December 11, 2009 12:25 AM UTC

GJ Sentinel Columnist Blames "The Left" For McInnis' Tea Party Rebellion

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• by: Colorado Pols

We’ve read conservative Grand Junction Sentinel columnist Rick Wagner’s column today about gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis’ foibles attempting to ‘unify’ conservatives after the elimination of his primary opponents, titled “GOP should be wary of the left brewing a tempest in a teapot” a couple of times now–just to make sure we’ve got this straight:

In a sign of desperation that seems to have come early in this political season, many in left-leaning portions of the media and blogosphere have been capering about in excitement, hoping tension between the newly minted “tea party movement” and the McInnis campaign for governor will save them…

The latest inflammation between tea party organizers and the McInnis campaign came after an interview with Fox News host Neil Cavuto, where the candidate was referenced in a graphic as the tea party entrant.

This was misleading, since former Congressman McInnis has not yet received the endorsement of any particular portion of the tea party movement. However, it is probably worth noting that the candidate was interviewed in a remote location and the lower third section of the screen is added in the broadcast studio and was likely not visible to McInnis.

First of all, can we put this nonsense about McInnis somehow not knowing that he was being introduced as “the country’s biggest Tea Party candidate” to bed? It’s ridiculous. Sure, McInnis might not have been able to see the ticker rolling on screen, but he certainly heard host Neil Cavuto call him “the country’s biggest Tea Party candidate.” And–this is what outraged the real “Tea Party” groups–McInnis did not correct him. Because, as McInnis made clear in his glowing subsequent lip service to the “Tea Party” movement, it’s what he wanted people to think.

Back in the spin control room, Wagner continues:

The departure of the other Western Slope conservative candidate, Josh Penry, has left the McInnis campaign with one main obstacle in the form of Evergreen businessman Dan Maes, who has been endorsed by three of the state’s several tea party organizations.

In an effort to further this divide, far-left organizations have encouraged the McInnis campaign to speak out against the movement and label them as extremists. I’m sure they only have the best of intentions in this bit of encouragement.

Many on both sides of the arguments are trying to draw parallels between Colorado’s rapidly narrowing gubernatorial field to the New York congressional 23rd District race which featured the poster child for backroom political shenanigans, Dede Scozzafava, as a Republican candidate so liberal she made Rockefeller Republicans look like Barry Goldwater.

Those on the left have been trying to bring this analogy forward in the hope of furthering a fight on the right, much in the manner of a person who encourages others to brawl, offers to hold their coats and while they’re fighting, runs off with their wallets.

Naturally, this is what you would also say to a story you found politically threatening, and for which you had no better counterargument. So would anybody–of course the enemy everyone can agree on is to blame for all this discontent. It’s all just Mike Huttner stirring up excrement. We’re sure this column was satisfying for GOP loyalist Wagner to write, like a stiff drink after a hard day. More than a few Republican faithful will read it and nod along happily, feeling reassured at having finally found an explanation for something that was really starting to bother them.

The rest of you do realize it’s a bunch of weak-minded denial, right?