In Idaho, Its Different

In most states, the complaint about legislators is something like:

1) All they do is send form letters.

2) They never respond to me.

In Idaho, the complaint is on content. Tara Rowe at The Political Game wrote a note to the Senate State Affairs Committee which got a response from Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis. Davis, I thought was respectful and took a lot of time and thought to write Tara. It was not appreciated:

There are a couple things about the email from Senator Davis that I find particularly amusing. First, he wasn’t even there to vote!

As he explained, he had a scheduling conflict which happens with Majority Leaders. They’ve got a Big Majority to lead, a lot of organizational issues, meetings, sometimes they don’t make a hearing. That’s why, by the way, in Congress the Majority Leader isn’t on any Committee. There’s no way he could keep up.

Second, Richard Stallings shows up when we have rallies for higher education. He’s more than happy to speak. He accepts our invitation. When Senator Davis wants to come down to Idaho State University and sit in a room full of students, then I’d more than welcome any criticism he has of Stallings’ comments. Third, no one blasts Stallings in an email to me. There are few, if any, people in the world I admire and respect more than Richard Stallings.

Wow, I have a people where I won’t tolerate you talking smack about them. What did Davis say to get this response:

First, Richard Stallings is partisan (Chair of State Democrat Party), and this is an election year. He will say and do about anything to get his people elected. It is politics, and I understand that. His statements, however, are just flat wrong…The point I make, somewhat sharply, by this email is that we shouldn’t jump to conclusions. Particularly when ginned up by someone that is partisan in their statements.

So, he slandered Richard Stallings, by suggesting as the Chair of the State Democratic Party, is a partisan. My gosh, I guess they need consider a reprimand for Davis. Tara Concludes:

And most importantly by treating me like an average know-nothing college student, Mr. Davis, in your condescending tone, you are only reillustrating to me that you politicians in Boise really don’t care about education.

No, Tara doesn’t strike me as one of those “average know-nothing college students” (those would be her constituents (the ones who voted for her as a Student Senator.) She strikes me as one of those above average, slightly arrogant students who believes she’s figured the world out, and has little respect for anyone who disagrees with her. Given that, Davis’ response was completely appropriate.

Linked to Don Surber

Idaho