State's top Dems should stand up and be counted

Denver Post ^ | 02/06/2008 | Susan Greene

[george76]

Colorado Democrats caucused in record numbers Tuesday night, clueless about which candidate their party leaders prefer for president.

That's because Gov. Bill Ritter, Sen. Ken Salazar, Rep. Mark Udall and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper have refused to make picks ...

But where is the backbone in silence? And what is more worthy of a clear stand than the question of who governs our country?

"There's a certain responsibility to being a leader in your party. In a presidential race, that means taking a side," said state GOP chairman Dick Wadhams.

Though Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama differ only slightly in ideology, most Dems — including Reps. Diana DeGette and Ed Perlmutter — favor one over the other.

Salazar says he's an exception.

Colorado's soon-to-be-senior-senator makes this assessment of the candidates: He lived in the same Washington, D.C., building as Obama...

And he is grateful to Clinton for having chatted with his elderly mom at a reception.

Officials who try to be everything to everyone risk winding up as nothing to anyone.

In politics, guts matter.

After the confetti is swept from the Pepsi Center, I wonder about the legacy of Colorado's top Democrats. Will history remember them for their good manners, or as four hesitant men who would not stand up and be counted?