Sound Politics: In Case You Missed It: TNT Unloads on Gregoire's Stem Cell Stunt

September 25, 2008

In Case You Missed It: TNT Unloads on Gregoire's Stem Cell Stunt

In the wake of the Seattle Times likewise calling Gregoire's bluff, from today's Tacoma News Tribune editorial page:

We suggest that Gov. Chris Gregoire's campaign go back and look - real hard - for legitimate campaign issues.

That wasn't so subtle. The editorial board goes on:

Gregoire's ads raise a different and decidedly nonscientific question: cynicism. She is counting on Washingtonians to have short memories. She mounted precisely the same attacks against Rossi four years ago, describing stem cells as "penicillin for the 21st century." At the time, Rossi called her stem cell rhetoric a "political ploy." Events soon proved him right.

And they summarize:

Long story short: Stem cell research was little more than a political weapon in the 2004 governor's race. Given the speed with which Gregoire dropped her institute proposal after that election, it can be regarded today only as a political weapon - one that relies on collective amnesia about what she actually delivered last time. Politicians always make promises when they run for office. Not many make promises they've already broken. [emphasis added]

The media blowback on this issue (background here) means this is no mere debate about one issue. It raises fundamental questions about the merits of Gregoire's re-election campaign. Her honesty and her commitment to addressing issues that are of obvious pressing need to anyone sitting in the Governor's office next January are fundamentally in doubt.

Interesting way to run for office.

Posted by Eric Earling at September 25, 2008 08:55 PM | Email This

Comments

1. And she is still running the ads! What an idiot. Now we get Dr. Kimelman misrepresenting Rossi on another stupid issue. Our gov makes Jesse Ventura look like Albert Einstein. Chrissy has completely lost it.

Posted by: Silkworm on September 25, 2008 09:03 PM

2. Meanwhile, we have that new ad about contraceptives - I don't know if it's a misrepresentation or not, but I DO know this:

"Who are politicians like Dino Rossi to force their views on us?"

I ask that doctor this:

"Who are you to force your views on a pharmacist who won't sell a given drug for moral reasons?"

I can't wait for Gregoire to lose.

Posted by: Andrew Brown on September 25, 2008 09:19 PM

3. Her administration is really kind of a hollow house. Not much substance. It's like she's a professional seatwarmer to keep her cronies in their state jobs and not much more. No leadership on the big issues. Only political suck-up to her liberal constituencies like the tribes with the unbelievable deal she cut with them to sell out the entirestate in exchange for several hundred thousand dollars to her campaign and her democrat party.

..and I agree with Andrew's comment "Who are you to force your views on a pharmacist..." They feel it is their moral right to shove their views on others, but take offense if anyone else dares express a different opinion on something.

Posted by: Michele on September 25, 2008 10:04 PM

4. psst Barry. Can you tell Christine how it is the media carries your water, but won't carry hers?

Glad to see local journalism is still alive even if Robert Mac decided to start collecting hush money.

Posted by: Andy on September 25, 2008 10:10 PM

5. I think Gregoire knows she is going to lose. As do most of the lefty commentariat here in WA. She's a dud. Zero charisma. She spent a lot of the last four years hiding in her office. And Rossi comes across as a guy you would love having as a neighbor, even if you didn't agree with his politics.

When you are a Democrat and the local MSM starts unloading on you, that's pretty much the end of the Light Rail line for you.

Posted by: Jeff B. on September 25, 2008 10:40 PM

6. I almost think Rossi should go up there at these debates and completely IGNORE Gregoire. Just act as if she isn't even there, not worthy or comment or reaction. Her entire rationale for being up there at all is an interesting exercise. Maybe some debate moderator should ask her "why do you STILL want to be Governor"? The unasked part of that question, of course, being "...given that you've done absolutely nothing in your first term that you feel you can run on"?
In any other state it would be an EASY Rossi win. Here, it's Rossi in a squeaker.

Posted by: scott on September 25, 2008 10:47 PM

7. @ 6 - I wonder why Rossi even goes to the debates at all. The last one was run by a feminist group, doing the best the could to make the Queen look good. Who is running the next one? The state teacher's union?

Posted by: BananaLand on September 25, 2008 11:39 PM

8. Jeff #5 - dream on. WA state is blue and will never again elect a Republican for state-wide office.

Posted by: Crusader on September 26, 2008 12:49 AM

9. Christine Gregoire is one stupid liberal cow. I met her in person. She's dumber than dirt. The only reason she's (small-g) governor is that her hacks managed to pull the wool over the state's eyes- ONCE.

Over the past four years, she's shown herself to be the union-whore that we have always known her to be.

Gregoire belongs in jail. The bastards who perpetrated the 2004 shell game should be met in a back alley with some 2x4s and tire irons. That's the only language they know.

Posted by: ERNurse on September 26, 2008 02:30 AM

10. It has now become a 'given' that Gregoire's focus on this issue is as non-sensical as Sarah Palin's response to Katie Couric's questions last night. OMG! [Anyone notice a similarity to the lovely Miss South Carolina's pagent answer?]

Posted by: Duffman on September 26, 2008 05:58 AM

11. Crusader.

Sam Reed. Are you saying he shouldn't run again?

Posted by: Chris on September 26, 2008 07:04 AM

12. I can't wait to watch the last debate, Gregoire is touting "No new taxes" carefully slicked over as "Now is not the time to rais taxes".

PS meaning, after the election is time to raise taxes.

What a lying sack of crap

Rossi will win this one!

Posted by: gs on September 26, 2008 07:12 AM

13. I notice the TNT is careful to bash the campaign and not the candidate. More important is who they will endorse for the office. You can bet it will be the Democrat no matter how flawed. The TNT just had another round of layoffs. All to soon the only thing left of this dying newspaper will be its ultra liberal editorial board.

Posted by: ROCKETMAN on September 26, 2008 07:13 AM

14. WA state is blue and will never again elect a Republican for state-wide office.

Umm, you're stupid.

Even if Rossi loses, McKenna is a shoe-in for re-election, Reed and Sutherland are likewise favorites, and the R candidate for Treasurer is also very possible.

So yah, you're just flat out wrong.

Posted by: Cliff on September 26, 2008 09:30 AM

15. Cliff - I meant for governor, senator. Unless we're talking Olympia Snowe types. RINOs.

Posted by: Crusader on September 26, 2008 11:15 AM

16. WA state is blue and will never again elect a Republican for state-wide office.

Yeah - that mentality is about the only way you could explain Gregoire's double-speak, broken promises, and waste. Maybe she too thought "WA state is blue and will never again elect a Republican."

I'm not sure what logical chain gets you from an election just four years ago that was decided in both directions and only finally decided by just over 100 votes, through a term from a governor who screeched that the Alaskan Way Viaduct was a ticking time bomb (what's that ticking noise I hear now four years later?), who sold out her state's best interests for some campaign cash, who squandered a budget surplus in the process, and who is desperately running on anything BUT her record, to today - and say with a straight face and such conviction that WA will never again elect a Republican.

Posted by: RookieRick on September 26, 2008 08:35 PM