May 13, 2015 09:33 AM UTC

National GOP Panic Over Morgan Carroll Continues

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• by: Colorado Pols

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As Colorado Senate Minority Leader Morgan Carroll continues to assess the possibility of a run for Rep. Mike Coffman’s CD-6 seat in 2016, the National Republican Congressional Committee has responded with an over-the-top fusillade of pre-emptive attacks on Carroll. Their shrill reaction to the mere possibility of Carroll entering the CD-6 race betrays obvious fear that she could take the seat, whether or not Coffman remains to defend it.

In addition to being the target of eager video “trackers” during her recent trip to Washington, D.C., the NRCC sent out another press release attacking Carroll today that barely conceals their growing fear:

“Ultra-liberal” Morgan Carroll is at it again, this time going out of her way to soften language condemning Iran for sponsoring terrorism…

Remember, this is the same Iran whose supreme leader joined an angry mob in chanting “death to America” just weeks ago and is angling to obtain a nuclear weapon.

With Iran’s well-documented hostility towards America and her allies, why does Morgan Carroll go out of her way to soften language condemning Iran’s role in sponsoring terrorism?

NRCC Comment: “Ultra-liberal Morgan Carroll went out of her way to soften language condemning Iran for being a state-sponsor of terrorism, despite Iran’s continued aggression and pursuit of a nuclear weapon. Carroll won’t be taken seriously as a candidate for federal office if she continues to trip over herself on national security issues that will be a key factor in 2016.”

This nutty release is in reference to a story from the Colorado Statesman today regarding a state senate resolution condemning Iran–mentioned as part of a longer story about Iran policy in general. But reporter Ernest Luning’s actual story bears little resemblance to the NRCC’s version of events:

As originally proposed, Senate Joint Memorial 15-002 called Iran a “theocratic dictatorship” dedicated to a “permanent war against Western democratic institutions and values.” It also included a reminder that Iran has been named a state sponsor of terrorism.

Senate Minority Leader Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, argued for blunting the legislation’s language, calling the initial draft a “high-stakes, provocative claim” that waded into Middle-Eastern politics in a way that could undermine national security. The Senate approved Carroll’s rewritten statement by a 34-0 vote. [Pols emphasis] (State Sen. Linda Newell, D-Littleton, voted “present” after asserting that the Legislature didn’t have any business conducting foreign policy.)

If anything, we’re inclined to agree with Sen. Linda Newell that the Colorado General Assembly has no need or business issuing these meaningless foreign policy statements. We’ve felt this way for many years. With that said, the fact that every Republican Colorado Senator voted to approve Morgan Carroll’s “coddling of Iran,” for what looks like very good reasons, makes the NRCC look…well, ridiculous.

More than a little bit panicked too, folks. And that is the real story here.