February 03, 2010 01:01 AM UTC

Highlands Ranch Showdown-GOP Senate Candidates Support "Constitution"

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• by: ClubTwitty

The Colorado Statesman has an interesting article about a recent match up between four GOP U.S. Senate candidates at a South Metro Chamber group’s candidate forum.

Clive Tidwell went for the Tea Party vote, while Jane Norton and Tom Wiens seemed to spar more for the business constituents.  Steve Barton was also present but Ken Buck was a no-show.

None of the candidates proposed anything that would appear fresh or innovative–all are in favor, for example, of the U.S. Constitution.  

What the candidates chose as their favorite amendment (they all focused on the first ten) offers, perhaps, more insight than the others details reported by the Statesman.  

Every candidate vowed to uphold the United States Constitution, but they differed slightly when asked to name their favorite amendment.

“I should say the Fifth Amendment,” declared Wiens. “And if we were all truthful in this room, we’d all say that!”

Wiens, however, chose the Tenth Amendment that established state sovereignty. Barton, Norton and Tidwell chose the First Amendment that protects free speech and assembly.

I am sure they will each be hearing from the NRA soon enough.

All of the candidates denounced the Bush bailout (although, apparently, they mis-attributed it) and the Recovery Act.

The four Republican candidates also agreed that the federal bailout and stimulus packages have been detrimental to the economy – and will cause future generations to be burdened with taxes to pay off the massive debt.

Clive raised the specter of the Stalinist threat entwined with the various re-paving and other projects around the state:

“It was a big government move. It was a socialistic move!” declared Tidwell, who warned that the agenda shared by President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress is “leading to a Communist manifesto.”

As for economic recovery itself: Drill, Baby, Drill and De-Regulation were favored themes:

Barton called for job creation in the energy sector, particularly oil, coal and nuclear power. Wiens said the solution is restoring the free enterprise system.

As for specifics, Norton and Tidwell went for business-oriented trinkets:

Norton said that she’d fight to defeat “Obamacare” and “Cap-and-Trade” as well as eliminate the estate tax on businesses and lift unnecessary regulations.

…Tidwell said he’d like to sit on a Senate committee that deals with the economy and entrepreneurship.

Cutting spending topped the list for Barton, apparently a spirited fellow who might not really understand how Congress works:

“I’m notoriously cheap!” declared Barton, who said he lives in a two-bedroom, one-bath home in Penrose.

Barton called for a 20 percent budget cut across the board – including every federal department.

…”Slash spending! Slash spending! Slashing spending!” demanded Barton, who added that “committees never solve anything.”

The candidates did manage to reflect the wide diversity that is the modern GOP:

Asked what is the most critical issue facing the nation, the candidates differed widely.

“Protect our borders,” said Tidwell.

“Energy independence,” declared Barton.

“Out of control spending,” asserted Norton.

“Changing the way Washington does business. The system is broken,” said Wiens, who called for term limits and a balanced budget amendment.

The only apparent good news to come out of the day is that all of the candidates, it seems, are willing to work for free:

The only necessary federal department and budget expenditure is for defense, agreed the candidates, who each cited the U.S. Constitution.