ATTENTION WAL-MART SHOPPERS: We have a special on congressional candidates on aisle one.
Having just read the letter released by Bentley Rayburn, a Candidate for Congress in the 5th Congressional District in which he stated his intent to circumvent the caucus process and petition onto the ballot I feel I must take to task several things stated in his letter.
Mr. Rayburn would have you believe that the caucus process is something thrust upon us with no choice of the grassroots voters of Colorado when in actuality it was a process chosen by those voters by way of a ballot initiative. I realize Mr. Rayburn wasn’t in Colorado at the time but a little research might have made him aware of this fact. He states, “I worry that if everyone’s energy is focused on a small percentage of Republican voters that the campaign will likely become a counter-productive race that will further damage our party.” In reality the percentage of voters involved in this process is determined only by their willingness to be a part of that process. Aren’t the caucuses open to all Republican voters and the only requirement to accessing this process is to attend the caucus. Is that any different than one’s access to the voting process showing up at their polling place on election day? Having seen first hand the hard work done by many to facilitate this process I feel it is only an insult to them to suggest that a more “grassroots” approach is to stand in front of Wal-Mart and get 1000 random signatures.
Mr. Rayburn also makes references to the negative tactics used by two of the other campaigns during the last primary, an accusation he has refused to substantiate with any details.
What I find most interesting though is the idea that his involvement will somehow strengthen our ability to have a successful turnout in November for our Fifth Congressional candidate, Presidential candidate, and for Bob Schaffer. He fails to mention that the Caucus process was good enough for two of those candidates to go through but evidently not for him.
I don’t question Mr. Rayburn’s right to petition onto the ballot. I do however question his insinuation that his reason for doing so is because that system is not fair or a part of grassroots Republican politics. I think a more honest statement would have been. “Realizing I do not have the support I need to go through the caucus process I plan to exercise my right to petition onto the ballot for the Fifth Congressional seat.” After all a little honesty might have actually gone a long way in making him appealing as a candidate for Congress.
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