Who Has Got Your Back?

I went down to the Capitol Annex to hear a celebration of the numerous local Republican Victories. (Gaining 3-0 control of the Ada County Commission and actually gaining 1 State House Seat, plus the thumping that Jim Risch gave Larry LaRocco made for a sweet night.)

Of course, the sad moment was when Congressman Sali spoke. While they’re taking a few steps to ensure proper counts, it appears he’s lost his first election in a long political career. It was tough seeing him and his wife on a downcast day like this. We really would have rather celebrated victory.

I didn’t get to speak to the Congressman as he was coming in, but Andrea in her energetic way urged the Congressman to run again. Apparently, he’s been receiving other encouragement

The Democrats and the partisan press got in their licks. They painted Sali as an arrogant jerk and turned issues that would have been let go with a Democrat into large flaws. You had a Democratic Party that attacked the Congressman based on events that happened 20 years ago and left the impression that these tax bills wer a current problem.

In the end, there’s a lesson in this race. Conservatives have got to get better at watching the backs of the people we send into the arena to stand up for our values. If we won’t do it, no one else will.