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July 23, 2014 10:57 AM UTC

When Gardner Praised Udall...

  • 18 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols
Rep. Cory Gardner (R).
Rep. Cory Gardner (R).

9NEWS' Brandon Rittiman takes us on a trip down memory lane–before U.S. Senate candidate Cory Gardner's career depended on disparaging everything that Sen. Mark Udall and other Democrats have ever said or done:

The recent battle over fracking in Colorado quickly entered Colorado's Senate race and the latest tiff involves Rep. Cory Gardner (R-Colorado) caught on tape a couple years ago praising his opponent on oil and gas policy.

"I believe, as Governor Hickenlooper believes, as Senator Udall has said, that the decisions on fracking ought to be made at the local level," Gardner says in the video, provided to 9NEWS by the Udall campaign. [Pols emphasis]

Gardner was responding to a question from a voter at a 2012 town hall event in Berthoud, Colorado…

Now before anybody gets too excited:

In the video, Gardner goes on to clarify that he meant states should control fracking as opposed to the federal government, adding, "I believe that [fracking policy] ought to be deferred to the state, just as Governor Hickenlooper does."

Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO).
Sen. Mark Udall (D-CO).

So no, Gardner was not making a statement that could be interpreted as endorsing the local control ballot initiatives underway this year. That said, this little vignette courtesy 9NEWS is a useful reminder that Republicans in Colorado don't really have much of a case against Colorado Democrats on pro-energy policy. After Sen. Udall announced his opposition to the local control ballot measures, Republicans continued to attack him with the same intensity. But the fact is, Udall's longstanding support for a balance between energy development and conservation is much closer to the mainstream in Colorado than "drill baby drill"–and that's why the polls consistently show Udall is better trusted on energy policy and the environment than his opponent.

There was a time, as you can see, when the trust the public places in Udall (and yes, even Gov. John Hickenlooper) on energy and the environment worked to Gardner's advantage as he tried to demonstrate how his views were mainstream views. There is a possibility that this November, the voters of this state will push the frame of the debate over drilling in Colorado well to the left of any of these politicians' comfort zones.

Either way, it's better to define the center than attack it.

Comments

18 thoughts on “When Gardner Praised Udall…

  1. So now that Udall is behind, Pols is trying to raise him up by having a diary about a more popular politician like Gardner endorsing him?

    Did Gardner endorse Udall's lies about Obamacare, too?  Didn't think so.

    Did Gardner endorse outsourcing Udall's vote in the Senate to Obama?  Didn't think so.

      1. It's a syndrome. If he doesn't use the "lied about Obamacare"line every day or so the pressure builds up and puts his head in danger of exploding out of his ass.

    1. Uh, the last poll I saw Udall was ahead. Latest poll has 54% approval rate for Obamacare – so yeah go ahead and advocate taking healthcare away from people. Gardner also has a voting history in the house – a lockstep teabagger vote. And endorsing the federal personhood amendment. Why won't gardner push to bring immigration reform to a vote on the house floor?

      1. Could you provide a link for that  approval rating? I haven't seen anything remotely like 54% approval for Obamacare in any recent (or any period) national or Colorado polls.

        1. BC-That would be because there has not been anything remotely like a 54% approval rating for Obamacare in any poll.  Ever.

          The only way anybody could twist reality to come up with that number is to ask something like should we keep Obamacare as is? Approximately 20%, or make some serious changes to it? Approximately 40%, or throw it out and start all over? Approximately 40%.  

          Can't you see more than 50% approve of Obamacare?

          Da Nile is not just a river in Egypt.

           

          1. Actually I see from the figures you just provided that 60% want to keep it or improve it and that all your yammering about how widely loathed it is is just that. A lot of yammering.  I also know that some of the ones who want changes don't think it goes far enough, not that it's too "socialist", and that some of the disapproval numbers come from those who want to skip all the dicking around and join the 21st century with universal single payer healthcare that could be achieved by making Medicare universal, bringing the costs of that program way down since it wouldn't just be for the most expensive segment of the healthcare consuming (that would be everyone) population. 

            Yep. That's what I see, AC. And you do realize you just made a pretty good case for denverco's way of looking at it, farther than I would have gone? Thanks, AC, for helping us all put all that alleged majority loathing and despising in perspective. smiley

    2. Why not? Udall is tripping over himself to endorse Gardner's positions. A Gardner endorsement would help Udall tremendously. 🙂

      Despite this, I do believe Coloradans will opt for the real Cory Gardner in November.

      1. Excuse me.  I thought Gardner was tripping over himself to endorse Udall's positions.  Interesting parallel universe you live in.  Trouble for you is that people don't buy your version.

      2. Wht Ralphie said. The diary quotes Gardner agreeing with Udall and Hick. It doesn't include any statement by Udall, much less one in which he trips over himself to agree with Gardner.

  2. Most Coloradans are traditionalists; tey will opt for turkey for Thanksgiving dinner . . . 

    . . . but Solstice is a pretty good time for fat hams !  Gardner may be more in demand then. 

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