When the Denver Post released its endorsement of Sen. Michael Bennet just over a week ago, the wording proved less than a song of praise for the appointed Democrat and, indeed, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has taken the verbiage and turned it into an excoriation of Bennet, as the concerning points raised by the editorial board in the original text are used as a condemnation of Bennet’s record in office:
Transcript of the ad:
Announcer: But Michael Bennet’s fighting for Obama. Editorial, “Michael Bennet for U.S. Senate,” The Denver Post, 10/15/10
Announcer: The Denver Post says Bennet’s pushing Obama’s over-reaching agenda… (Editorial, “Michael Bennet for U.S. Senate,” The Denver Post, 10/15/10)
Announcer: “helping to stick future generations with trillions in debt…” (Editorial, “Michael Bennet for U.S. Senate,” The Denver Post, 10/15/10)
Announcer: “…and lavishing billions in corporate bailouts and takeovers.” (Editorial, “Michael Bennet for U.S. Senate,” The Denver Post, 10/15/10)
From the Post editorial–direct quotes are highlighted, the paraphrased assertions are italicized:
But first, he must be Colorado’s senator — not President Obama’s senator or Harry Reid’s senator.
We’ve long admired him for his smarts, his independence and his coalition-building when he was Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s chief of staff and the Denver Public Schools superintendent. But that Michael Bennet has been mostly AWOL since he was appointed senator in January 2009.
From that day, he has been running for election and, at times, running scared. • • •
In 2008, as the economy was sinking into recession, with financial markets frozen and the country lurching in the wrong direction, Coloradans helped sweep President Obama and Democrats to victory.
We endorsed the president and many of those Democrats because we thought the country needed a new direction. But with that newfound control of Washington, Obama and the Democrats overreached. They moved the country to the left, helping to stick future generations with trillions in debt by reckless spending on a stimulus package and other programs, legislating health-care reform that failed to slow the growth in costs, and lavishing billions on corporate bailouts and takeovers.
Sen. Bennet, unfortunately, has helped push that agenda along.
The ad’s climax:
Announcer: The Post summed up Bennet’s Senate career in just three words: “not enough spine.” (Editorial, “Michael Bennet for U.S. Senate,” The Denver Post, 10/15/10)
Can be found in this passage:
The current health care bill is law because of Bennet’s one vote.
That vote, and his speech, epitomize his short Senate career: So much potential, yet not enough spine.