I’m a Democrat.
I’ve been a Democrat all my life. My father was a Democrat. My mother is a Democrat. I married and divorced a Democrat. My building superintendent is a Democrat.
I have friends who are Republican. One’s a neocon and isn’t registered to vote; the other is a very conservative guy I spar with on public television. I am very fond of them. They are smart, funny, civil, informed and misguided. (Four out of five good qualities work for me.)
However, my assessment of the current leadership of the Democratic Party is significantly less forgiving. I look at what’s going on in Washington, D.C., and conclude:
A pox on both their houses.
Listen, I know Bill Clinton … and Hillary, you’re no Bill Clinton. He is smart, charming, conniving and cares about people. You are smart and conniving and a chameleon. I expect more.
And U.S. House and Senate Democrats? The less said the better.
As for the Colorado legislature … I’m glad the Democrats are in control. I like the balance. And I appreciate Democrats in leadership watching their off- session budgets. Besides, my party is honoring its commitment to fiscal prudence and moderate policy, mindful that Colorado is among the purplest of purple states.
Which brings me to Bill Ritter and his failure to garner support from traditional Democrats because he doesn’t pass the hard core’s litmus test on choice.
Ritter is a devout Catholic, the sixth of 12 children raised on a farm in eastern Aurora. His faith is so strong that he and his wife spent three years working in Zambia, South Africa. They managed a nutrition center, expanding the resources and reach of a place that fed thousands of malnourished children.
Though Bill Ritter is personally opposed to abortion, he is not rigid in his views on the rights of the unborn. Ritter opposes any legislation that would criminalize abortion – for the mother or the doctor. He supports terminating a pregnancy in cases of rape, incest or if the life of the mother is at stake.
As governor, he would restore funding to Planned Parenthood for emergency contraception and support legislation giving pharmacists the right to provide emergency contraception without a prescription. Gov. Bill Owens cut that funding and opposes emergency contraception, as do both Republican gubernatorial candidates.
Ritter accurately points out that even when the Colorado legislature had a Republican majority and a Republican governor, it was impossible to overturn a woman’s right to choose. A recent Denver Post-Mason-Dixon poll of Colorado voters reinforces his view that Coloradans – regardless of party affiliation – are moderate on this issue. Only one-third of those polled would support a state law prohibiting abortion.
“Let the people decide,” offers Ritter. “Take the politics out of this very personal issue.”
The other matter dogging Ritter’s candidacy involves his failure to prosecute police shootings when he was district attorney. His response to that question is perhaps the most telling insight into how this man makes decisions.
“Based on the evidence, precedent and the law, I did not believe I could successfully prosecute and convict. Though it might have been politically expedient for me to prosecute and fail, the cost in financial, human and political resources was too great. I could not ethically go to trial, knowing I would lose.”
Ritter may fail the glad-handing, good ol’ boy, political animal test. He is serious, smart, principled and comfortable in his skin.
He passes the authenticity test with flying colors – an exam that Bob Beauprez would surely fail.
Bill Ritter has a vision for a successful Colorado. He understands that until we address the challenges to K-12 and higher education, our workforce won’t be able to meet the demands of the 21st century.
He also recognizes that the federal government will not solve the health care and health insurance dilemmas. He knows that state leadership is critical to controlling prescription costs, insurance burdens and health care access. He is committed to convening a broad, informed process to examine best practices and come up with a Colorado solution.
I’m for Bill Ritter.
Color me purple.
Susan Barnes-Gelt served eight years on the Denver City Council and was an aide to former Denver Mayor Federico Peña. Her column appears on alternate Sundays.
