Today, Democrats will host a press conference to explain why they are coming out against Amendment 69, which would bring Colorado single-payer (read: government-run) health care. Headlining the presser are ProgressNow, NARAL, and Rep. Crisanta Duran, who is viewed as a rising star in the Democratic firmament.
And, it’s true that there is a growing chasm between the (loud) far-left Democrats and mainstream Democrats as witnessed in the fracking fight. Even far leftists like fractivist Maria Orms have joined this fight.
But try as they might, Democrats at the state Capitol cannot fully distance themselves from this terrible ballot initiative – and they should not be allowed to do so. This is craven political convenience.
Some of the consultants working on the ballot initiative are affiliated with well-known entities. For example, Martha Tierney, who served as the attorney for the Colorado Democratic Party, and Dave Sabados, who founded Compass Strategy Group, who works (worked?) with Jovan Melton and sits on the executive board of the Denver Young Democrats. Nothing wrong with these folks earning a buck, but these are not fringe elements.
Some of Colorado’s best-known Democratic politicians, past and present, already donated to the effort, including: Sen. John Kefalas, Rep. Dan Kagan (who has a very tough race ahead of him), Sen. Irene Aguilar, former Sen. Jeanne Nicholson, and more.
While some liberal blogs whine that the right has employed misinformation – here is one fact that voters in Senate District 26 should not ignore: Rep. Dan Kagan donated to the endeavor. That’s as good as an endorsement, and there’s no running from that.