Wednesday, July 9th, 2008...8:24 pm
Is It Really Only About Gay Marriage?
The news about Jim Kolbe’s resignation from Tim Bee’s campaign has even made the Hotline, who noted that this was far different from Kolbe’s non-endorsement of 2006 candidate Randy Graf.
It’s funny, I took some grief from Sonoran Alliance who said that I “got in a lather” about their reaction to Kolbe. Actually, I didn’t react at all (I wrote about it before they posted anything about it, far as I know), instead, I predicted that they would think that this is no big deal. Guess what? I was right about that. My argument is that they need to understand why this is not a good sign for their man. One, Kolbe is the only guy to represent Southern Arizona in the US House, meaning that he knew how to sell himself to the people of the area and that his politics are a darned sight more indicative of where the electorate is than theirs are. Also, this guy was Bee’s campaign chairman. This isn’t some random Republican who chooses not to endorse Bee or for personal reasons endorses Gabrielle Giffords. He was raising Washington money for Bee, and early on helped give Bee the credibility to keep the field clear.
This is different from Kolbe’s non-endorsement of Graf because no one expected Graf to get Kolbe’s help. Graf and Kolbe had run-ins even before Graf was in public office. A bigger shock would have been if Kolbe wrote Graf a $20 check.
The closest thing I can think of in my political experience is in 1998 when ‘94 Democratic nominee Eddie Basha endorsed Republican Governor Jane Dee Hull. Back when that happened, it was seen as either a bad blow for Democratic nominee Paul Johnson or an indication that his campaign was already in serious trouble. Either way, it was not a good sign.
Anyway, I’m wondering if this is really all about gay marriage. Bee has been selling himself as Kolbe’s sort of Republican on a number of issues. Some issues, like Social Security privatization, make Democrats and a lot of independents cringe, but they are solidly in line with Kolbe’s ideology. But, he was also a vote for Graf’s idiotic guns in bars bill, he’s a global warming denier and has come out against programs like SCHIP. Maybe Kolbe realized that Bee isn’t a Kolbe Republican anymore, but rather a Bush Republican. Is that really, to use a cliche, a “brand” he wants to associate himself with?
Kolbe was in the navy, he knows better than to stay on a vessel that isn’t seaworthy.
5 Comments
July 10th, 2008 at 10:57 am
You need to quote Kolbe’s exact words to be accurate and not mislead. He said he is not able to actively campaign for Bee. Call Kolbe’s office and you will find he did not pull his endorsement of Senator Bee as you allege.
July 10th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Walt S, Kolbe saying he is not actively able to campaign for Bee says it all. What has changed in Kolbe’s schedule to prevent him from campaigning?? NOTHING. It is all about Bee and his votes and stances on several issues.
July 10th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Your last paragraph is what I have been saying allllll along! Bee is not a moderate…period….exclamation.
Check his ratings on ProjectVoteSmart. http://www.votesmart.org.
Is flip-flopping the way that Bee intends to show that he is a moderate?
July 11th, 2008 at 10:40 am
We are splitting hairs here about what is “active” campaigning and what is mere support. Doesn’t sound like Kolbe is backing Bee anymore and is trying to “save face” by pulling back. Does this help Bee facing a formidable, incumbent, hard working Democratic Congresswoman? No.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I think Bee has something to hide and someone has something on him. Pull the string and see what unravels…
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