Is Rep. Jim Kolbe On the Outs with the Bush/Cheney Campaign?

South East Arizona Republican Club Website ^ | 14 August 2004 | Todd Evans

[Spiff]

Is Rep. Jim Kolbe On the Outs with the Bush/Cheney Campaign?

By Todd Evans - President, South East Arizona Republican Club

Along with the rest of the Arizona Republican Congressional Delegation, Jim Kolbe may serve as a Co-Chairman of the Bush-Cheney '04 Arizona Leadership Team. However, he was not anywhere to be found at the jam-packed Dick Cheney rally held in Tucson on July 31st. He wasn't on the stage and he certainly did not speak despite the fact that the rally was held in Tucson which includes most of Rep. Jim Kolbe's constituents. Rep. J.D. Hayworth spoke despite the fact that Hayworth's district is all the way up in Maricopa County.

When Vice President Cheney spoke he did mention the Arizona delegation. However, he reserved the least praise for Kolbe when, according to the official Bush/Cheney website, he said:

I want to thank my good friend Alan Simpson for being with us today. (Applause.) The good news is whenever Al Simpson and I campaign together, we always win the election. (Applause.) It's an honor to be here with Congressman J.D. Hayworth. And I want to mention your congressman, Jim Kolbe.

I want to "mention" your congressman? No compliment, no praise - nothing. Just a strained "mention".

Was Kolbe at the capacity-crowd George Bush Rally held in Phoenix this last Wednesday night (Aug 11)? He wasn't seen on the stage. Kolbe did not speak. And, in fact, he received the ultimate snub when President Bush didn't even give him a weak mention like Cheney did. Here's what the official Bush/Cheney website says that President Bush said at the rally:

I'm proud to be traveling with a great American and a fine citizen of this state, a person who served his nation with distinction and honor -- John McCain. (Applause.) I want to thank his wife Cindy for joining us, as well. She's a class act, good lady. (Applause.)

I also want to thank my friend, Jon Kyl, the other Senator from this state. You got two fine United States Senators from Arizona. (Applause.)

I want to thank my friends from the congressional delegation, Renzi, Franks, Shadegg, J.D. Hayworth, Jeff Flake, for their leadership. (Applause.)

President Bush listed the entire Arizona Republican Congressional Delegation except for Kolbe! Not even a single mention. He said he was thanking his friends - is Kolbe no longer a friend of the campaign or George Bush? Is his "leadership" on certain issues no longer appreciated?

There are several reasons why Kolbe may be on the outs with President Bush and the campaign. Despite their previous buddy-buddy status on amnesty for illegal aliens, they differed strongly on the Partial Birth Abortion ban as well as the Federal Marriage Amendment. Kolbe has voted against banning the gruesome Partial Birth Abortion procedure EVERY time that it has come to a vote despite the President's support for the legislation which passed last year. Kolbe has also been outspoken in his opposition to the FMA and his support for same-sex marriage; again, despite the President's and most Republicans' position on the issue. And while the President may have originally stated support for Kolbe's amnesty proposal or one very much like it, the damage that may have been done with the President's conservative base because of that association is undeniable. As a result, Bush and the White House have backed way off that issue during the election and may have backed away from Rep. Kolbe as well.

This election year Kolbe is facing a strong challenger. Randy Graf has got him spinning as more and more people express their disagreement with Kolbe's voting record and views and instead show their support for his more conservative and younger challenger. Protecting the unborn, securing the border, defending traditional marriage, and limiting the size of government, the cornerstones of Graf's campaign, resonate strongly with Republicans in Arizona's 8th District. Republican dissatisfaction with Kolbe's record and proposals has boiled over. Earlier this year, Rep. Kolbe was fiercely protested by Republicans at several of the Town Halls he held in his district. His own brother has even publically denounced the Congressman. His recent Town Hall in Tucson drew only a handful of attendees while a Town Hall for Randy Graf held in the small town of Sierra Vista drew a standing room only crowd of over 110 people.

News reports prior to Cheney's appearance in Tucson stated that Kolbe would likely receive a "bounce" from the visit. Instead, he finds himself snubbed by the President, Vice President, and the campaign. Despite his huge campaign war chest he finds himself the possible loser, after 2 decades in office, in what may be a stunning primary election upset. Stay tuned.

Todd Evans is the President of the South East Arizona Republican Club in Sierra Vista, Arizona. The Club's website can be seen at www.searclub.com and Todd Evans can be contacted at todd.evans@searclub.com.

[Spiff]

Ping!

[ChocChipCookie]

I'm liking what I'm hearing. I figured Kolbe would have to die or retire before letting go of his Congressional seat.

[anniegetyourgun]

Hhhhhmmm, maybe Rep. Kolbe is about have a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against him too.

[CedarDave]

Previously posted:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1191062/posts

[Spiff]

Previously posted? Not quite. This is a different version.

[bayourod]

Graf is a Buchanan/Tancredo sock puppet.

Anyone associated with that anti-Bush, anti-Republican group is the enemy of all real conservatives. Tancredo has been warned about his anti-Bush activities by Tom Delay and thrown out of the White House by Karl Rove with instructions not to ever come back.

Graf must be defeated at all cost.

[OneTimeLurker]

" thrown out of the White House by Karl Rove "

Why does Karl Rove decide who gets to come in the White House?

[demkicker]

Thanks for the good news. I'm getting ready to toast to Randy Graff.... Cheers!

[Spiff]

Bayourod must be ignored at all cost. He's a troll.

[Spiff]

Thanks for the good news. I'm getting ready to toast to Randy Graf.... Cheers!

Don't toast him yet. Unless he gets a lot of help from people like you, he's going to lose. It is certainly a David vs. Goliath battle as Kolbe has over $600,000 to spend on his campaign and Graf is pure grassroots, being outspent by 10 to 1.

[Torie]

Relax. Graf won't make it to Congress. In the unlikely event he wins the primary, he will probably lose the General. The Dems have a slight generic edge in this district.

[Lancey Howard]

Kolbe has a 56 ACU rating for 2003 and a lifetime rating of 75 after nearly 20 years. That's pathetic. I hope it is finally good riddance to Kolbe.

[bayourod]

"Why does Karl Rove decide who gets to come in the White House? "

Karl Rove is Lee Atwater's successor; the architect of the modern conservative movement.

Do you not understand what a threat the Buchanan/Tancredo/Graf crowd is to the future of conservatism. Check the website I linked and see that Tancredo's group that is promoting Graf is opposing the reelection of George Bush.

Why do you think Buchanan is is the darling of the liberal media? Why do you think Buchanan is dis-invited to any conservative gathering.

Graf is falling into a David Duke type political group. The fact that Spiff is supporting him should be all the proof you need that he is bad news.

[NCPAC]

I will agree that 56 ACU for 2003 is "moderate" at best, but do you really think a 75 percent lifetime rating over 20 years is pathetic? That's being with the conservatives 3/4 of the time - not great, but hardly pathetic.

[conservative in nyc]

Doesn't Congressman Kolbe have a challenger in the Republican primary? Why should the President take sides in the primary? If Kolbe loses, his RAT opponent can use the President's words (or inviting Kolbe but not the challenger to his events) against him in the general election.

[Spiff]

Randy Graf sat in the VIP section at the Cheney rally and I believe he did so at the Bush rally. Kolbe was not seen at either event.

I was on the air with radio talk show host Steve Aiken )(Tucson AM 690) this evening. He told me on the air that his sources tell him that Kolbe "begged" for a photo-op with the Vice President. Cheney or his staff refused the request.

[Luke21]

Bayourod and Torie sound like Democrats. I already voted for Graf. If he beats the pink rino, he'll win the general too unless our "big tent" moderate friends undermine us like they do so often.

[Torie]

unless our "big tent" moderate friends undermine us like they do so often.

I take it you agree with me that Graf will tank in the General; it doesn't take very many "RINOS" to do to job in this district - not many at all. But it is moot. I would be surprised if Graf gets more than 40% in the primary.