No respite for Rowland
Beauprez's running mate takes fire for comments on gays and bestiality
Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News
Published August 16, 2006 at midnight
Democrats opened fire Tuesday on GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez's new running mate, comparing her comments about gays and bestiality to those made by a disgraced state lawmaker.
Democrats say Janet Rowland reminds them of Rep. Jim Welker, R-Loveland, who embarrassed his party in 2005 when he said that if gays are allowed to marry, then the next step is people wedding their pets.
In addition, some politicos say Rowland's answers to a 2004 candidate questionnaire from a Christian organization show she is too right wing for Colorado.
Beauprez on Monday tapped Rowland, a Mesa County commissioner, as his lieutenant governor.
Rowland's selection also drew criticism from some moderate Republicans.
"She worries me," said Rep. Mark Larson, R-Cortez. "She's everything that moderate Republicans abhor."Beauprez and Rowland face Democrat Bill Ritter and his running mate, Barbara O'Brien, in November. Both Democrats are from Denver.
John Marshall, Beauprez's campaign manager, dismissed criticism of Rowland and said "slick insider" Democrats are attacking her because they know she is a formidable candidate.
"I understand why these guys are scared," he said. "They should be. Janet Rowland is going to be a strong advocate for the Western Slope, as opposed to the 'Denver Duo.' "
Some Republicans have dismissed O'Brien, who headed the Colorado Children's Campaign, an advocacy group, for 15 years, as a Denver liberal out of touch with the rest of the state.
Rowland's comments on gays came in March, during Colorado State of Mind, Rocky Mountain PBS' public affairs show, during a discussion on gay marriage.
"Homosexuality is an alternative lifestyle. That doesn't make it a marriage." Rowland said.
"For some, bestiality is an alternative lifestyle. Do we allow a man to marry a sheep? At some point, we have to draw a line," she said.
Marshall said Rowland informed Beauprez of her controversial comments when he talked to her about joining the ticket.
"She said, 'Look, you should know I said that and I regret saying it. I'm sorry I made that statement,' " Marshall said. "I'm sure Bill Ritter has said things that he regrets, too."
Democrats immediately drew ties to Welker, who didn't run for re-election this year at the request of his party after a series of gaffes.
Welker said his comments in 2005 about bestiality, interspecies marriage and such were in response to items he heard on Paul Harvey's radio show.
"Just because somebody repeats news doesn't mean they're bad," he said.
Welker added he knew little about Rowland but said he hopes she and Beauprez win in November.
Michael Huttner, director of the liberal group ProgressNow.org, on Tuesday likened Rowland to Welker and suggested Beauprez dump her.Marshall snorted at the suggestion, then blasted members of ProgressNow.
"They're bed-wetting, pampered liberals," Marshall said. "No one cares what they say about anything. They have no credibility."
Rowland, when running for county commissioner in 2004, filled out a candidate questionnaire from The Testimony, a conservative Christian newspaper.
In it, she said she supported the rights of the unborn and faith-based initiatives and questioned the separation of church and state.
Larson said those kinds of answers worry him because he fears a "propensity to try to infuse church and state."
Marshall said Rowland was effective as a Mesa County social worker and now as a county commissioner.
"Janet Rowland is a very talented and capable person," he said. "I think real Coloradans appreciate the fact that she comes from the real world.
"She is willing to be honest, come up with real solutions and put partisanship aside."
2004 Q&A with Rowland
GOP lieutenant governor candidate Janet Rowland in 2004 filled out a Christian group's candidate questionnaire when she was running for Mesa County commissioner. Among her responses:
What is your position regarding President Bush's "faith-based initiatives?"
I fully support it. I introduced faith-based programs into the Department of Human Services.
Do you believe that creationism should be taught in our schools along with the theory of evolution or just one?
Either both or neither. All religions are welcomed in the schools except Christianity. This is wrong.
How do you feel about the issue of "separation of church and state"?
It's not in the Constitution. We should have the freedom OF religion, not the freedom FROM religion.Source: The Testimony, Western Colorado'S Christian Chronicles
bartels@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5327
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