By Elisha Dorfsmith
CD-1 candidate Wenona Benally Baldenegro has recently focused a lot of time and energy accusing Congressman Paul Gosar of being an extreme tea party Republican. The Huffington Post even covered her campaign with an article titled Arizona’s New Democrats: Wenona’s Bid Inspires Bipartisan Campaign Against Radical Tea Party Rep. Gosar.
Interesting campaign strategy but there’s a huge problem with the premise. Congressman Gosar is anything but a tea party Republican. Yes, he was endorsed by Sarah Palin and yes, he was elected largely due to tea party support but that is where his tea party credibility ends.
Having been very involved with the tea party during the 2010 election, I know firsthand that many in the tea party gave Gosar their complete support based solely on his opposition to the national healthcare bill (and the fact that he waved a pocket Constitution around and promised to consult it before every vote). Few bothered to check any further. If they would have, they would have realized that Gosar is your average status quo Republican who will vote party over principle every single chance he gets. It also would have been clear that Gosar has zero respect for the Constitution, individual rights and personal freedom (perfect example: Gosar was part of a movement a decade ago that tried to force fluoride on the residents of Flagstaff ).
Gosar’s recent vote to raise the debt ceiling along with his votes to extend the “Patriot Act” fly in the face of his supposed tea party principles. These votes (and others) have led to tea party members abandoning the Gosar ship in droves.
Read more at the Flagstaff Liberty Blog
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Tags: Arizona, Bill of Rights, Constitution, News Item, OpEd, Opinion, Republican, Tea Party
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