Politics drive away Colorado politicians (Strange Attack on GOP Conservatives)

cnn.com ^ | 4 January 2006

[Aussie Dasher]

DENVER, Colorado (AP) -- Republican former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell said Tuesday he will not run for Colorado governor this year, accusing conservative Republicans of driving away good candidates.

"You can't be held to a strict ideological code that you can't do anything about," said Campbell, 72, a former Democrat who was the only American Indian in the Senate from 1992 to 2004.

"What they want is absolute obedience," said Campbell, who became a Republican in 1995. He refused to name the GOP leaders.

Campbell had mentioned running for governor as early as September 2004, after announcing he would not seek another term in the Senate. On Tuesday he said the prospect of long hours, low pay, high stress and "constant attacks" were also factors in his decision.

[Aussie Dasher]

Who is this bloke and what's his problem?

[beaversmom]

He was kind of a Republican lite Senator from CO. In 2004 Ken Salazar (D) and Pete Coors (R) of the Coors beer family battled it out for his seat after Campbell decided not to run again. Salazar won.

[mbraynard]

If you can't take the heat....

Though, in all fairness, he was a pretty good Republican while he was in the Senate and never pulled any stunts like Light Loafers Lindsay Graham or Insane McCain or DeWine or McHagle.

[balch3]

If he doesn't follow Ronald Reagan's 11th commandment he's a RINO.

[tkathy]

Let's hope that good candidates aren't being driven away. I fear they are. The republican party must be a big tent party to survive.

[Trteamer]

He resigned from the Senate for "health reasons". If he would have waited, we wouldn't have Salazar as our Senator. He also voted for the Brady Bill when in office. He was a lousy Senator, I hope he stays retired as he can't be trusted.

[Morgan in Denver]

Campbell was a Democrat who became a Republican as the Democrats got more liberal and out of touch with CO voters. He still has the mindset of a Democrat in a lot of ways.

I talked to him at our state convention one time and he's clueless on many issues that are important to state Republicans. He has a lot of charisma and thinks that is all he needs. He was wrong.

[OldFriend]

Thought the guy had health issues. Perhaps it was mental health.

[mbraynard]

Uh. You just suggested that if someone of breakes the silly '11th commandment' that you yourself will break it.

He didn't name names. But we all know who the pronoun 'he' is in your sentence.

[Nephi]

Gov. Owens has proved that party discipline is the problem with Colorado Republican politics and it isn't about being too strict. Gov. Owens has been a huge disappointment. His legacy is working with Democrats to overturn TABOR.

[G Larry]

Actually Coors lost by coming out with this stupid 18 year old drinking idea.

[madprof98]

The republican party must be a big tent party to survive.

Oh, yeah, Arlen and Olympia and all the other pro-abort "moderates" really attract the Values Voters, don't they?

[Semi Civil Servant]

Colorado's Republican Party is in the opening stages of a civil war. This is an early skirmish. Don't expect much out of the Colorado Republican Party for a few years. The divisions between the "absolutists" and the "pragmatists" are deep.

[Galveston Grl]

Looks like the Rinos are weary of having power. It is time once again to shrink the party to a pup tent at the country club and to keep the riff raff out. When Rinos control the party through voice in the media, there is no competition for the Democrats.