POLITCO Magazine's Big Story Today

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by: Colorado Pols

"There is no such thing as a federal personhood bill.” Or so said Colorado Rep. Cory Gardner, the Republican candidate currently locked in a tight Senate race against Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Udall, in an interview a few weeks ago. It was a surprising statement—not only because the federal personhood bill, otherwise known as Life Begins at Conception Act, does in fact exist but also because Gardner himself co-sponsored it. “This is all politics,” he added, blaming Udall for spreading untruths about him.

It was, indeed, all about politics. Gardner’s strong support of personhood legislation might have bolstered his popularity among conservative Republicans. But after declaring his Senate bid, Gardner found himself having to appeal to a more moderate electorate (Colorado voters have repeatedly rejected a personhood ballot measure) and changed his position on the issue. So far, his equivocation hasn’t hurt him.

If Gardner wins on Election Day, he certainly won’t be the only politician to get away with not being totally transparent, and it prompts the question: Why do voters fall for misinformation? A common refrain these days is that this is because there is a plethora of “low information” voters. If only those citizens knew more about politics, the argument goes, then the problem would be solved. But in fact, the problem is much more complex: It is often the people who are most interested and informed about politics that are most likely to adopt false beliefs.

9 thoughts on “POLITCO Magazine’s Big Story Today”

Canines says:

November 4, 2014 at 10:30 am

I don't like to think of Cory Gardner as a liar. I think of him more as a low-information truth teller.

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Zappatero says:

November 4, 2014 at 10:30 am

Teh Librul NPR's Mara Liasson did her part.

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Andrew Carnegie says:

November 4, 2014 at 10:33 am

So Mark Udall's you can keep your policy and your doctor stuff was the truth?

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1. notaskinnycook says:
  
  November 4, 2014 at 10:41 am
  
  It was the best information available when he said it; unlike Conman Cory's "there is no federal personhood bill, which he knew to be a lie when he said it, asswipe.
  
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2. Froward69 says:
  
  November 5, 2014 at 12:37 pm
  
  At least that's what the Insurance companies promised when they wrote the ACA.
  
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Phoenix Rising says:

November 4, 2014 at 10:36 am

I think it falls in to a couple of categories.

Those voters who aren't watching the day-to-day political tides don't have a clear understanding of where their (potential) politicians stand. By the time they're ready to vote, they suffer from information overload. They've been inundated with the he-said, she-said back and forth of the political campaign and dismiss too much of it.

Then there's the increasing affiliation media bias that Politico points out; watching FOX News is the best way to lower your understanding of the world, scientifically speaking – better even than not looking at any news. I suspect reading Democratic Underground and Alternet as your primary news sources might have similar bias effects. Both FOX and Alternet occasionally carry important stories, but in a bubble they're both probably bad for your political health.

Finally there are the intentionally partisan absolutists. If Cory Gardner said the sky was purple, I suspect up to 10% of our state's population would start a campaign to rename sky blue to purple via petition.

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Zappatero says:

November 4, 2014 at 10:41 am

They should have said, "You can keep your shitty, ripoff insurance policy if you'd like. But, you should take advantage of the improved and more comprehensive policies guaranteed by The Affordable Care Act that was passed at the urging of America's First Black President, Barack Hussein Obama and a mostly Democratic Congress."

You won't get my goat, AC. I'll still hold R's in contempt and D's to a higher standard.

Oh, and here's a viewing suggestion for Mark Udall, who will probably have a ton of free time very soon.

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Big Time says:

November 4, 2014 at 10:43 am

Clown tears are the saltiest, I hear.

Is this Cory the Clown's swan song to his Personhood supporters, trying to convince them that he's really not as happy as he looks on the campaign trail after disowning his most ardent backers in public, but then crawling back to them in private (ie, the Big Lie) to get what he needs from them?

Now if there's a smile on my face
It's only there trying to fool the public
But when it comes down to fooling you
Now honey that's quite a different subject

But don't let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression
Really I'm sad, oh sadder than sad
You're gone and I'm hurting so bad
Like a clown I pretend to be glad

Now there's some sad things known to man
But ain't too much sadder than
the tears of a clown
When there's no one around

Oh yeah baby, now if I appear to be carefree
It's only to camouflage my sadness
In order to shield my pride I try
To cover this hurt with a show of gladness

But don't let my show convince you
That I've been happy since you decided to go
Oh, I need you so, I'm hurt and I want you to know
But for others I put on a show

Now there's some sad things known to man
But ain't too much sadder than
the tears of a clown
When there's no one around, oh yeah

Just like Pagliacci did
I try to keep my sadness hid
Smiling in the public eye
But in my lonely room I cry
the tears of a clown
When there's no one around

Oh, yeah baby
Now if there's a smile upon my face
Don't let my glad expression
Give you the wrong impression
Don't let the smile I wear
Make you think that I don't care
Really I'm sad I'm hurting so bad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsI-DB-25e8

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Davie says:

November 4, 2014 at 11:19 am

If nothing else, at least Con Man Cory will be recognized as the Poster Boy for pathological serial liars (Personhood, health insurance, green energy support, etc).

That cover should be framed and hanging on the wall, either as a warning should he lose, or as an award to future GOP hopefuls that can tell the biggest whopper without getting called on it by the media or public.

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