(WTF Lynn Bartels? — Promoted by Colorado Pols)
Republican Christine Jensen is running for a Jefferson County state senate seat that will likely determine which party controls Colorado government. And she has no public position on President Donald Trump.
The Colorado Times Recorder tried multiple times to find out Jensen’s views on the President, but she repeatedly did not respond.
So, on a sidewalk Saturday after a “Red Wave” get-out-the-vote event in a Jefferson County office building, a journalist tried to put the question tried to put the question to Jensen in person.
Jason Salzman: Hi Christine. I’ve been trying to reach you.
Christine Jensen: Oh. Yeah.
Salzman: I’m Jason Salzman with the Colorado Times Recorder.
Former Denver Post Reporter — and current PIO for Secretary of State Wayne Williams — Lynn Bartels (standing nearby interjecting): Ambush! Ambush reporter.
Jensen: Yes. Got it. Hang on.
Jensen quickly turns and walks back into the building.
Salzman (following Jensen for a few steps): “Where do you stand on Trump? Could you tell me please. Just tell me where you stand on Trump, Christine?”
Bartels, talking to Salzman not Jensen: You’re better than that.
Salzman: What do you mean? I’m identifying myself. I’ve called her five times.
Bartels: She doesn’t have to call you back.
Salzman: I know. But if she’s not, I have the right to stand here.
Bartels: I know, but–
Salzman: You know that’s the way it works.
Bartels: I know. I’m sorry. I apologize.
Salzman: Thank you. I really think that’s fair. It’s a fair question. The issue is, you know, important.
Bartels: It is a fair question.
Jensen comes out of the building escorted by someone separating her from me.
Salzman (running after Jensen): You want to answer a fair question? Where do you stand on Trump, Christine?
Jensen speed walks away without saying anything.
Salzman (to Jensen): Thank you so much. I appreciate your time. I’m sorry to bother you.
It’s not just the Colorado Times Recorder that thinks the public is interested in all candidates’ views on Trump, even candidates in state legislative races.
Just this week, during a conservative radio interview, Republican state house candidate Toren Mushovic said voters ask about Trump “a lot” when he’s going door-to-door in his Arapahoe County-area district.
What’s more, Trump has repeatedly said that Tuesday’s election is about him.
And, The Denver Post and other local media outlets have reported that Trump is motivating suburban Democrats at all levels.
There are volumes of reporting about how suburban women, angry at Trump, could swing the election.
Yet, some, but not all, Republican candidates in Colorado’s top legislative races started their campaigns without saying a word about Trump and are finishing up the final days as silent as they ever were, even as the president ramps up his offensive and often blatantly false rhetoric.
Jensen is one of those candidates. It appears the closest she’s come to taking a stand on Trump in the public domain came this week when the Washington Post quoted her as saying, “I think he has absolutely positively been a man of action. I still wish we could teach him a few PR tricks.”
Other than that, Jenson’s record on Trump is pretty much a blank slate, symbolized by this question left unanswered on her Christine Jensen for Colorado Facebook page:
“Simple question,” a commenter wrote, “Do you support Donald Trump?”
That question sits unanswered.
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Their womenfolk have fascist tendencies, too.
If they can't be called out for their position on The Screaming Yam, they can still be tagged as cowards for dodging the question.
It really is sad to see what Lynn Bartles has become.
Agreed. I will give her credit for donating to Brittany Pettersen after the Dirty Sanchez mailer, but otherwise…
Where can I find the Colorado Times Recorder, Jason. Are you strictly on line?
yes. http://www.coloradotimesrecorder.com
I get it on my Facebook feed, V. Here’s a link for that: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=Colorado%20Times%20Recorder
As a matter of fact, I just put a link to an unrelated story from there up on the Monday Open Thread.
Bartels has left the Dems behind.
You are such a nasty woman, Nasty Woman!
Err, wait, did I just walk into your trap?
Smart Ass!
Is Ms. Bartels moonlighting as a campaign communication consultant, training candidates how to respond to media questions?
I have to give Bartels props – I emailed her some detailed questions about the 600,000 inactivated voters, and whether Wayne Williams would recuse himself from decisions impacting his election, and she actually answered most of them, in detail, and civilly.
I'm planning a diary on it; as with most diaries I'm planning, it will have to wait until things are calmer. But here are some excerpts:
I asked Bartels about this on her FB page. She said "Get serious here. Did Crisanta Duran answer questions about why she put Steve Lebsock as chair of a committee? I don't speak for Christine but I have talked to candidates who said they are leery about fairness when someone identifies him or herself as a "progressive journalist".
I'm with Bartels on this one. Reporters are reporters, not identified with any faction. A so-called progressive or conservative “journalist'' is a flack attempting to be in disguise.