Rossputin.com: Rational Thinking About Our World

I’d like to offer the following response to a note on the Colorado Index reacting to my article about Bentley Rayburn suggesting he is a carpet-bagger.

Sir,

I’d like to clarify a couple of issues you raise in your essay.

First, I do not ever attack the military or its members. I am the son of two military officers, one of them a flag officer. In no way did I state or imply that General Rayburn somehow has fewer rights than someone else because he is a General. Indeed, in my view that level of achievement and service demands an extra level of deference, respect, and gratitude.

Second, there is a big difference between you and Rayburn (or Clinton) as a “carpet-bagger” in that (I presume) you are not running for office within a few months of moving to a place as General Rayburn did. I am not saying that people have some sort of responsibility to buy property as soon as they move to a place (particularly not in this real estate environment). What I am saying is that it is rather presumptuous to move to a place and then suddenly believe you’re like to be its best representative in Washington, DC. How much could you really know about your district after only living there for a season, or a few seasons?

Third, although it’s not really relevant, I would point out that I also attended the Leadership Program of the Rockies and I would urge all who are interested in public policy and in making a difference (there are a lot of ways to do it, not just running for office) apply for the Program. (It is non-partisan, so accepts Dems, Republicans, whatever, but only people who have interest in and some basic appreciation of ideals of liberty and free markets.)

Again, since you mentioned it again, my “carpet-bagger” designation is not because he moved and didn’t buy a house. That’s not what “carpet-bagger” means. The definition from dictionary.com is “politician who moves to a place where he/she sees an opportunity to promote his/her career”. That is my accusation, and unless you are running for office just after moving here, it would not apply to you.

Fourth, of course I know that Lamborn, Crank, and Rayburn are all religious Christians. Of the three, only Crank does not seem to make it his primary political card to play, and I appreciate that about him. I do not believe that government is the right place or the right aspiration for someone whose major goals in live are evangelization and some of General Rayburn’s words and his friend’s words make that seem to be the case for him.

Fifth, I wasn’t the one who said that Rayburn’s military friend broke the rules. News reports said they were investigating that and the writer himself said what he did was “inappropriate”. This is not a major issue, though, and we shouldn’t take more time with it.

Sixth, if Lamborn wins in a 3-way race with Crank a close second and Rayburn a distant third, it wouldn’t be outrageous for Crank supporters to be “disaffected AGAIN”. I hope that doesn’t happen.

Seventh, you are absolutely correct that I am no fan of Doug Lamborn. Not only do I believe his campaign was unethical during the last election, I also think there’s a decent chance they broke the law but just didn’t get caught. Beyond that, I believe he keeps proving that he’s just not very smart, what with leaving those phone messages, making the silly proposal to turn Pikes Peak into a National Monument, and lying on his web site and in public about being “on leave” from the Armed Services Committee. I believe that at this point most people in the 5th already know why Lamborn is the wrong guy, and was the wrong guy last time too.

I do not disrespect General Rayburn the way I do Doug Lamborn. I simply believe that it would be a big mistake for him to run in this primary if what he really cares about is getting the best representative for his district. I believe he can’t win but he could allow the wrong guy to win again. I think that would earn him bad feelings from a lot of people who are subjected to more years of Congressman Lamborn.

I would like to re-emphasize that I did not make an intentional or accidental attack on the military. I believe you misunderstood the definition of carpet-bagger to mean anyone who moves somewhere, but it specifically means someone who moves somewhere with the aim of furthering a political career. If Rayburn isn’t that, his actions certainly make it appear otherwise, and he should be aware that it’s a charge easily made and likely to be made again if he runs…likely with some effect since his competitors have lived there and paid taxes there for a long time.

I am not putting General Rayburn “at the back of the line”…at least not more than I would any similar person regardless of military service. If he had been CEO of IBM, or a politician from elsewhere, or just a guy who moved to the district and then ran for Congress within a few months of arriving, I would make the same argument. When it comes to representing people, the back of the line rightly belongs to people who don’t know the area very well. Even a prestigious military career doesn’t change that.