I'm so sorry.
Posted on 03/29/2004 3:19:05 AM PST by Spiff
By C.J. Karamargin ARIZONA DAILY STAR 29 March 2004
Don't kid yourself. Don't be naive. Don't even think the contest to represent Southern Arizona in Congress is going to resemble anything close to a civil, high-minded debate.
The looming primary battle between Jim Kolbe and Randy Graf has all the makings of a knock-down, drag-out free-for-all that could make the President Bush-John Kerry race for the White House seem like a paragon of gentlemanliness.
Graf, majority whip in the state House, announced Saturday that he will challenge Kolbe, a 10-term lawmaker from Tucson, in September's primary. A glimpse of the potential nastiness to come can be found on Graf's Web site, www.graf2004.com, where the former golf pro who lives in Green Valley explains his reasons for running by citing two of the hottest hot-button issues of the day: immigration and gay marriage.
"If Congressman Kolbe wants to give amnesty to illegal aliens, allow homosexuals to marry and otherwise turn a blind eye to mainstream Republican principles, then Republican voters rightfully deserve another choice," Graf says.
The references, of course, are to an immigration reform measure introduced last year by Kolbe, U.S. Sen. John McCain and U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake of Mesa, and to Kolbe's opposition to a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
It's an understatement to say that the immigration bill is not popular in Kolbe's border district. It certainly doesn't help to have your own brother come out against it, as Kolbe's did. Then again, it certainly doesn't hurt to have guys like McCain and Flake on board, or to have President Bush proposing his own version of a temporary-worker program.
The gay marriage issue is thornier. This one is dividing the party nationally. Kolbe, though, is by no means alone in opposing an amendment. McCain was quoted in Sunday's Boston Globe as saying that there are many "who think we don't need to amend the Constitution." Still, Kolbe's stance, combined with the fact that he is gay, appears destined to be more than a whispered-about subtext to Graf's campaign.
Kolbe's campaign to hold on to his seat, however, is likely to get some help. Congressional Quarterly reported last week that the National Republican Campaign Committee plans to ride to Kolbe's defense.
"The NRCC is prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure Congressman Kolbe gets re-elected to Congress, regardless of who is challenging him," said committee spokesman Chris Paulitz. "That is the absolute bottom line. If it comes out tomorrow that (Kolbe) is an alien, that isn't going to matter."
Does anyone know anyone who has a subscription to Congressional Quarterly? The website requires a subscription which is $149 and I just need this one article.
As a matter of fact, I don't suppose it would hurt to link to Randy's site right here, now would it?
Go ahead, Click the Link, it only takes a moment, and besides, I've rigged it to open in a new page, so you won't even have to lose what you're looking at now!
So why wait, visit Randy today, take this opportunity to get in on the ground floor!
I'm so sorry.
Good luck from Minnesota. I'll check the link. :)
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