Posted on 08/16/2006 9:50:04 AM PDT by Abathar
DENVER -- Democrats pounced on Colorado's Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez and his newly chosen running mate Janet Rowland on Tuesday for comments she made five months ago comparing same-sex marriage to bestiality.
In a March 17 broadcast of the Rocky Mountain PBS program "Colorado State of Mind," Rowland said homosexuality is an alternative lifestyle, adding, "For some people, the alternative lifestyle is bestiality. Do we allow a man to marry a sheep?"
Democrat Bill Ritter's campaign called the remarks "insensitive, close-minded, derogatory and crude" and demanded an apology.
"This shows just how far to the right and out-of-touch the Beauprez-Rowland ticket really is," Ritter campaign manager Greg Kolomitz said.
Beauprez campaign manager John Marshall said Rowland regretted the remark and has apologized.
"We all say things we don't mean sometimes," he said. "That's what happened."
He said Beauprez continues to believe Rowland is a strong candidate but added, "Let me be clear. He doesn't agree with (the) comments and neither does she."
Marshall said Rowland had told campaign officials about the remarks before she was chosen as Beauprez's running mate, and they accepted her apology and statement of regret.
Rowland was campaigning Tuesday and was not available for further comment, Marshall said.
The tempest arose just one day after Beauprez announced that Rowland, a Mesa County commissioner, is his running mate in what is expected to be a tight race for the seat being given up by term-limited GOP Gov. Bill Owens. Beauprez praised Rowland's accomplishments, integrity and "real-world experience."
Rowland, 43, is a married mother of two children. In the broadcast, she stressed she does not hate gays.
"I have friends who are gay, I've worked with people who are gay, I have utmost respect for them," she said.
She said society must differentiate between what is acceptable as marriage and what is not.
"Some people have group sex. Should we allow two men and three women to marry? Should we allow polygamy, with one man and five wives?" she said.
She returned to the bestiality comparison at the end of the broadcast.
"And I know some of you are outraged that I would compare bestiality to this," she said. "Forty or 50 years ago, people would be outraged that we were talking about gay marriage."
Republican political analyst Katy Atkinson of Denver said it's difficult to measure what impact Rowland's comments will have on the race. She said it depends partly on whether key swing voters view Rowland's views as extreme.
"Coloradans tend to not like or vote for anybody who is an extremist," she said. "If that comment is used to portray her and Bob Beauprez as extremist, that's a problem."
Atkinson said Beauprez will fare best if he can regain the offensive in the campaign and shape the voters' impression of him.
"Bob Beauprez's secret weapon is Bob Beauprez," she said. "When he speaks to voters on television or radio, he seems like their favorite uncle, like every word he says is sincere and from the heart."
So far, she said, Ritter and his supporters have kept Beauprez on the defensive, and Rowland's comments only contribute to that.
"The challenge he has had all along -- it hasn't worked very well for him -- is to run the campaign on his terms, and he hasn't been able to do that," Atkinson said. "Now his campaign is having to react to these comments."
Rowland was a caseworker for the Mesa County Department of Human Services, investigating allegations of abuse and neglect for 10 years. Analysts said her choice by Beauprez was intended to assuage western Colorado voters angry over his support of projects they believed would shipped precious water to the Front Range.
Kolomitz and state Democratic Party Chairwoman Pat Waak compared Rowland to state Rep. Jim Welker, R-Loveland, who was widely criticized for forwarding e-mails that characterized black victims of Hurricane Katrina as lazy.
"Coloradans should not be surprised to see this type of mean-spirited extremism displayed by a high-profile Republican candidate," Waak said.
How true, how true.
I like this Rowland chick. LOL
There goes the sheep vote.
Clearly, homosexuals know that same gender sex is a perversion. They just play the victim to try to assuage their guilt.
I just wish that it was Janet Rowland running for Governor instead of Bob Beauprez. She is much more true to her values.
She never should have apologized; she had nothing to apologize for.
Agreed. Apologizing for speaking the truth is harmful to moral progress.
He's got to start running his campaign and not reacting. Holtzman inflicted a lot of damage with this "Both Ways Bob" crap and the Dem 547 attack ads are starting.
Sounds fine to me....
As far as I am concerned it is.
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo!)
I meant the question is a good one, not that marrying a sheep is fine........
The sex positive agenda (which uses the homosexual agenda as a battering ram to society's laws and morals) seeks to end ALL moral judgment over sexual pairings regardless of sex, age, relation, marital status, number, or species of partner(s).
We hear how the ancient Greeks have depicted homosexuality in their art and pottery. Same can be said of beastiality.
Democrat Bill Ritter's campaign called the remarks "insensitive, close-minded, derogatory and crude" and demanded an apology.
Of course they did. The truth is quite "insensitive" to any false illusions people might harbor for peace of mind.
She was absolutely correct in her comments. Give me the "insensitive" truth every time! Bravo!
I live in Colorado and it doesn't appear to me that Bob is running. It doesn't seem to be an election year since I don't see any signs or hear any ads. I don't tnink I'm living in a vacuum.
I agree.
Sounds about right to me.
There are already people who will their estates away to their pets. This would just make their relationship more official.
Old cat women would be able to get coverage for their favorite pet under their company's insurance plan.
Just another alternative lifestyle.
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo!)
I thought that was Montana where the movie "Broke**ck Mountain" was made.
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