May 06, 2019 09:32 AM UTC

Stephen Moore, Cory Gardner's Latest Triumph

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• by: Colorado Pols

Squelched locally under the crush of news at the end of Colorado’s legislative session late last week, another embarrassing defeat for the Trump administration with the withdrawal of Wall Street Journal columnist Stephen Moore from consideration for a seat on the Federal Reserve Board was the talk of Washington–as CBS News reported Thursday:

“Steve Moore, a great pro-growth economist and a truly fine person, has decided to withdraw from the Fed process. Steve won the battle of ideas including Tax Cuts…and deregulation which have produced non-inflationary prosperity for all Americans. I’ve asked Steve to work with me toward future economic growth in our Country,” the president wrote.

CBS News’ Major Garrett obtained Moore’s letter to Mr. Trump withdrawing from consideration, which praised the president’s policies and said “Trumponomics has been VINDICATED.”

“Your confidence in me makes what I am about to say much harder. I am respectfully asking that you withdraw my name from consideration,” Moore said in his letter. “The unrelenting attacks on my character have become untenable for me and my family and 3 more months of this would be too hard on us.”

Moore’s withdrawal from consideration comes just days after another Trump nominee for the Federal Reserve Board, former GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain withdrew under scrutiny of his record and personal life. Readers will recall that Sen. Cory Gardner came out against Cain’s nomination, although curiously Gardner felt the need to clarify that “it’s not about his past.” We never heard in greater detail what Gardner’s objections to Cain’s nomination actually were, but the one data point we have is that Gardner’s objections were not related to allegations of sexual misconduct.

Which says something all by itself.

But when it came to Stephen Moore, we’re obliged to note that Gardner was much more enthusiastic–as Politico reported last week as Moore’s nomination was just beginning to arc southward:

“I look forward to talking to Stephen Moore and having a discussion on his ability and background and suitability,” Gardner said in an interview. “I think I had concerns about Herman Cain from a political side of things, from the super PAC side of things, that I don’t have with Stephen Moore.” [Pols emphasis]

Add this to the long list of Cory Gardner pronouncements that have not aged well. Hopefully a local reporter will have the chance to circle back with Gardner to learn more about why Gardner didn’t like Herman Cain, did like Stephen Moore, and neither are going to serve on the board of the Federal Reserve. Perhaps with some follow-up questions about the wisdom of President Donald Trump, who Gardner has endorsed for re-election, in making these nominations?

It’s another great moment for that Trump/Gardner 2020 ticket.