Colorado’s Gubernatorial Race – Principle Over Party and the Best of Both Worlds

This was originally posted at Tea Party Brewing – By Nancy McKiernan

By Nancy McKiernan, owner, Tea Party Brewing

August 4, 2010

Last week former US Congressman Tom Tancredo left the Republican Party and joined the American Constitution Party.  On Thursday, 7/29, he formally announced his run for Governor of Colorado on the ACP ticket.
This move has caused controversy and angst, especially among many Tea Party and 9-12 groups.  Some feel betrayed and are now questioning a man they respected and trusted fully before this announcement.  Many had wanted Tancredo to run initially and pressured him to do so.  Accepting that he was not going to run, they followed his advice to work through the two-party system and unite behind a candidate.  Now, with Tom having left the Republican Party and running on a third party ticket, it is understandable why some might be upset.  Some feel Tom went back on his word and believe if he was going to run, he should have done so in the first place, or at least announced his candidacy before the State Assembly on May 22.
I can see both sides of this argument.  I empathize with those who don’t agree with what Tancredo has done, but I am not upset with him.  I’m glad he’s running.  Maybe I have a different perspective, because I have been volunteering for Tom’s ballot Initiative 42 for several months and have gotten to know him personally and therefore trust his motives.  In addition, I’m not particularly attached to either Dan Maes or Scott McInnis.  I have concerns with each candidate, but would choose either over Denver’s Progressive, “Sanctuary City” Mayor, John Hickenlooper, the uncontested Democrat candidate.
Many of those who wanted Tancredo to run are now upset with him because of “how” he got on the ballot.  Many of these people became politically active because of their general disgust with both the Republican and Democrat parties, yet ironically are now coming to the defense of the Republican Party.  Outsiders have been questioning the Tea Party movement, asking if they plan to form a third party.  My response and that of many other “Tea Partiers” has been we will first try to work through the two-party system.  If that doesn’t work, we will resort to a third party option.  In my opinion, Tancredo took a bold step and did exactly what many in the Tea Party movement have been asking for.  Should we be upset with him?  Or should we be applauding him?

Things changed after the State Assembly on May 22.  Within the last month or so Maes was hit with accusations involving campaign finance violations and allegations of flip flopping on his position on Amnesty.  And just when the McInnis camp was thinking things were looking up for them because of this, McInnis was hit with a debilitating plagiarism scandal.  As a result of these issues, Tancredo expressed his belief and concern that the Republican Party did not have a viable candidate to beat democrat John Hickenlooper.  He issued an ultimatum asking the winner of the August 10th Republican primary to agree to withdraw from the race if polls at that time showed they could not beat Hickenlooper.  This would have allowed the Republican Party to pick another candidate through a vacancy committee.  (They most likely would not have chosen Tancredo, who has never been a ‘favorite’ of either local or national Republican Parties).  Neither Maes nor McInnis agreed to this, which resulted in Tancredo leaving the Republican Party and now running for Governor of Colorado on the American Constitution Party ticket.
I disagree with those in Hickenlooper’s camp who think Tancredo handed the election over to Hickenlooper.    We can let the liberal media and even some in our own ranks get the best of us and define the argument this way; or WE can define it.  Let’s choose to look at this as a positive for us and a negative for Hickenlooper.  We have in essence a second primary, only this time all voters, not just delegates, will get to participate.  We will get to choose the best of three “conservative” candidates, Maes, McInnis or Tancredo.  WE THE PEOPLE have the power to affect the outcome of this election.  If it is necessary and when the time is right, we can demand the “weaker” candidate withdraw from the race and pressure him to do so before the November ballots go out.  Remember, this is an election year where anything is possible.
Let’s not lose sight of the end goal and that is for a “conservative” to beat Hickenlooper.  Although we may be supporting different candidates at this time, we must try our best to look at the bigger picture.  Let’s turn this around, unite and put the other side in a tailspin!
E Pluribus Unum!

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