September 01, 2005 08:00 AM UTC

Um, You're Not Helping

by: Colorado Pols

Republican John Andrews has been a vocal opponent of Referenda C&D, but he’s almost doing more harm than good.

A few weeks back Andrews was rightly criticized for “flip-flopping” on support of TABOR reforms:

Didn’t Andrews vote for budget-relief bills that would have gutted TABOR and given the state at least $1 billion more than Ref C would take in?

“I did,” he said.

Andrews said he never planned on supporting the bills he voted for had they gotten on the 2004 ballot…

Now Andrews is in the news again, for bizarre comments he made on Mike Rosen’s radio show. From the Rocky Mountain News:

The founder of the Independence Institute asked this week “What harm is done?” if Saddam Hussein turns out to be one of the anonymous donors helping fight Referendum C on the Nov. 1 ballot.

Republican John Andrews also dismissed concerns that community colleges would be in peril if the tax-measure fails. “A lot of those community colleges are nothing more than local jobs programs,” the former state lawmaker said.

Andrews made those comments Monday on Mike Rosen’s radio show on KOA-AM (850) during a debate with former Rep. Brad Young, R-Lamar, on the measure…

…Andrews opposes Referendum C, calling it a tax increase. Young supports the measure, saying Colorado needs it to recover from the recent recession. During the debate, they disagreed over whether the institute should have to reveal where it is getting its money to pay for its radio ads.

“You need to tell me, what harm is done if even (Russian President) Vladimir Putin was writing those checks?” Andrews said.

“Say Saddam Hussein smuggled money out of his Swiss bank accounts to write those checks so the Independence Institute could say, ‘Colorado, don’t raise taxes.’ “What harm is done?”

…Ref C supporters have filed a complaint against the Independence Institute with the secretary of state, saying it is violating election law by not releasing names of its donors. Atkinson said the opponents don’t want Colorado to know that their donors are out of state.

Independence Institute bigwig Jon Caldara tried to defend Andrews’ remarks by using the tired old line that they were taken out of context. Here’s a tip: anytime you try to use Saddam Hussein to make a point, you’ve already screwed up.

Referenda C&D spokesperson Katy Atkinson summed it up best: “Every time John Andrews opens his mouth he helps us.”

The ‘NO’ on C&D folks have thus far done a better job of getting out their message (which in fairness is an easier message to relay) than the ‘YES’ folks, but as they continue to shoot themselves in the foot it’s going to be harder to keep running ahead.

Um, You're Not Helping

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