Media omission: Exposing criminal signature gatherers is “just another tactic of the left,” says Hudak recall organizer

(Deny, deflect, rinse, repeat – Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Yesterday on KNUS, a Hudak-recall leader said that facts, documented Wed. by Fox 31's Eli Stokols, that a criminal is collecting signatures to put the recall measure on the ballot, are "just another tactic of the left."

Yet, reporters should know, the two recall leaders, Mike McAlpine and Laura Waters, pledged not to hide from the public, and to be "up front" about the situation.

Here's part of what they said at 48 min in the second hour of the Peter Boyles show Nov. 13.

Boyles: Laura and Mike, what are you going to do about this?

McAlpine: Well, we’re going to be in a position, Peter, where we have to check on this. We need to make sure everything is above board. We’ll do what’s right.

Boyles: You literally have to. This makes the case that the left wants to believe…. What you must do is confront this. We'll call Dudley this morning This is, as my grandma used to say, is the fly in the ointment.

Waters: When we saw the piece last night, we immediately looked through our volunteer records. We did not recognize the man…. What we’re seeing this is that people in the community are recognizing this as just another tactic of the left.

McAlpine: …Most of us live in the area and work this out of passion for change…Anybody who’s interested can hear the truth from us. We’re not going to hide behind a series of veils. We’re going to be up front about it.

If exposing the criminal backgrounds of signature-gatherers is just an empty tactic, then you have wonder what's not just a tactic. What's meaningful? Boyles didn't ask.

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Candidates should face “personhood” questions from journalists in 2014, as another amendment heads to ballot

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Activists led by Personhood USA yesterday submitted over 50,000 more signatures than the 86,000 required to make the 2014 election ballot, making it likely voters will cast ballots next year on a measure that would add "unborn human beings" to the definition of a "person" and "child" in Colorado's criminal code.

Backers and opponents of the measure disagree on whether it would affect abortion rights, but the fact is that supporters of the amendment, including its designated representative and a spokesperson for Colorado Right to Life, have referred to it as "personhood."

So this means it's likely that political candidates will face questions next year about their views on the personhood concept, under which all abortion would be banned, even for rape and incest, as well as common forms of birth control. 

In 2010, the last time a personhood amendment was on the Colorado ballot, all Republican candidates for Governor and Senate supported the measure.

This year, most top-line Republican candidates are on record supporting personhood (See below), while no Democrat has done so publicly. The Colorado Statesman's Peter Marcus has sought comments from this year's crop of candidates, but he's faced some resistance.

Coverage of the yesterday's signature submission, including informative pieces by CBS4's Shaun Boyd and the Colorado Independent's John Tomasic, didn't provided a tally of personhood support among top candidates. So I will supply it below:

Governor

State Sen. Greg Brophy endorsed personhood in 2008 telling 7News at the time, "Clearly it'?s always the right time to take the stand for the sanctity of life." Colorado Right to Life writes on its blog that Brophy "supports personhood" and is "pro-life with no exceptions."

Secretary of State Scott Gessler is apparently not on record on personhood.

Former lawmaker Mike Kopp "supports personhood" and is "pro-life with no exceptions," according to the Colorado Right to Life blog.

Former Rep. Tancredo supports personhood.

U.S. Senate

Sen. Randy Baumgardner is "100% pro-life with no exceptions" and "supports personhood," according to the 2012 Colorado Right to Life blog.

Weld Country DA Ken Buck withdrew his support for the personhood amendment in 2010, but stood behind is position against abortion, even in the cases of rape and incest.

Sen. Owen Hill is "pro-life" and "supports personhood" according to CRTL in 2012.

U.S. House

Rep. Mike Coffman is listed by CRTL as a personhood supporter, and he has been held up by Personhood USA as a model personhood-supporting candidate. He's against abortion for rape and incest.

Rep. Cory Gardner supports personhood.

Rep. Doug Lamborn supports personhood.

Rep. Scott Tipton is not on record as a personhood supporter.

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