are more laughs than raised voices in D22 meetings. District 22 basically encompasses the City of Gilbert, where we are only a month away from a Town Council run-off election between a classic conservative Republican -- incumbent Dave Peterson -- and a WISH List liberal challenger, Joan Krueger.

Recently, a friend had sent me information about an upcoming WISH List meeting in which Krueger is to be the featured guest. The WISH List is an organization of "pro-choice" Republicans In Name Only (RINOs). Krueger is also a member of the liberal organization, League of Women Voters. She was put on the defensive by a journalist, a state legislator and respected state and county Republican leaders during tonight's meeting -- and neither she, nor her family, accounted well for themselves.

The fireworks began before the meeting even started. The journalist was yours truly. I arrived 10 minutes before the meeting and promptly placed 40 flyers on chairs, detailing Krueger's pro-choice -- a euphemism for those who are pro-abortion -- allegiance. People frequently similarly distribute copies of editorials, letters to the editor and other information about candidates and issues at these meetings.

The first person I saw upon entering the room was Krueger, a former Planning and Zoning official in Gilbert. I barely had distributed the flyers when her parents, visiting from Wisconsin, discovered them. That was the prelude to the fireworks.

First, Krueger's father approached me. A white-haired senior citizen, he told me the flyer was "bull----." Then he said the information contained therein was false and he called me a "b------." He asked me to "step outside" and settle it. I was not going to go outside and beat up an old man, and I told him I would not fight him. He responded by shoving me, calling me a "f-------" and then he slithered away. It did not appear that any other people in the room noticed the assault by Krueger's father.

Krueger, herself, approached me, stuck out her hand, which I shook. She asked if I had written the article and inquired what my name was. I answered her questions. She said the flyer was not true. We argued about the WISH List, she said I don't know anything about the organization, I said I've read every word on their website, and I also told her that I had emailed her some questions previously about her candidacy -- which she had refused to answer. She remembered my email address as if no one should have the audacity to ask a candidate where they stand on important issues. She turned and walked away, muttering about me contacting her "under cover." I had included my name in the email and had been upfront about wanting to know where she stood on social issues.

Everyone took their seats, the meeting began and it seemed as if the emotions on both sides of the room had calmed down.

Krueger later got a chance to address the audience about her council candidacy. She introduced her parents as visitors from Wisconsin. Her father was vocal during the meeting, interacting with Chairman Bill Norton and others in the audience. Krueger took the high road and did not address the WISH List issue or the flyer -- or me -- at first.

During the Q&A, distinguished Republicans in the audience, drew Krueger out on the issue of abortion and her personal beliefs, finding her answers less than impressive.

Steve Johnson, who has served Maricopa County GOP, the Arizona Republican Assembly and District 22 in many leadership capacities, asked Krueger about abortion.

"That is not an issue for the Town Council," Krueger replied. "Contrary to the material you've read tonight, I am not pro-abortion. I am a member of the WISH List, which promotes choice. I do not encourage abortion. My interpretation of less government means keeping it out of the bedroom. I'm not pro-abortion."

By now, Krueger was just beginning to dig herself into a hole with conservative base Republicans who hold dear the fundamental principles of the Grand Old Party.

Johnson followed up with another question. He said the WISH List is working to have the pro-life plank removed from the Republican National Platform, and he wondered how she can justify the pro-choice agenda with the party's pro-life plank. As she would for the next several minutes on a variety of issues, Krueger began to dance around the issues like Ginger Rodgers.

"I joined WISH to place women in government," Krueger said. "My personal goal is to see more personal responsibility."

Things started ratcheting up from there. Johnson asked again if Krueger supports the WISH List's aim to do away with the GOP's pro-life plank; he did not get a clear answer. State Representative Eddie Farnsworth began to find Krueger's statements worthy of engagement.

"Are you pro-life or pro-choice," Rep. Farnsworth asked.

Krueger responded: "I believe there are some times when people should have that choice."

The word "choice" is always the fall-back euphemism to lean on.

Farnsworth wanted to hear more. He mentioned a fetal homicide bill considered this year in the legislature and asked the council candidate if such legislation amounts to putting the government in private bedrooms.

Krueger began to duck and weave like "Smokin'" Joe Frazier, the former world heavyweight boxing champion:

"There are some times that a human being ... as a Christian, I will stand before my Maker some day and I have to demonstrate love and charity. I never thought I would have to talk about some of these things at a Republican meeting."

That's probably because some of the veteran Republican officials in the audience couldn't remember seeing Krueger at any Republican meetings until she became a candidate recently.

By now, a few of the diehard conservatives were whispering their concerns in the audience. And Farnsworth thought Krueger's comments only invited further cross-examination.

"Why would you say you never expected to talk about these issues or your Christian faith at a Republican meeting?" Farnsworth asked.

Krueger said, "I segregate the two."

Wrong answer. John Kerry, the Democratic senator and former presidential candidate, said the exact same thing last year. By comparison, President George W. Bush frequently says his faith is not something he compartmentalizes.

"I hope my values are very apparent. Who I am is right out there," Krueger said. "I'm learning."

Sharon Giese, Arizona's National Republican Committeewoman, and I were exchanging comments as all this was going on. Sharon told me that the WISH List has a pro-abortion litmus test for its candidates. I mentioned that legislator Barbara Leff was jettisoned from the WISH List last year because she voted for the pro-life Informed Consent bill.

Giese broke the rising tension in the room by asking Peterson if he is a member of the WISH List and she informed the audience of the WISH List's pro-abortion litmus test.

Rep. Farnsworth then said that Krueger's father, sitting right in front of him, had "booed" him. The would-be parking lot brawler denied he said as much and laughed it off.

As I was preparing to leave for the evening, Krueger's mother scowled as she told Johnson that my flyer was "just awful."

I told a few friends about the altercation the Kruegers had with me prior to the meeting. One of them referred to the shove by asking, "Isn't that assault?"

"Yes," I said, "but since I'm not a lilly-livered liberal, I won't press charges."

Gilbert's Town Council run-off election is May 17. It isn't likely that Krueger will face such contentious scrutiny again before the election. If the voters get the message that this unprincipled candidate isn't a good fit for serving a conservative city like Gilbert, we probably won't see her at future meetings. If she wins the election, she may actually have to attend some more meetings and keep answering the questions of respected Republicans who find her out of step with the party.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: abortion; antifreespeech; butchers; futurehillary; futureloser; liars; liberals; mccainwannabees; pretenders; proaborts; republican; rino; thuggish; thuggism; thugs; thugsrus; traitors; truthdodgers; wish; wishfulthinkers; youthinasia
Everyone can welcome Ms. Krueger to the civilized world at joan@vote4krueger.com
1 posted on 04/15/2005 11:23:56 AM PDT by repentant_pundit
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: repentant_pundit

To prevent duplication, please do not alter the heading. Thanks.


2 posted on 04/15/2005 11:35:18 AM PDT by Lead Moderator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lead Moderator

vote4krueger.com

Wow. I didn't know you needed a website to run for town council. Jeez.


3 posted on 04/15/2005 12:25:32 PM PDT by Strider4
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Strider4

Next thing you know, Gilbert will promote itself to "city" status !


4 posted on 04/15/2005 1:39:24 PM PDT by repentant_pundit (For the Sons and Daughters of Every Planet on the Earth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: repentant_pundit

ping


5 posted on 04/16/2005 10:19:14 AM PDT by pingmeister
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pingmeister

thanks, it's just one of many recent cases where leftists are using violence...whether it's in a "clinic", or in a public forum


6 posted on 04/17/2005 3:10:27 PM PDT by repentant_pundit (For the Sons and Daughters of Every Planet on the Earth)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson