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Colorado SD 6 Primary: Ellen Roberts Looks Far Too Cozy with Obama Care

by | 11:30 pm, August 8, 2010 | 7 Comments

Update, 8/9 AM: Rep Ellen Roberts’ response posted in full at the end of this post.

With election day practically here, a strange development has been unearthed in the Colorado Senate District 6 Republican primary between Rep. Ellen Roberts and conservative grassroots candidate Dean Boehler. Hopes of successfully resisting Obama Care mandates and advancing free market health care reform well may hinge in part on the result of this primary.

What do I mean? Well, first contrast the two candidates’ issue statements on the issue of health care, starting with Boehler:

OBAMACARE HEALTH MANDATE

Dean strongly supports Colorado’s lawsuit to declare ObamaCare UNCONSTITUTIONAL. Dean opposes ObamaCare and favors common sense, free-market solutions to lower the cost of health insurance.

Short, direct, pointed, and on target. Now look at Roberts’ statement:

Common Sense Healthcare Reform

Finding effective ways to deliver high quality healthcare to rural Colorado has been a major focus and passion of mine in the Colorado legislature. I’ve carried legislation that has successfully reduced costs and administrative burden and increased access to affordable healthcare. I’m particularly proud of the new hospice legislation that I helped spearhead in 2009 and 2010 that will provide the seriously ill in Colorado with better access to high quality and high touch patient directed care.

Why be so vague on one of the preeminent political issues of the moment? Take a look at three different entities all housed at the Denver address of 7351 Lowry Boulevard, and see if you might gather an idea:

Throw in the shadowy liberal group Colorado Outlook sending attack fliers against Dean Boehler, and you’ve got a perfect storm of unanswered questions for Ellen Roberts. Has she promised groups funding her campaign to work for Obama Care and against free market health care reform? I am contacting Roberts directly to seek an answer.

But I think it’s pretty clear why a more conservative grassroots candidate jumped into this race. For now, all evidence indicates there is even more at stake in the Senate 6 Republican primary than first anticipated. Any support you can give to Dean Boehler could make a big difference.

Update — Roberts’ response:

I’ve skimmed your blog post and wonder why you didn’t bother to ask me these questions before you posted? Is it that you have your own agenda as in slamming me without having both sides of the story? It’s not like I don’t know what you’ve been posting in this race already.

For that matter, why should I believe you would post the truth now, when I tell you? I guess I don’t necessarily trust that you will, but in the spirit of being fair, something I’ve not experienced from my opponent and his supporters, including you, I’ll answer your questions anyway. You see, I do believe in open and transparent government and campaigns.

Of course I’ve made no deals with anyone as you’re suggesting. In fact, I was one of the first House Republicans to sign on to the letter asking AG John Suthers to join the lawsuit seeking that Obamacare be set aside as unconstitutional. (see attached) Boehler knows that as it’s been something I not only talked about since the district assembly, but also have distributed throughout my campaign this spring and summer copies of the House resolution introduced, with me as a cosponsor, before Obamacare was passed, stating
that if it passed, Colorado should be allowed to opt out. (see attached)

I have written my weekly column published in the Pagosa, Durango and Cortez papers making my opposition to Obamacare known to my constituents. In a district like mine, I did this knowing that there are many on the left in my district who would not only strongly disagree, but sent me emails assuring me they’d work hard to see me not elected this year because of that stance.

I’m not afraid to put the tough issues out there or take a stand even if there’s a political risk to that and it’s a trait sorely lacking in a lot of politicians or candidates. I also don’t pander to any group or sign pledges. My job is to represent the people who elect me, not CUT, not the tea party, not the left wing groups, and not COPIC, CMS or any other organization or group.

You ask, Why does COPIC and others care about my race and decided to do mailings on my behalf without my knowledge or participation (and as they clearly stated this fact on the mailers based on my record and issues, again something sorely lacking from my opponent’s campaign?)

Probably because for all four years since I’ve been in the legislature, I’ve been a huge advocate for Colorado’s continued strong TORT REFORM. Something hugely lacking in Obamacare, incidentally.

Probably because since being in the legislature, I’ve strongly advocated for or sponsored legislation that seeks efficiency, cost savings and access to actual care for medical patients rather than to an insurance card – something we in rural Colorado know well. (see attached legislative summary)

Access to an insurance card doesn’t equal access to care if no doctor or nurse practioner will accept a Medicaid or Medicare patient since the government won’t reimburse for cost, let alone the ability to have a margin to keep the lights on, staff for running the office, etc.

So, again, before posting on your blog when you want to slam me and help my opponent, maybe you should do your own homework first or do me the courtesy of asking for my side of a story before posting your own. That would be responsible journalism, yes?

Category: Colorado Politics, Health Reform, Liberty, PPC
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Comments

  1.   Laura Victoria
      August 9th, 2010 @ 10:03 am

    I support genuine tort reform that deals appropriately with so-called junk law suits – cases where people just don’t like the outcome, but where no negligence was actually involved.

    But what this insurance company rep supports – damages caps of a mere $250k on pain and suffering is allowing the negligent to take property from me and not compensate me for it. Seriously, if a doctor negligently chops off the wrong leg, and then the other leg still needs chopping off, would anyone argue that the damages in pain and suffering from that is only $250,000?

    If you want to see why malpractice insurance is so high blame the insurance companies. They are not governed by free market forces but by government regulation/assistance.

    I’d love to hear Ellen’s response to this one. And Ellen, pleaase don’t be hostile to conservative bloggers as that will only reinforce RINO stereotypes. I did appreciate your answers on the other questions.

    And if you win the primary, don’t be a stranger here at PPC. We’ll support you against the Dem.

  2.   Formerly Undecided
      August 10th, 2010 @ 8:32 am

    Wow, that’s an interesting response from Candidate Roberts, I mean Representative Roberts. She sounds a little cranky simply because of a few of blog posts (which, of course, she has only deigned to “skim”). You mean despite her:

    – “weekly column published in the Pagosa, Durango and Cortez papers”

    – assistance from Republican insiders in the form of robo-calls, campaign contributions and 527 support

    – her posting of endorsements that didn’t actually exist

    – her aid from multiple liberal groups attacking her opponent and supporting her

    – her access to the Denver Post via its quoting her unbelievable spin that the attack ads against her opponent were a ploy to get the Tea-partiers out to support him

    – her significant fund raising / money advantage due to her tenure in the state House

    …she’s irritated by some blogs on PPC?

    Sounds like she’s worried. If that’s how she responds to a few legitimate questions, makes me think she’s feeling a little bit of that “political establishment entitlement” mentality. In the current climate of push-back against the politically connected and entitled, this looks like a mistake on her part.

    She was within a few votes of being knocked out at the assembly by a guy who had gotten into the race just a few weeks before. I’m not sure which constituents she thinks she represents – citizens or politicos and special interests?

    I’ll take the new guy.

  3.   Laura Victoria
      August 10th, 2010 @ 9:38 am

    FU – (couldn’t resist). Excellent comment. That’s the way it read to me – a haughty, “entitlement” mentality. Does she know who she’s talking to with Ben?

  4.   Ben
      August 10th, 2010 @ 9:44 am

    No need to be harsh toward Rep Roberts. My original post and her response have led to a good respectful conversation. Let’s win on the battlefield of ideas.

  5.   Formerly Undecided
      August 11th, 2010 @ 8:51 am

    Congratulations to “conservative to the core” Ellen Roberts on her win, as the Denver Post reported this morning with the headline “GOP Moderate Roberts holds lead”. Now the liberal 527 money can be spent elsewhere in the state against conservatives since the difference between Roberts & Whitehead insignificant. Their $100,000+ work here is done.

  6.   Laura Victoria
      August 11th, 2010 @ 10:30 am

    FU, maybe, but we can’t forget about the R being more than just a name when it comes to important issues like redistricting. We need to regain majorities in the state house, particularly since regaining Gov. looks like such a long shot.

  7.   Formerly Undecided
      August 11th, 2010 @ 10:50 am

    Agreed. At least she’s good on guns. While my congratulations are somewhat tongue-in-cheek, the reality is that she’s our best choice at this point and so I will support her going forward.

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