In the rain, January 26th, 2010 Vaughn Ward is “kicking off” his campaign on the Capitol steps with supporters Kempthorne and Luna. Not the most respected Republicans in Idaho, but okay. I am calling Ward to abandon his campaign for the 1st Congressional District. His campaign is causing rifts in the Republican Party on the magnitude of the Sali campaign in 2008.
Kempthorne is the ex-governor who put polar bears back on the endangered species list, in deference to Al Gore’s inconvenient lies. We already have two environmental extremists in Congress. Simpson voted to protect the Southern Sea Otter and expand federal lands in Oregon. Minnick wants to expand federal wilderness in northern Idaho and breach dams. We don’t need Kempthorne’s guy to bring more of the same.
Luna is almost as bad at politics as Ward. Case in point: Luna has been pushing “Race to the Top,” a hundred million dollar pilot program funded by Obama stimulus dollars. It is neither favored by fiscal conservatives, who hate pork, nor by teachers, who hate accountability standards. I could have explained these dynamics to Luna, after sitting in on a meeting a month ago. Ironic that Luna was hoping to woo teachers and more importantly the teacher’s union, and the teachers aren’t taking the bait. Luna alienates everyone. It’s lunacy.
But, let’s talk about Ward. What’s important is that the liberal Republicans are flocking to Ward. Obama supporters may shrug off guilt by association, but conservatives don’t. If you walk with the ducks and quack with the ducks, you are more duck than bronco.
Ward also says he’s a 4th-generation Idahoan. But, there is copious concern that Ward is a carpetbagger. He has not lived in Idaho for many years, recently leaving Las Vegas for Boise. It has been said that if he loses, he will move to Virginia. Virginia? His primary benefactor is McCain, and McCain is the typical Washington DC Republican. Ward would move to Virginia to be closer to his biggest patron. So, what would cause Ward to stay in Idaho?
His political career doesn’t seem to be leading him to stay local and run for state legislature. His campaign website poses him as a veritable enemy of the state legislature. This from Ward’s website: “I’ve noticed a curious trend. Boise lawmakers seem to think they will both provide the candidate from among themselves and be the sole decision makers on who wins the primary election.” What he doesn’t mention is that this legislature is the most conservative in recent history. This legislature stopped a gas tax increase in 2009, pushed by the RINO governor. This legislature wants to reduce or eliminate Idaho’s income tax. Ward would do well to get support from those type of Republicans. But, no. Attack, attack, attack. Why not learn how to make friends first, Ward?
I hear that Ward is a Christian. Will he swear a sacred oath that he would not move from Idaho, if he loses? How stable is he? How much does he really care for Idaho? Why do I even have to ask these questions? How can anyone vote for someone, who is cause for such concern?
Give me a Representative from Idaho, not a political song and dance. And, while I’m at it, can Ward get some red, white, and blue on his website? What’s conservative about that?
