Scott McInnis is to 2010 GOP as Nixon was to 1976 GOP: A disaster

Possibly too many Colorado Republicans are in denial about Scott McInnis, and they are imploding.

The party’s leaders and too many activists are more worried about beating Governor-elect John Hickenlooper than about the future of Colorado. They want to elect Scott McInnis even though it is clear that he lies, blows off clients and voters, delivers much more to top contributors than to constituents and doesn’t care or know much about the issues.

What today’s GOP apparently isn’t getting is that McInnis is to the 2010 GOP as President Richard Nixon was to 1976 Republicans. He’s a disaster.

He is setting up the GOP for losing not only the governor’s race, but every other down ticket race. Worse, he’s setting up the GOP for years in the whining gallery.

After Nixon, we got Jimmy Carter, the worst president in history. Only Ronald Reagan was able to save the country and the party from having to live down Nixon’s Watergate longer than it did. It’s very unlikely that a once-in-lifetime Republican will come along to save the GOP from McInnism. The state’s GOP bench doesn’t have a Ronald Reagan in the wings.

Both Hickenlooper and Tancredo will hammer away at McInnis’ ethical record. They’ll mock his earmarking, his service to contributors and the way he plagiarized and blew off the Hasan Family Foundation. They’ll quote his family friend, Rolly Fischer, who called him a liar about the plagiarism scandal.

And Democrats will spend years talking about the Scott McInnis Republicans and their lack of integrity.

Republicans don’t get it yet. But they will.

1. I think you should be more precise when you use “Colorado Republicans.” To whom are you referring? In my conversations with both activist and party leader types (and I haven’t talked to Wadhams about it), the attitude you describe fits the minority of them. Not that I can offer up a scientifically representative sample or anything. Just looking for precision.

   Posted by Ben  on  07/28/2010  at  04:04 PM

2. Ben,

   Good point. Virtually all the 150 or so folks at Men’s club this morning were for McInnis or not willing to show support for Tancredo. It was sad and amazing.

   Posted by Donald Johnson  on  07/28/2010  at  08:02 PM

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