U.S. Senate See Full Big Line

(D) J. Hickenlooper*

(R) Somebody

80%

20%

Governor See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Neguse

(D) Phil Weiser

(D) Jena Griswold

60%

60%

40%↓

Att. General See Full Big Line

(D) M. Dougherty

(D) Alexis King

(D) Brian Mason

40%

40%

30%

Sec. of State See Full Big Line

(D) George Stern

(D) A. Gonzalez

(R) Sheri Davis

40%

40%

30%

State Treasurer See Full Big Line

(D) Brianna Titone

(R) Kevin Grantham

(D) Jerry DiTullio

60%

30%

20%

CO-01 (Denver) See Full Big Line

(D) Diana DeGette*

(R) Somebody

90%

2%

CO-02 (Boulder-ish) See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Neguse*

(R) Somebody

90%

2%

CO-03 (West & Southern CO) See Full Big Line

(R) Jeff Hurd*

(D) Somebody

80%

40%

CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado) See Full Big Line

(R) Lauren Boebert*

(D) Somebody

90%

10%

CO-05 (Colorado Springs) See Full Big Line

(R) Jeff Crank*

(D) Somebody

80%

20%

CO-06 (Aurora) See Full Big Line

(D) Jason Crow*

(R) Somebody

90%

10%

CO-07 (Jefferson County) See Full Big Line

(D) B. Pettersen*

(R) Somebody

90%

10%

CO-08 (Northern Colo.) See Full Big Line

(R) Gabe Evans*

(D) Yadira Caraveo

(D) Joe Salazar

50%

40%

40%

State Senate Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

80%

20%

State House Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

95%

5%

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
August 25, 2005 08:00 AM UTC

Ted Haggard's Evangelical Diplomacy

  • 25 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

Likely CD-5 candidate Reverend Ted Haggard has found the perfect way to get himself on the map, though at the expense of another leader of the religious right.

Following televangelist Pat Robertson’s call for the assassination of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavezand especially after his absurd denial of statements that were broadcast live followed by a sheepish apology after somebody showed the tape to himHaggard has taken it upon himself to make amends with the leftist (yet democratically elected) Chavez.

Today’s Gazette:

Haggard, senior pastor for Colorado Springs New Life Church and president of the National Association of Evangelicals, said he was contacted by a Chavez representative Tuesday, a day after Robertson, referring to Chavez, said the United States should take him out.

In the aftermath, Haggard made a flurry of appearances on national news shows Tuesday, one of which apparently caught the eye of a Venezuelan friend of Chavez, with whom Haggard is to meet at 10 a.m. Friday.

Haggard did not reveal the Venezuelans name and stressed that the meeting is not sponsored by Chavezs government.

During the preliminary meeting, Haggard said he would offer an apology on behalf of the American evangelical Christian community for Robertsons comments.

Haggard has tried to distance his group from Robertsons remarks, saying, Pat doesnt speak for evangelicals any more than Dr. Phil speaks for mental-health professionals.

This is a smart move for Rev. Haggard as he sets up his congressional campaign, allowing him to appear more reasonable than many of his “von SpongeDob” contemporaries in a way that only a slim number of dilated-pupil extremists will complain about.

Tweet
Share

Comments

25 thoughts on “Ted Haggard’s Evangelical Diplomacy”

  4. If Haggard runs
    Haggard wins —
    DeLay has already told Haggard that he will be on board should he run. Despite opposition from Hefley DeLay will make the choice. The only way for Hefley to stop Haggard is to run for reelection and even than Haggard may mount a  challenge. The once well oiled Hefley machine is getting rusty

  5. If Haggard runs
    Haggard wins —
    DeLay has already told Haggard that he will be on board should he run. Despite opposition from Hefley DeLay will make the choice. The only way for Hefley to stop Haggard is to run for reelection and even than Haggard may mount a  challenge. The once well oiled Hefley machine is getting rusty

  6. If Haggard runs
    Haggard wins —
    DeLay has already told Haggard that he will be on board should he run. Despite opposition from Hefley DeLay will make the choice. The only way for Hefley to stop Haggard is to run for reelection and even than Haggard may mount a  challenge. The once well oiled Hefley machine is getting rusty

  7. Haggard would easily win the seat, against any opponent, even the incumbent.  I have also heard rumors that both the state and, more importantly, the national party establishment would support Haggard.

  8. The state party and the national party are not going to support Haggard in this race, especially if Hefley runs again.  Sure Delay would support Haggard, because he hates Hefley and Hefley hates him, no big surprise.  The NRCC has already met with Jeff Crank.  The RNC is not interested in an election where there is a 65% Republican majority.  The State Party is prohibited from endorsing or supporting candidates.

    What you all are forgetting is that Haggard has never done one thing with the El Paso, Teller, Lake, Park, Fremont, or Chaffee GOPs.  I realize that he is well known, but these county parties are not going to pick him because he wants to run.  There is a history of people who have wanted to run, but have lost at the convention or in the primary because they have never done anything for the party. 

    I like Ted, but he should stick to his calling of being a pastor and leave the politics to people who know politics.

  9. As usual, Lebowski, you’re an idiot. Chavez WAS democratically elected in 1998, re-elected in 2000, and he survived a US-inspired coup attempt as well a recall referendum last year that was certified by international observers. Look it up and respond to me if you dare.

    Must be nice living in that fact-free world of yours, eh?

  10. Jonathan, you really shouldn’t speak, when you have no idea what you are talking about.  The NRCC will literally meet with any candidate who wants to talk; the usual closing line is, go raise this amount of money and then we can have a second meeting.  So, don’t take the first meeting as an indication of support for any particular candidate.

    The county parties are crucial, but they have no particular affinity for the lazy incumbent.

    Let me tell you something about Colorado Springs politics, ignore the religious right at your peril, especially in a competitive primary.
    Haggard’s strength is as a leader in this community; it doesn’t automatically give him the nomination, but it gives him a legup over every other entrant, including the lazy incumbent.

  11. I know you commies hate anything that involves effort, but you need to do some fact-checking before you post, duh. Chavez was no more elected than he is a democrat.
    Chavez has never been one for going to the polls. He got into politics when he led an unsuccessful military coup more than a decade ago. Every “election” he has been involved in has been plauged with errors. His “presidency” has suffered repeated strikes by the poor and disenfranchised he supposedly represents. He’s been booted from office on more than one occasion.
    Get back to reading your Socialist rags. I’m sure they’re more entertaining than dealing with the truth.

  12. I am a HUGE fan of Haggard.  I live in Colorado Springs and it would be such an honor for him to be my Congressman.  He would have national attention, because of his influential position in the evangelical movement, that would help him stand out among his colleagues.

    Haggard would be able to EFFECTIVELY represent the 5th District — for me and so many others in Colorado Springs, that would be a welcome change.

  13. Ted is a nice guy, but I don’t think he would effectively represent the 5th CD.  He would be a polarizing figure in Congress, much like Tancredo or Musgrave, and would be labeled as such by the Republican Party.  He would have no chance at leadership nor would he

    Just because someone is popular in Christian circles, it doesn’t equate into political power.  He should stay where he is at.  There are many Christians who know politics that would be better suited for Congress.

  14. Lebowski, tell that to Jimmy Carter and the other international monitors that certified these elections. Perhaps you want to impugn the credibility of everybody who’s not a regular contributor to Soldier of Fortune magazine?

    It amazes me how far Moonie propaganda gets disseminated. Garbage in, garbage out. I suppose you think that Iran isn’t the real winner in Iraq either.

    Clueless Sheepublicans…

  15. Additionally, Lebowski, you might want to check who was actually doing the striking…  In Venezuela, the oil workers are among the country’s rich; Chavez’s hard-left Socialist/neo-Communist wealth redistribution plan has left the oil workers with lower income and given them reason to strike, combined with some alleged US-backed agitation.

  17. fishysmellinreps:

    You said:  ” Despite opposition from Hefley DeLay will make the choice.”  DeLay doesn’t live in the 5th CD.  So he can’t vote, and whether or not it’s deserved, DeLay’s name has been soiled in Republican circles.  Haggard may be a nice guy, (I don’t know him)  But I think if Lamborn decides to run, Haggard should support him.  Lamborn has the experience and the record to represent the 5th in a way its constituency would be proud of.

Leave a Comment

Recent Comments


Posts about

Donald Trump
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Lauren Boebert
SEE MORE

Posts about

Rep. Yadira Caraveo
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado House
SEE MORE

Posts about

Colorado Senate
SEE MORE

90 readers online now

Newsletter

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay in the loop with regular updates!