GOP Senate Candidate Bob Shaffer Battles the Odds in Colorado
Should the prospect of an undivided government with large Democratic majorities concern voters?
“Well, I’ve been making that case for some time. We’ve seen the future here in Colorado.” By that he means that divided state government ended in 2006 and Colorado now has a Democratic government and democratic-dominated legislature. He says, “That has taken the economy which was strong and growing to where it is now looking perilous.” He cites job and business start ups stats as evidence that left to one-party rule by Democrats, the Colorado economy has suffered. He says grimly, “We can see the future.”
What about judges?
“You heard Barack Obama in the last debate talk about how important Roe v Wade is. He took a question on judges and turned it into a singular discourse on abortion.” He explains that as a member of the Senate he will look for judges that are “strict constructionist, relying on the Constitution and not relying on international law, for example. I don’t want anyone legislating from the bench.” Would he vote against judges or filibuster judges who don’t share that view of the proper role of the judiciary? He responds quickly, “Of course.”
What’s the difference between the two candidates on domestic energy development?
“I’m in favor of an ‘all of the above energy strategy,” is his reply — which makes him sound a bit like John McCain. He cites his experience since leaving Congress working for an independent energy company and notes that Congress is an energy-producing state. “We are part of America’s solution.” He explains the potential of oil shale which is in ample supply in the Green River Valley and Colorado specifically which could, with advancements in technology, eventually produce hundreds of billions of gallons of oil. He says, “We can find a way to make Saudi Arabia and Nigeria irrelevant [in energy production.]“ He says that his opponent has blocked publication of federal rules which could begin the process of exploring and developing oil shale. He says simply, “I’m in favor of broad based energy development.”
Should the alliance between Big Labor and Democrats concern voters?
“I think Coloradans are on to their agenda” he contends. Democratic Governor Bill Ritter, after all, pushed through an agenda to among, other things, unionize the state workforce. As for the federal “Employee Free Choice Act” (a favorite of Democrats) which would substitute “card checks” for secret ballot union elections he says, “There is nothing free about it and no choice in it.” He explains, “This takes away the secret ballot. This card check would take it away and give union bosses the right to collect authorization cards. It is all about union coercion.”
He favors Amendment 46, a state initiative to ban the state from using race, gender and other classifications in state education, employment and contracting but his opponent does not. What should the voters conclude from that?
“He’s not in the mainstream. Most Coloradans believe we should have a colorblind society.” Quoting Martin Luther King, Jr.’s admonition that Americans should not be “judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character,” he says that he differs with Udall, who has a “preference for maintaining laws which require discrimination” by having government treat citizens differently based on race, gender, etc.
He is behind now in a tough year for Republicans. Can he really come from behind?
“We’re trending in the right direction.” He recalls other Republicans who similarly trailed going into the final week but came from behind to win. He says, “We’re in familiar territory” and stresses that he remains “optimistic” he can pull out what most observers believe will be a close race.
Schaffer is a brand of Colorado Republican who, a generation ago, would be a shoe-in. Since then the state has drifted “purple.” It may for the first time since 1964 (when Lyndon Johnson carried the state) that it will vote for a Democrat for President. That will make his task more difficult.
Like many Republicans, Shaffer is struggling to focus voters on the prospect of an all-Democratic government which may, despite campaign promises of moderation, take a turn decidedly more liberal than many of the state’s voters. If he succeeds, he will have pulled off an upset nearly as remarkable as an improbable McCain victory.
If not, he’ll be remembered as another Republican casualty of 2008.
One thing that doesn’t get hit on enough during the campaigns is how poorly most Dem areas are doing. They blame the woes on the Pubs and get away with it. The statistics are very clear. When the Dems take over an area, government gets out of control, and small businesses take a hit.
The worst areas are the ones which have been under Dem control for a long time. At least in CO, they can point to the downturn happening just recently. We have, fortunately, a very clear situation in WA. The previously balanced bduget has jumped to $3.2B in the 4 years since the Dems stole the 2nd vote recount with a box full of suddenly-located ACORN ballots.
In the rematch, I fully expect Dino Rossi to win. How do you argue with a $3.2B debt increase in 4 years, with no results? Rossi’s been the guy actually balancing our budgets for years, as a state legislator.
I used to be a Republican because I support individual rights, free markets, gun rights, and a strong national defense. I voted Republican in 1996, 2000, and 2004. But I won’t in 2008.
My views are still the same. However, the Colorado Republican Party has been alienating former supporters such as myself because it is emphasizing various issues that the “social conservatives” care about — such as banning abortions, opposing embryonic stem cell research, and stopping gay marriage. And as the son of legal immigrants from Taiwan, their anti-immigrant stance is a real turn-off.
Although I dislike the leftist economic agenda of the Democrats, I view the Religious Right as far more serious threat to the long-term future of America.
To paraphrase a classic quote from Ronald Reagan, “I didn’t leave the Republican Party; the Republican Party left me”. (He was of course referring to the Democratic Party in his original).
If the Republicans are willing to return to their roots and support individual rights and limited government, and endorse the separation of church and state, then I’d be happy to support them again.
But if they want to get in bed with the Religious Right, then they’ll lose voters like me and they’ll continue to lose elections in Colorado. And they’ll deserve to.
This essay by Ari Armstrong summarizes my views perfectly:
“Faith-Based Politics Costs Colorado Republicans”
http://www.seculargovernment.us/blog/2008/10/faith-based-politics-costs-colorado.shtml
Paul Hsieh, MD
Sedalia, CO
Co-founder, Freedom and Individual Rights in Medicine (FIRM):
http://www.WeStandFIRM.org
Udall will get more votes than Obama in Colorado
he is white!
and Shafer is a far right candidate,
Colorado has become purple because of changing demographics. We have a lot of liberals who are fleeing high cost high tax democrat bastions like California where their policies have created problems. But, these people bring those very same disastrous liberal policies with them. So Colorado has become purple.
I only wonder what these people will do once they screw up Colorado.
its still GOP edge
but they dont win Statewide
becasue Focus on family picks the candidates for them
hseih – we need to pressure dems after election to be fiscal aware,
it might happen
For fun reading about how “Big Oil , Sweatshop” Bob Schaffer is tanking, please surf to http://www.coloradopols.com/
Bob Schaffer is the best thing to happen to our state of Colorado in a long time. Hopefully, he will defeat the far left liberal, Udall, and be victorious on Nov. 4th. Odumbo has a very slight lead right now. That will hopefully be erased by the excellent GOP ground game in this state.
GO JOHNNY GO!
mary allen was another of he Focus on family MORONs
who think dinosaurs lived 6000 years ago