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Schaffer gets White House boost

By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published May 1, 2008 at 12:36 p.m.
Updated May 1, 2008 at 12:36 p.m.

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White House press secretary Dana Perino, who grew up in Colorado, will appear tonight at fundraiser for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bob Schaffer.

A reception will be held at the home of Meg and Jamie Duke in Cherry Hills Village, followed by a 7 p.m. dinner at the Cherry Hills Country Club.

Perino's appearance marks the third time in four months that someone from the White House has come to Colorado to help Schaffer raise money. President Bush was in Cherry Hills Village in January and Vice President Dick Cheney was in Grand Junction last month.

That distinction was not lost on Democrat Mark Udall, who faces Schaffer in November.

"Bob Schaffer's agenda is all about continuing the policies of the Bush administration that have failed our families, our national security, and our economy," said Udall's campaign spokeswoman, Taylor West.

"It's no wonder that President Bush, Dick Cheney, and now even their employees are doing everything they can to prop up his candidacy."

Schaffer's campaign manager, Dick Wadhams, said the Udall campaign "should be ashamed of themselves for attacking a Colorado woman who has distinguished herself as a spokeswoman for the president of the United States.

"I think she does an excellent job," Wadhams said.

Perino attended Ponderosa High School in Parker, and graduated from what is now Colorado State University-Pueblo. Her varied career includes working for two Colorado congressmen, Scott McInnis and Dan Schaefer.

Perino started work at the White House in 2006, and was named press secretary in 2007.

Schaffer, of Fort Collins, is a former congressman who ran for the Senate in 2004 but lost the GOP primary. He served on the state board of education.

Udall, of Eldorado Springs, represents Colorado's 2nd District in Congress.

Also today, an organization billing itself as a watchdog group unveiled an ad urging Schaffer to "clean up politics and repent for past wrongs" related to his fact-finding trip to the Marianas Islands in 1999. The ad from Campaign Money Watch urges Schaffer to support a bill now on the president's desk that addresses worker abuse in the islands.

Critics say Schaffer ignored problems in the U.S. territory because his trip was paid for and organized by two groups with ties to Jack Abramoff, who lobbied on behalf of the Marianas.

Schaffer has said he never met Abramoff.

Comments

  • May 1, 2008

    1:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Jonah writes:

    It is no surprise that the Bush/Cheney (Big Oil) White House supports Schaffer - he is one of their neo-conservative storm troopers. Notice also how Schaffer avoids the public and does his fund raising behind closed doors or in exclusive settings...hmmm.

  • May 1, 2008

    2:46 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    nicktaste writes:

    Schaffer doesn't need contributions from everday working people, he has the neocon express behind him

    if you are (stupid enough to be) a fan a bush, you'll love this guy

  • May 1, 2008

    3:21 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Colorado_Jeep_1 writes:

    Bob Schaffer is by far the most approachable politician I have ever been aware of. I have no connections in politics, but have had the great pleasure of meeting Bob Schaffer multiple times, including this very morning, when he was Master of Ceremony for the Fort Collins National Day of Prayer Breakfast. In fact, if you live in Fort Collins, where Bob Schaffer lives with his family, chances are you have seen him around. I have met him at multiple public events, as well as seen him with his family around town, in his private time. There is nothing ‘exclusive’ or ‘behind closed doors’ about Bob Schaffer.

  • May 1, 2008

    9:22 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Jonah writes:

    Colorado_Jeep_1 - Are you naive? Or do you expect us to be naive?

  • May 2, 2008

    9:58 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    a_watcher writes:

    Jonah, don't you realize how offensive and insulting your last comment was?

  • May 2, 2008

    10:34 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Colorado_Jeep_1 writes:

    Jonah - Besides being offensive, since there is no substance to your ranting, you seriously lack credibility. Fact suggests that you are incorrect, and your defense is as weak as your initial comment.

  • May 2, 2008

    11:55 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    sfrose writes:

    What is offensive about asking if someone expects us to be naive?
    Jeep's personal experience of Schaffer as a fellow Christian is hardly objective in terms of where Schaffer raises his money or why BushCo is going to such lengths as sending an employee to support him. What does seeing Schaffer at a religious event or shopping have to do with whether or not he is a Neo Con puppet?
    That was Jonah's point-- that Jeep's comments were non sequiturs in terms of the topic being discussed-- Schaffers POLITICAL morals, not his Jesus credentials.

  • May 2, 2008

    1:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Jonah writes:

    Colorado_Jeep_1 - How long have you been on Schaffer's staff?

  • May 3, 2008

    6:24 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    bwforaccuracy writes:

    Sorry to disappoint you Jonah. Same experience here with Bob Schaffer. See him around town all the time. In fact he continues to host a weekly breakfast every Monday morning in Fort Collins, bringing in prominent speakers from the area or even around the country. Anyone who ever wanted to meet with him could always see him during or after that breakfast every week? You did not have to be a Republican. He will listen to your view-point. He is the same way at school and other events. When he was in Congress, he would bring those local views back to Washington D.C.