January 16, 2008 08:34 PM UTC

Claws Come Out for Bruce

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• by: Colorado Pols

Politicos and editorial boards around the state took turns kicking Republican Rep. Doug Bruce in the knee today.

First, Bruce’s hometown Colorado Springs Gazette:

Douglas Bruce seems a lot like Britney Spears these days. Like Spears, Bruce seems to self-destruct in the spotlight. Bruce and Britney have issues with photographers. Britney chose to date an obtrusive cameraman; Bruce chose to kick one.

Sure, Bruce authored a useful, if somewhat flawed, constitutional amendment long ago that mostly empowers Colorado taxpayers and saves them money. For that, we give him credit. Likewise, there was a time when Britney was known for her work. She gave us “Oops I Did it Again.” For that, we give credit where credit is due.

Like Spears, Bruce has morphed into an embarrassment to himself and all his old friends. Unlike Bruce, Spears has an excuse: She’s practically a child, whose maturity was likely stilted by the turmoil of teen stardom. Bruce, by contrast, is a grown and educated man – one entrusted by leading Republicans with representing a district and making it look good.

In the Rocky Mountain News today, Bruce was roundly criticized by his own Party:

But in the Denver metro area, Bruce’s behavior was seen in the light of a long line of embarrassments by elected Republicans.

Former Jefferson County Treasurer Mark Paschall is facing trial for an alleged kickback, Jefferson County Commissioner Rick Sheehan resigned after sending defamatory faxes and Arapahoe County Clerk Tracy Baker was recalled after exchanging racy e-mails with the girlfriend who worked for him.

“These are gross exceptions to the rule: The Doug Bruce, Mark Paschall, they are aberrations,” said Wadhams. “They are not a reflection of the vast majority of Republican elected officials.”

Wadhams “strongly denounced” Bruce’s behavior and praised May for his leadership in dealing with Bruce. Then he added that Bruce’s behavior was “very sad.”

“Doug Bruce had an opportunity to be a very strong vote for fiscal responsibility. He has severely marginalized himself by what he did. He squandered an opportunity for himself,” said Wadhams, a Republican campaign master.