Randy Graf “stymies” 10 term incumbent! Jim Kolbe visibly shaken after duo debate

(Sierra Vista) The Graf for Congress campaign is wondering if they may be on the verge of the “upset of the year” for a Republican Primary. They have every reason to be confident after Randy Graf left little doubt he is ready and prepared to unseat Congressional (strongman), Jim Kolbe in Arizona’s 8th District.

Kolbe and Graf squared off for their first debate last night, held in the Sierra Vista High School. Graf stated; “…the differences between Jim Kolbe and I, are vast. We differ on the “right to life” issue, the sanctity of marriage, and perhaps most important of all to Cochise County, we have much different views on how best to secure our southern border. My opponent supports “defacto amnesty” for illegal aliens, I do not. My opponent has taken the time to “micro-manage” the border patrol, I will not. My opponent says that the border cannot be closed off to illegal entrants; I say WE WILL SECURE THE BORDER”! Recently, Graf submitted a border security plan that is drawing national attention.

Audience reaction to the largely “pro-Graf” crowd, were overwhelmingly in Graf’s favor. “Border security is my biggest concern; I do not want illegal’s (aliens) to get amnesty”, said Jean Meyers of Sierra Vista. “I counted the Graf lapel stickers to the Kolbe ones in the audience, and Graf beat Kolbe by three to one, said 12 year old “Ashley”, attending the debate with her father.

The Graf campaign has plenty to celebrate: They have garnered endorsements from area church leaders, the Arizona F.O.P., AZCOPS, the State and National “Right to Life” committees and most recently the Gun Owners of America, all endorsements that routinely go to the incumbent. Early in the Primary campaign, Kolbe was forced to pay back over five thousand dollars of taxpayer money he allegedly misspent in violation of campaign laws. The Kolbe campaign has yet to gain “traction” and is expected to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on advertising as the September 7th Primary election draws near.

Kolbe Campaign Is Stalled!

Kolbe is toast.

After the debate was over members of the audience swarmed Randy Graf with congratulations and such. Kolbe retreated back stage until a member of the audience yelled loudly, "Hey Kolbe! You didn't shake your consituents hands!" He came back and no one walked up to him. Some turned their backs to him when he approached. He finally found refuge by walking towards the rear of the auditorium and finding his local office coordinator and members of his campaign staff.

Graf had friends find him. Kolbe had to look for friends.

After a few minutes, a member of the audience confronted Kolbe about his insane border votes and malfeasance in office. He and his office coordinator became visibly angry. In the photo below you can see Kolbe holding his hand right in front of his constituents face and saying, "I can't talk to you about this!"

Kolbe, Graf talk border; GOP candidates spar over immigration solutions

BY BILL HESS

Friday, August 13, 2004 12:26 PM MDT

U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe, left, waits backstage with Congressional District 8 opponents Tim Sultan and Randy Graf, right, prior to the Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce's forum on Thursday at the Buena Performing Arts Center. Graf is Kolbe's Republican primary challenger. Sultan is seeking the Democratic nod for the district. (Mark Levy-Herald/Review)

Sierra Vista Herald/Review

SIERRA VISTA - How to handle border issues highlighted the wide gulf between the two Republicans running for the GOP nod to represent Congressional District 8 Thursday night.

U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe, who has served 10 terms representing the district, and his challenger, state Rep. Randy Graf, described their positions at a form sponsored by the Greater Sierra Vista Area Chamber of Commerce at a forum attended by about 180 people.

Tim Sultan, one of three Democrats seeking his party's nomination in the Sept. 7 primary to challenge Kolbe in the November general election, also was involved in the event.

Two other Democrats, Eva Bacal and Jeff Chimene, did not participate in the forum.

Immigration was the major point of difference between the two Republicans.

The sitting congressman said his proposal to take care of the continuing illegal immigrant problem is to use a two-prong approach by developing a new enforceable law and using it to secure the border the United States shares with Mexico and Canada.

Graf countered that there are sufficient immigration laws on the books that are not being enforced and the first thing that needs to happen is to enforce them, while at the same time closing the border.

Sultan remarked that he agrees the border and immigration issues are out sync and that it is causing problems for Arizona's taxpayers. To him, Congress has to come up with a strong reform program.

A number of other issues came up during the discussion, including health care, unfounded mandates, tort reform, education and energy independence, but the issue of border control was the most talked about issue.

Graf said he wants to see more of America's armed forces on the international boundary. He explained he does not want tanks, land mines or other weapons involved, just the use of technology that the military already has to stop the flow of illegal immigrants.

Kolbe countered that the military is already being used and to put more on the international boundary is unrealistic because America's armed forces "are stretched too thin."

Sultan had little to add to the discussion, except to say he does not like the cost because of illegal immigrants.

There has to be a way to "give Arizona taxpayers some relief," the Democrat commented.

In their closing statements, the three men talked about the border.

"This is a tough time for America," Sutlan said, adding the fear of terrorism is an issue that has to be addressed.

Kolbe noted that Graf became mad at President George W. Bush over his support of a new guest-worker program. To show is displeasure, Graf temporarily hung a picture of the president and himself upside down, Kolbe said.

Kolbe's comment was made after Graf made his closing statement.

In closing, Graf said Kolbe wrong about border issues and about social issues by failing to support the president's drive for a constitutional amendment to prohibit same-sex marriages.

As for the border, Graf said that while Kolbe said existing immigration law cannot be enforced, "it can and must be enforced."

It was clear from the audience response that the majority of the people in attendance were Graf supporters. On more than one occasion, they loudly applauded and yelled approval of Graf's comments. Sometimes, they greeted Kolbe's comments with boos and low murmurs of disapproval.

Marie Wurth, the event's moderator, put the audience on notice at the beginning of the event that she expected them to be polite.

At a table on the stage of the Buena Performing Arts Center, Sultan, sat between the two Republicans.

When he made his opening comments the Democrat jokingly said he was put between Kolbe and Graf because he has a black belt in a martial art.

Talking points

During Thursday's candidate forum, U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe and his GOP primary opponent, Randy Graf, disagreed on some issues.

The disagreements included:

Immigration issues - Kolbe said Graf is wrong that he supports amnesty in his guest-worker proposal. Graf said Kolbe does not support enforcing laws already on the books to stop employers from hiring illegal immigrants.
Unfunded mandates - Graf said the federal government is not complying with the Constitution by requiring states to comply with mandates without providing funds for them. Kolbe said he strongly supports some mandates, such as No Child Left Behind, saying money is provided for such programs although states also have to put in some money.

When will the President ride to his rescue al a Specter. The President may very well be leaving Kolbe hanging. Pres. Bush totally snubbed Kolbe the other night. See this article from the South East Arizona Republican Club Website:

Kolbe Snubbed by Bush/Cheney Campaign
Todd Evans - South East Arizona Republican Club
8.13.2004

Along with the rest of the Arizona Republican Congressional Delegation, Jim Kolbe may serve as a Co-Chairman of the Bush-Cheney '04 Arizona Leadership Team. However, he was not anywhere to be found at the jam-packed Dick Cheney rally held in Tucson on July 31st. He wasn't on the stage and he certainly did not speak despite the fact that the rally was held in Tucson which includes most of Jim Kolbe's constituents. J.D. Hayworth spoke despite the fact that Hayworth's district is all the way up in Maricopa County.

When Vice President Cheney spoke he did mention the Arizona delegation. However, he reserved the least praise for Kolbe when he said:

I want to thank my good friend Alan Simpson for being with us today. (Applause.) The good news is whenever Al Simpson and I campaign together, we always win the election. (Applause.) It's an honor to be here with Congressman J.D. Hayworth. And I want to mention your congressman, Jim Kolbe.

I want to "mention" your congressman? No compliment, no praise - nothing. Just a strained mention.

Was Kolbe at the George Bush Rally held in Phoenix this last Wednesday night (Aug 11)? He wasn't on the stage. Kolbe did not speak. And, in fact, he received the ultimate snub when President Bush didn't even give him a weak mention like Cheney did. Here's what the official Bush/Cheney website says that President Bush said at the rally:

I'm proud to be traveling with a great American and a fine citizen of this state, a person who served his nation with distinction and honor -- John McCain. (Applause.) I want to thank his wife Cindy for joining us, as well. She's a class act, good lady. (Applause.)

I also want to thank my friend, Jon Kyl, the other Senator from this state. You got two fine United States Senators from Arizona. (Applause.)

I want to thank my friends from the congressional delegation, Renzi, Franks, Shadegg, J.D. Hayworth, Jeff Flake, for their leadership. (Applause.)

President Bush listed the entire Arizona Republican Congressional Delegation except for Kolbe! Not even a single mention. He said he was thanking his friends - is Kolbe no longer a friend of the campaign or George Bush? Is his "leadership" no longer appreciated?

Why would that be?

Could it be that Kolbe is on the outs with President Bush and his campaign because Kolbe opposes the President's support for the Federal Marriage Amendment to protect traditional marriage and define it as a union only between a man and a woman. The once-married now openly gay Kolbe has been outspoken in his support for gay marriage and since he announced that he defined himself by his homosexual behavior his voting record has reflected support for the radical gay agenda. Kolbe's new voting habits have even been lauded by gay publications. He's told his constituents in Tucson that he looks forward to the day when gay marriage is considered to be "normal".

Kolbe is also a supporter of the Log Cabin Republicans - a group of so-called Republicans who promote the radical gay agenda within the party. He's spoken at their convention and he relies upon campaign funds from the organization. The Log Cabin Republicans oppose President Bush and plan to cause problems at the Republican National Convention later this month. Looks like a conflict of interest to me.

There may be other explanations offered to explain the falling out between the Bush/Cheney campaign and Jim Kolbe. Everyone wants to tiptoe around the elephant in the room and avoid making Kolbe's homosexual lifestyle an issue. It has become an issue now only because the President, nearly every Republican, and most of the people in the United States prefer that marriage be defined as a union only between a man and a woman. The once-married now openly gay Kolbe is at odds with Bush, Cheney, the Republican Party, and the rest of the country on this issue. Could it be that Bush, Cheney and the campaign don't want to be associated anymore with Jim Kolbe? It certainly looks that way from where I'm standing.

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