Posted on 08/13/2004 12:19:45 PM PDT by Spiff
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 Jim Kolbe's constituents. 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 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 George Bush Rally held in Phoenix this last Wednesday night (Aug 11)? He wasn't 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" no longer appreciated?
Why would that be?
Could it be that Kolbe is on the outs with President Bush and his campaign because Kolbe opposes the President's support for the Federal Marriage Amendment to protect traditional marriage and define it as a union only between a man and a woman. The once-married now openly gay Kolbe has been outspoken in his support for gay marriage and since he announced that he defined himself by his homosexual behavior his voting record has reflected support for the radical gay agenda. Kolbe's new voting habits have even been lauded by gay publications. He's told his constituents in Tucson that he looks forward to the day when gay marriage is considered to be "normal".
Kolbe is also a supporter of the Log Cabin Republicans - a group of so-called Republicans who promote the radical gay agenda within the party. He's spoken at their convention and he relies upon campaign funds from the organization. The Log Cabin Republicans oppose President Bush and plan to cause problems at the Republican National Convention later this month. Looks like a conflict of interest to me.
There may be other explanations offered to explain the falling out between the Bush/Cheney campaign and Jim Kolbe. Everyone wants to tiptoe around the elephant in the room and avoid making Kolbe's homosexual lifestyle an issue. It has become an issue now only because the President, nearly every Republican, and most of the people in the United States prefer that marriage be defined as a union only between a man and a woman. The once-married now openly gay Kolbe is at odds with Bush, Cheney, the Republican Party, and the rest of the country on this issue. Could it be that Bush, Cheney and the campaign don't want to be associated anymore with Jim Kolbe? It certainly looks that way from where I'm standing.
Ping
Who is the Democrat running against him?
And that rape trial can't help, either.
Sorry, hadda go for the easy joke. ;)
Good. I'm tired of having to put up with Democrats in Republican clothing.
Is Kolby queer?
What is it with AZ? First McCain and now this guy...
Is he odd?
Queer = Odd
Or do you mean funny Queer, not funny ha, ha?
I think it's the dry heat.
The cold shoulder has to be for not supporting the marriage ammendment. Kolbe's been a good pro-amnesty soldier, i I recall.
He likes guys.
Agree with you 100%.
DKK
Isn't this one of the guys looking for a Guest Worker and Amnesty program?
I strongly disagree. Need I remind you of Klinton?
I prefer my elected officials to reflect the values of me and my neighbors.
Look. I live in Kolbe's district. He's got to go! He is one of a very few Republicans to not only vote 100% pro-abortion, but to vote against banning partial birth abortion EVERY time it has come up for a vote. He even voted against the 'Laci Peterson' Fetal Homicide bill. He wants amnesty for border intruders who have made it passed our weak border defenses. He micromanages the Border Patrol to trip up their efforts to secure the border. He is one of the 13 Cardinals in Congress - chairman of the 13 appropriations subcommittees - and has overseen the largest increase in non-defense discretionary spending in the history of the Republic. As one of the Cardinals, he is complicit in the threatening of reformers and those who wanted to cut or limit out of control government spending. He is always willing to sell out our sovereignty to the United Nations and other international entities like NAFTA, WTO, etc. And, now, he's an enemy to the core unit of our society - marriage between a man and a woman. His support of establishing the San Pedro River Riparian Area and the La Cienega perservation area have hemmed Fort Huachua in, empowered the environmentalist whackos, furthered the myth of a "water problem" in the area, and therefore leave Fort Huachuca as a prime target for BRAC shutdown.
Kolbe is arrogant and ignores the disires of the people he supposedly represents. Recently, when speaking about his amnesty proposal, he said he knew his constituents were against it but that he wasn't going to change his position.
Kolbe has got to go!
Kolbe is pitiful. He is sending out mailers that have copied a letter the president sent him about something with a very tepid text. There is no firm endorsement whatsoever, but Kolbe is trying to tie himself to W's coattails. I have already voted for the REAL conservative in this race, Randy Graf.
We are sick and tired of Kolbe's type of Republican. Here'a a chance to weed them out. Come on Tucson.
I think the Democrats are upset that the Republicans aren't faking unity to get votes. We, Republicans, are partisan, but not pretenders. We aren't going to wear masks of congeniality to trick voters into thinking we are unified ideologically.
I want to hear an elected Republican say the following.
"The truth is, we are all different. This provides us with a great source of debate amongst ourselves, and that debate enables us, Republicans, to represent our constituents. It is our differences that cause us to appeal to our voters, not our similarities. If every Republican was the same, then no Republican would be worth voting for. And it is the courage of our convictions which guides how we represent those who elected us into office, and it is the courage imparted to us by the trust our constituents have placed in us that causes us to value the differences between ourselves, and continue to work for the betterment of our nation."
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