His beer is better than Schaffer's...
Posted on 08/09/2004 8:33:11 AM PDT by JohnnyZ
Where have you gone, Ben Nighthorse Campbell.
Tomorrow, one of the most tedious reality shows of the political season will finally end, as the Colorado Republican senatorial primary race concludes.
A Denver Post poll shows that Pete Coors leads Bob Schaffer 45 to 41 percent among 400 likely Republican primary voters - a contest too close to call.
Whether it's Coors or Schaffer, the anointed Republican candidate will be scarred and battered as a result of a worthless skirmish that pitted two conservatives who would likely share interchangeable records in the Senate.
Yes, primaries are a valuable function of our political system, and, yes, a hard-fought campaign is constructive in helping voters determine where the candidates stand. But primaries between the ideologically indistinguishable are a waste of time and money.
Walt Kline, who is a general consultant for the Coors campaign and a veteran of numerous high-profile Republican races in Colorado, says that he's "never seen a Republican primary in the state that has taken a nasty turn like this in a major race with major candidates."
In fact, this primary may have been destructive enough to seriously damage Republican chances in November.
What should have been exclusively about electability has turned into a mean contest filled with personal assaults.
How did they get to this point?
On a national level, Democrats have effectively funneled millions to independent 527 groups throughout the year, saving candidates the trouble of launching their own negative ads.
In Colorado, Republicans seem to be confused, employing 527s in a counterproductive way.
One of the 527 groups that has sprung up is called Colorado Conservative Voters. And they are breaking Ronald Reagan's oft-cited Eleventh Commandment: Thou shalt not criticize fellow Republicans.
Their 30-second spot, most of you have probably already heard, goes on to tell us that "Beer executive Pete Coors says we should lower the drinking age so teenagers can drink. ... Makes you wonder what else we should know about Pete Coors. Oh, Pete!"
Now, religious conservatives may feel more comfortable with Schaffer, but they need to ask themselves one simple question before voting.
Who is more electable?
Do they really believe Pete Coors supports a "radical homosexual agenda"? (Actually, do they believe there is any other kind of homosexual agenda?) Do they believe that Coors wants to encourage teenagers to drink? (As if they needed any encouragement.) Do they believe he's pro-abortion?
If they answer yes to those questions, then Schaffer is the man.
But what there is no question about is Democrat Ken Salazar's position. He advocates abortion rights. If elected, Salazar will certainly help Democrats vote to roll back tax cuts and will likely vote for an estate tax, a marriage tax, dividend tax and about every other tax you can think of. Salazar will join the Democrats in obstructing the vote on judges that share their moral outlook.
"I worry because the personal nature of this attack stuff on Coors won't make it easy for the all the Republicans to get together," Kline says. "If I am right, it will be an unfortunate turn of events."
Schaffer's campaign manager, Pat Fiske, doesn't believe it will be a problem: "I know Bob will step forward and do the things that need to be done in the event he loses. He'll do the things he needs to do to unite the party."
And Salazar will run away with this race if Republicans can't get over the petty viciousness, nomadic alliances and unite to face the challenge of one of the most pivotal Senate races in the country.
In fact, for Republicans, it couldn't be simpler. A majority in the Senate is everything. Coors or Schaffer? That's a bit more complicated.
'Likely' voters:
Coors 45
Schaffer 41
'Certain' voters:
Schaffer 46
Coors 45
The real problem in Col is that the governor, whom I really like.has been talking his lumps becuase of his divorce, and has adopted a low-prolife image, and left the party to drift..
How do each poll against Salazar?
Geez, man. Even Schaffer beer tastes better.
Seriously, go figure that the Denver Post would criticize the Republicans for having truly democratic, above-the-table democracy.
Since when is stating a candidates positions on issues considered a personal attack. This sounds like demtalk.
His beer is better than Schaffer's...
Agreed. Toomey ran hard, but fair. What I've heard of this race (not being from Colorado) it seems like a brawl between two very like-minded men.
I think it would be a shame for Colorado Republicans to not vote for Pete Coors, though. While Schaffer would likely represent the state well, with his name and money Coors would also represent the state well - and could be a national voice for conservative Republicans.
There is stating a candidate's positions: "I disagree with X on ____"
Then there is: "X is the devil".
And there are points in between those two approaches. The first is fine, the second is not, and in between, maybe okay, but better to keep to the first approach.
If Mark Sanford can take that approach in a GENERAL ELECTION AGAINST A DEMOCRAT, why can't REPUBLICANS take that approach among themselves?
"...why can't REPUBLICANS take that approach among themselves?"
Too many people viewing politics as 'war', pitting enemies against one another, even when it's not.
The article failed to cite either Coors or Shaffer saying something unfair, untrue, or nasty. The 527's ad may hurt Coors a bit, but it's what we call "vetting." If it can peel REPUBLICANS away from Coors, it can be a lethal issue in the general election, and you can bet your ass that the demonrats will get that ad's message out... through the TV talk (Coors'position has already made evening network TV news), through their own 527 attack ads, whatever.
What is intolerable are the ads where one candidate calls the other an "extremist," because these are the sort of accusations that only Republicans can credibly make. For this reason, I believe that if Bush had any balls, he would have sacked his EPA head and former GOP NJ Gov. Christine Whitman for eviscerating Schundler, and campaigned AGAINST the master of sleeze tactic, Arlen Specter.
That said, if any candidate desires to go "high road," and successfully win a no-negatives campaign, more power to him.
This is much like the Ford/Reagan contest in 1976, except this time the good guy may win.
So how many people are going to write in Elway?
Problem is that while everyone knows Coors name, nobody outside various elite circles really knows what he stands for. Is he just another rich business guy who will end up a RINO? No one knows.
Schaffer is a known commodity at the grassroots who has done his time in Congress and has been active in local educational issues since.
Is typical of the Post, like every other socialist, to think that competition is destructive. The question is whether someone who is more conservative can win statewide given the reflexive Dem mentality of much of Denver and the more moderate parts of Boulder. The Republican party elites don't think a conservative can win statewide. The party grassroots are sick of RINOs. Hence the competition.
If Schaffer succeeds in communicating his message that Coors might be a dangerous evil liberal (based on .... what?), and Coors wins the nomination anyway, he'll have done nothing more than helped Ken Salazar get elected. That's not healthy competition.
This is child's play! The Republican primary for a State Assembly seat (Dist 29) here in Fresno, CA was an absolute slug fest!!! About 60% of the voters voted for someone other than the winner. All three candidates were conservatives. But the worst part of this story is that the INCUMBENT is a Republican conservative as well. The incumbent - under intense pressure - decided not to run again. This area is a nightmare of Republican crap. The democRATS just lap it up.
I might've been prepared to support Coors, but after seeing clips of his performance in a recent debate, it was clear he was very uninformed. Even if he happened to be more conservative than Schaffer, it would be difficult to support him.
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.