As a political observer in Colorado, the 2010 season is shaping up to be a crazy ride. The gubernatorial Primary is a bit of a riot.
Of course the plagiarism scandal grows. No need for Hick to ‘go negative.’ The McInnis campaign is on life support. Politico has a story up with Maes–not ethically unchallenged himself–blasting McInnis:
The Republican challenging Scott McInnis for the party’s gubernatorial nomination in Colorado next month says the former congressman’s apology for plagiarism is unacceptable because he’s failed to take personal responsibility for the error.
…A spokesman for McInnis did not return several inquiries by POLITICO, but told the Associated Press the candidate made “a serious mistake” and blamed a research assistant for failing to cite the original author.
…”The apology is unacceptable because he attempts to blame someone else for it and still isn’t taking responsibility for it. As a future executive in Colorado, we must take personal responsibility for what happens under our watch,” Maes told POLITICO. “If a staff member makes a mistake under my watch, that’s my responsibility.”
As two flawed candidates limp into the Primary, the McLifted scandal will devour any McInnis bandwidth. But there is other news worth noting on the Scooter Watch.
First up, another flop by McInnis?
McInnis called the stimulus money a “crack high.”
“We’re on it, and that’s what it is – a sugar high or a crack high,” he said.
However, in a 2008 speech to the Farm Bureau in Ignacio, he touted the need for Congress to pass a stimulus bill, comparing the U.S. economy to a critically ill patient.
“The patient isn’t going to get up off the bed and walk out of the hospital, but it will keep the patient alive while in the meantime we’re hoping consumer confidence will go up,” he said at the time.
The Durango Herald article cited above includes responses from an interview with reporter Joe Hanel of the Herald.
The interview raises a few interesting points, including another McLobbyist client, on behalf of the Flaming Gorge/Front Range pipeline scheme, named–appropriately enough–Mr. Million.
Expect the gloves to be off the last weeks of the Primary–especially with a mortally wounded McInnis, sitting on lots of cash. Even after that $ 300,000 refund. The Herald article includes some back and forth between Maes and McInnis, the final bit of news:
His GOP opponent, Maes, derides him as “another moderate that we’d all have to hold our noses for.
…McInnis rejects the label and points to a voting record analysis by the independent group On The Issues that pegged him as a libertarian-leaning conservative.
“Dan Maes, my opponent, has no record,” McInnis said. “Talk’s cheap. It’s the record that’s important.”
But as that record emerges, Scott’s next reinvention will have to be a doozy.
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