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Patricia Creekmore: Real conservative

I have been dismayed at the negative ads aired on KBCR recently making questionable allegations about Rep. Randy Baumgardner’s commitment to conservative government — allegations easily debunked by reviewing Randy’s voting record. And I am angered by the lack of accountability for the ads — if you are going to take a potshot, at least give your name. The ads were paid for by Coloradans for Integrity, an outfit supposedly (but quite legally) unaffiliated with any candidate.

So, I decided to take a deeper look. Turns out that Coloradans for Integrity received funds in this election cycle from three groups. Colorado Ski Country USA Inc. donated $12,500; Preserve Colorado’s Economy provided $35,000; and a Washington, D.C.-based organization called Sixteen Thirty Fund donated $45,000, for a total of $92,500, most of which has been spent.

I asked myself, what do the Colorado entities have against Randy? Is it possible these organizations have any connection to Al White, director of the Colorado Tourism Office and the former state senator whose seat was appointed to his wife, Jean, after he accepted appointment to the tourism job by Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper in 2010? Why didn’t the contributions go directly to Jean’s campaign? Perhaps she needed deniability for these vicious, misleading ads.



And, why is Washington funding an ad for a primary election in Northwest Colorado? That remains an open question, but I have learned that the Sixteen Thirty Fund “operates exclusively for the purpose of promoting social welfare, including, but not limited to providing public education on and conducting advocacy regarding progressive policies.” It sounds liberal to me. This organization contributed to ACORN in 2009 — you remember, the organization exposed for advising two undercover reporters on how to get on welfare, cheat the tax system, get free housing from the government, etc. Hmm, this doesn’t even get close to reflecting the “Northwest Colorado conservative values” the radio ads would have you think Coloradans for Integrity believe in, does it?

Conservatives, don’t be fooled. For information about the conservative credentials of Northwest Colorado’s Senate and House representatives, check the Colorado Union of Taxpayers ratings at http://www.coloradotaxpayer.org.



Patricia Creekmore

Steamboat Springs


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