Schaffer nominated for Colorado's U.S. Senate seat
By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published May 31, 2008 at 4:28 p.m.
Photo by Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News
John McCain and Bob Schaffer signs were posted on a ball to serve as a backdrop for a press conference later Saturday with Mitt Romney and Schaffer.
Photo by Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News
Former Gov. Bill Owens and Colorado Attorney General John Suthers at the Colorado Republican Party state convention in Broomfield.
Photo by Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News
Lilly Nunez, national committeewoman for the Colorado Republican Party. 2008
Photo by Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News
Patricia Springmeier of Denver, a Ron Paul backer, got lots of comments about her hat at the Republican Party state convention.
Photo by Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News
Sen. Scott Renfroe and Rep. Kevin Lundberg, who represent the area hit by tornadoes, urged fellow Republicans at the state GOP convention to donate money for twister victims.
Photo by Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News
Boulder County Republicans Jon Caladara and Dorothy Marshall offer each morale support after acknowledging they are heavily outnumbered by the enemy: Democrats.
He kept his term-limits pledge.
He's a proven leader.
Bob Schaffer is who should be Colorado's next U.S. senator.
That was the message from the 12 Republicans who nominated Schaffer for the Senate at the state party convention today in Broomfield.
Schaffer accepted the the nomination in a speech where some of the loudest applause he got is when he criticized his own party.
"If we are going to compete against the Democrats, let's face it, we need to have a little bit of introspection and looking within in our own party," he said. "We could sustain a little reform."
Schaffer faces U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, D-Eldorado Springs, for the seat now held by U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Loveland, who is retiring.
Schaffer began by talking about his grandmother who lived in Colorado for 30 years and died this month.
"Her strength will be with me forever," he said. "She taught me that integrity matters."
Schaffer's nomination was the main attraction today, but Republicans also picked a national committeeman and a national committeewoman.
They also elected 22 delegates and 22 alternates to the national convention in Minnesota in September.
All 380 candidates gave 15-second speeches that provide some of the biggest drama, laughs and boos of the day. Many backed John McCain for president, but Texas Congressman Ron Paul had a huge and lively contingent of supporters.
Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney spoke on McCain's behalf, saying that Colorado might be the state that decides the next president.
Romney won Colorado huge during precinct caucuses on Feb. 5, but dropped out of the race later that week.
"McCain wasn't my first choice for president. I was," he said, to big laughs.
But he called McCain "the real deal."
Paul supporters were furious that the state party would not let a surrogate speak on his behalf. State party chairman Dick Wadhams earlier explained that the party considers McCain the nominee.
For the most part, the convention ran ahead of time and without problems, a big difference from the assembly two years ago in Colorado Springs.
"We finally got our act together," said Andy Merritt, an Allard staffer.
When Schaffer took the stage, he was flanked by his wife, Maureen, and their five children who have grown up with their father in politics and on the campaign trail. Schaffer is a former state senator who served three terms in Congress before stepping down as promised in 2002. "
Allard nominated Schaffer and was followed by a string of Republicans from across the state, from ranchers and farmers and politicos, including former Gov. Bill Owens.
State Sen. Josh Penry of Grand Junction, in his nominating speech, said he was tired of Democrats and their recent victories.
"It's time for the Republican Party to put a flag in the ground," he said, to cheers. "This is the election to do it."
A number of speakers throughout the day talked about the Republicans losses in Colorado over the last two elections, and how the party is reenergized and ready to win in November.
There was plenty of criticism for Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter and the Democratic-controlled legislature.
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May 31, 2008
10:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
natasha writes:
If he is better then Udall he should be. Shouldn't be too difficult.
May 31, 2008
10:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
leslieforlife writes:
Too bad the GOP chair, Wadhams, instructed Broomfield cops to be tyrants - trashing the
First Amendment - by insisting non-credentialed individuals outside the arena be escorted several blocks away from the event center entrance, for trying to distribute candidate questionnaire responses to Colorado Right to Life, after denying them a table.
Chairman Wadhams should resign for being almost as reprehensible as
John McCain, when it comes to free speech.
His decision to disallow other candidates to run for the U.S. Senate seat, when he stood to benefit financially as Bob Schaffer's campaign manager, smacks of "conflict of interest!"
June 1, 2008
12:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
ES writes:
To Leslieforlife
Why do the Ron Paul supporters believe that basic laws do not apply to them. Free Speech is a right, however, many of your supporters need to realize that there are limits to that right. The Ron Paul crowd believes that they can yell, scream, and act like little children during a professional meeting. You cannot. Your group is disruptive, unprofessional, rude, disrespectful. Then you whine why nobody listens to you.
June 1, 2008
12:29 a.m.
Suggest removal
titancain writes:
You GO, Rightwing Extremist Bob"!
June 1, 2008
2:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
Scooper25 writes:
Bob Schaffer: The 9th most right-wing legislator of all those who have served since 1937. The journey to the middle will be long and hard.
June 1, 2008
6:28 a.m.
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leslieforlife writes:
Not a Ron Paul supporter. Sorry you need to talk to one of them.
June 1, 2008
9:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
farsidefan writes:
Bob is trying to portray himself as a sheep (moderate, a little bit of right ) when in fact his is and will continue to be a wolf ( extreme right ). Not judgemental, just a fact.
June 1, 2008
11:19 a.m.
Suggest removal
Salchak_Toka writes:
But Colorado has had no difficulty electing members of the radical right in the past. What's the problem now?
June 1, 2008
2:36 p.m.
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solar_satellite writes:
Coors, Beauprez, Schaffer -- I'm glad that the Republic party tries to foist people such as these on Colorado! While imbeciles obsess about the definition of marriage and the like, some Democrats are at least trying to address our state's real problems. I salute Senator-to-be Udall!
By the way, seeing Suthers leering mug reminds me: Colorado, aren't you ashamed of having reelected this inveterate liar to be the chief law enforcement officer of our state?
June 1, 2008
3:51 p.m.
Suggest removal
Troywithme writes:
I am so glad to see that Schaffer has been nominated to fill the seat Allard is vacating. Colorado just does not need another liberal Senator like Ken Salazar. We need to get back to our red roots and not elect a union living liberal, like Mark Udall! His election would have a devastating impact on individual workers in the state. Udall supports EFCA, which is the Employee Free Choice Act, which would allow unions to effectively replace all private-ballot voting with a high-pressure, signature-collection method!!!
June 1, 2008
3:58 p.m.
Suggest removal
Ian74 writes:
I could not agree more. Colorado should tell Mark Udall to stay in Boulder and not return to Washington in November. Has anyone noticed that the name, Employee Free Choice Act, is very misleading? It actually promotes FORCED choice for employees, which is the opposite of what it says it promotes (free choice for employees). Private-balloting is critical to democracy- both in regards to political elections and union initiatives.
June 1, 2008
4:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
Americans4Liberty writes:
Thanks Lynn for your article. Texas Congressman Ron Paul did have a huge and lively contingent of supporters there. About half of the 380 National Delegate nominees were speaking with passion about Dr. Paul and his message of freedom, peace and prosperity. The Ron Paul supporters acted with alot of dignity and grace -- considering that they were refused the opportunity to speak to the assembly on behalf of their candidate. And the "Unity camp" and McCain supporters broke convention rules, by handing out their slates on the convention floor during the voting. And who will ever forget the "Anti-Ron Paul hate slates" being circulated with the "Unity slates" (even after Marty Allbright/McCain co-chair agreed not to hand them out). And yes, since there were no floor mikes (how convenient to squelch the voices from the delegates), some of us actually had to speak loudly to be heard by the chairman. Well, you "Unity" folks got your victory. But you didn't win the fight for freedom and liberty. Our movement for liberty continues to grow daily, as Americans awaken from their slumber and realize that this government needs to be changed!
June 1, 2008
6:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
crn writes:
As a political novice, I was excited to go my first state assembly. I was elected to my delegate spot via the February caucus (also my first), by making a brief statement in support of Ron Paul - go figure. At 54, and a 32 year engineer in the defense industry, I'm not one of the weird hair colored, tattooed Paul supporters that many have attributed to a "fringe" group. I believe those are more indicative of the youth of our time, some of whom happen to be Paul supporters, than to Paul supporters specifically. And as youth who have embraced the true, traditional conservative values that Ron Paul espouses, the Republican party would be wise to welcome and nurture them for the future of the party or risk becoming irrelevant as we baby boomers fade into the sunset.
What drew me into the process last February turned out to be the same thing that disappointed me at yesterday's assembly. After hearing many rousing speeches saying all the right things about personal liberty, responsibility and small government; invoking the intents of the Founding Fathers and the constitution - I must say I was rather disgusted that the assembly would, via standing vote, censure the Paul campaign from providing a speaker on his behalf - the only candidate who has based his entire political career on the constitution and the intent of the Founding Fathers. What is it we're afraid of? I thought the whole basis of democracy was a free exchange of ideas. I find it interesting that we, as Republicans, cheer the ongoing campaign of Hillary and its disruptive effect on the Democrats, but won't stand for the same thing within our own ranks. You can argue that Ron Paul is not a viable candidate, and due to the blatant (and successful) attempt by the media, left and right, to marginalize him throughout the campaign, you may be right - to the detriment of the nation. I can only hope to God that this groundswell movement to return this country to the basic, simple concepts of freedom and personal responsibility that allowed this to become the greatest nation on earth will continue to grow after this election season is over.
June 2, 2008
12:20 a.m.
Suggest removal
clyde writes:
"Posted by leslieforlife on May 31, 2008 at 10:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Too bad the GOP chair, Wadhams, instructed Broomfield cops to be tyrants - trashing the
First Amendment - by insisting non-credentialed individuals outside the arena be escorted several blocks away from the event center entrance, for trying to distribute candidate questionnaire responses to Colorado Right to Life, after denying them a table."
So the Dems are going to allow up close and personal protests at the convention, without any sequestering or limiting anyone's "right" to protest as they see fit? Yeah, right! In a pigs eye. Denver will be sanitized for the sake of the Dems, including moving the homeless to some area out of camera range. Let's see the illegals rally and wave the Mexican flag. Denver, the sanctuary city, will be stripped bare for all to see.