How much attention do you pay to endorsements offered up by a governor you once voted for, but who has been a disappointment on critical issues?
For me, not much.
Last week a political action group started by Gov. Mark Gordon released a list of legislative candidates he supports, and – no surprise – there were no members of the reviled Freedom Caucus included. And while the group cites alleged misinformation being spread by the Freedom Caucus, the story I read a was short on specific instances of the Freedom Caucus lying to us.
There's a funny story about newspapers making political endorsements – a practice that once was almost universal, but is now commonly avoided.
I was the freshly-minted publisher of the Northwest Colorado Daily Press in Craig, Colorado – a tiny newspaper owned by the (wonderful) family that owned the Casper Star-Tribune at the time. I endorsed a guy for sheriff who seemed like a reasonable candidate. He was beaten soundly by a guy with whom I would later become friends.
And the guy elected sheriff never missed an opportunity to tell folks that I endorsed his opponent, and that he wanted me to endorse his opponent in all future elections. He got a good laugh telling people my endorsement was the kiss of death.
In later years managing newspapers, I didn't endorse candidates, because the voters had a better feel for the candidates than the young, uniformly-liberal newsroom staff. And folks resented being told who to vote for.
I suppose, however, that endorsements by fellow politicians might hold more credibility. But in the case of Gordon, who I voted for twice, his support raises more questions than answers.
This, after all, is the guy who called the law banning boys from playing girls' sports “Draconian.” This is the guy who vetoed the bill that would have done away with gun-free zones – ending the ridiculous notion that signs prevent murders, that maniacs obey signs.
This is the guy who used his vetoes to water down efforts passed by both houses of the legislature to rein in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion measures at the University of Wyoming. (Before Gordon's vetoes, UW's president said they could continue to fund DEI measures with non-state revenues. Talk about the university tail wagging the legislative dog.)
This is the guy who sought and received the resignation of Casper's Dr. Eric Cubin from the state medical board, for daring to oppose gender transition drugs and surgeries on children.
And this is the guy who spoke at Harvard to tout “carbon negative,” to the dismay of folks in energy-producing centers like Gillette.
The guy who touts “Wyoming solutions to Wyoming problems” had no trouble rubbing elbows with the elite folks bent on banning coal. “All options” on energy sounds great, but banning coal is a genuine Wyoming problem, and a Wyoming solution probably won't be found at Harvard.
So I agree with folks who suggest using Gordon's endorsement list as a guide on who NOT to vote for. And until we get more specifics on alleged lies being told by the Freedom Caucus, I'd dismiss that claim as just more Hatfield/McCoy campaign year palaver.
No doubt the Freedom Caucus could come up with alleged lies told by Gordon's favored Wyoming Caucus.
And as we vote in the primary election this month – in what is the real action in Republican-dominated Wyoming – it's OK to be appalled at the notion of a how-to drag queen seminar being held at the University of Wyoming.
It's OK to be dead set against boys playing girls' sports, jeopardizing the whole concept of women's sports. It's OK to be against life-altering drugs and surgeries for children expressing questions about gender.
It's OK to doubt that signs deter murderers. It's OK to not want little kids exposed to talk about sex and books about sex options in schools and public libraries.
You will be told that issues like this aren't Wyoming issues, and that we're being played by powerful “out-of-state influencers.”
If you ask me, however, the Freedom Caucus agenda here in Wyoming aligns pretty well with my notions of good old common sense.
And I won't be voting for anyone on the governor's list.
Dave Simpson can be reached at: DaveSimpson145@hotmail.com
