July 07, 2006 08:00 AM UTC

Baisley Still Mad About...Um...Whatever

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• by: Colorado Pols

We’ve posted before on this feud between Republicans Ted Harvey and Mark Baisley, who are locked in a primary in SD-30, mostly because we’re entertained by the press releases sent out by Baisley’s campaign. The Baisley camp is trying to make a big deal out of something that, frankly, is really difficult to understand. Take the first paragraph of their latest press release, for example:

Former Senate District 30 Chairman and candidate for Colorado Senate District 30, Mark Baisley (R-Douglas County), today asked Ted Harvey, his primary opponent for the open Senate seat in SD 30, to explain to voters what Harvey did with the money that he improperly raised via the internet. Several weeks ago, Harvey was using scare tactics to solicit funds from pro life advocates outside of the state by using the internet to say that Harvey was in a contested race against pro life millionaires that wanted to punish Ted for his strong pro life stand. This is untrue. His opponent, Mark Baisley, is a strong pro life conservative with broad support in pro life movement because of his well-reasoned positions and his intellectual commitment to pro life philosophy.?

Umm…Yeah. Okay. Because that apparently wasn’t enough to discuss, the press release throws in an extra topic later on:

In another matter, Baisley defended Harvey?s slip of the tongue yesterday when Harvey called Democrat candidate Bill Ritter ?Gov. Ritter? during a press conference held at the capitol.

?Anyone can make an honest mistake when they are nervous in front of so many people,? said Baisley. ?Even people who are well-spoken can. Slips of the tongue can make for funny headlines and I?m sure Ted?s embarrassed by it. But I?m not interested in honest, well-meant mistakes.?

That’s good stuff.Click below for the full press release…

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Former Senate District 30 Chairman and candidate for Colorado Senate District 30, Mark Baisley (R-Douglas County), today asked Ted Harvey, his primary opponent for the open Senate seat in SD 30, to explain to voters what Harvey did with the money that he improperly raised via the internet. Several weeks ago, Harvey was using scare tactics to solicit funds from pro life advocates outside of the state by using the internet to say that Harvey was in a contested race against pro life millionaires that wanted to punish Ted for his strong pro life stand. This is untrue. His opponent, Mark Baisley, is a strong pro life conservative with broad support in pro life movement because of his well-reasoned positions and his intellectual commitment to pro life philosophy.

Harvey went on record June 23rd saying he would not correct his website. ?I?m not going to change it or the link that leads to it,? Harvey vowed regarding his site in a story published in the Colorado Statesman (for a copy of the story go to coloradostatesman.com). Several days later, under pressure from pro life leaders around Colorado, Harvey removed the page from his site, along with the link.

?I congratulate Ted for finally taking partial responsibility for his actions,? said Mark Baisley. ?However, he?s not taken full responsibility yet. He needs to return the money to the donors or donate it to Colorado Right to Life or another pro life charity. It is money that can better spent on doing the real work that the pro life movement was called to do.?

On the week of the 23rd of June pro life leaders expressed regret that Harvey had made such a misstep while representing the pro life movement. ?As a fundraising ploy, it?s heartbreaking,? said Pat Miller former head of Citizens for Responsible Government, one of the most active pro life organizations in the state.

Phillip Hendrix, a long-time Christian activist from Douglas County, agreed: ?The pro-life movement doesn?t need politicians that pander to us rather than propose real solutions to the problems we face on life issues. We would be better served if our elected officials would show some measure of wisdom, morality and courage.?

Beginning on the 17th of June, Harvey raised a total of around $1100 from 17 out-of-state donors through the reporting period that ended the 28th of June. ?I think for Ted personally, the best thing he could do, would be to return the money. If he does so, I will drop the whole issue. But if he decides to not listen to my advice and the advice that I know even his supporters have given him, I think his position in this matter will just get worse,? said Baisley.

In another matter, Baisley defended Harvey?s slip of the tongue yesterday when Harvey called Democrat candidate Bill Ritter ?Gov. Ritter? during a press conference held at the capitol.

?Anyone can make an honest mistake when they are nervous in front of so many people,? said Baisley. ?Even people who are well-spoken can. Slips of the tongue can make for funny headlines and I?m sure Ted?s embarrassed by it. But I?m not interested in honest, well-meant mistakes.?

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