Bentley Rayburn, who is running for the Republican nomination in Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, chatted with Denver Post readers on Wednesday, July 23 Following is a transcript of the chat.
Bentley Rayburn: Hello!
Dan Haley: Welcome to our noon chat with Major Gen. Bentley Rayburn, and thank you, Gen. Rayburn, for taking time out of your campaign schedule to meet with us. As always, keep your questions short, and the candidate will answer as many as possible. So let’s get started: You finished third in the 2006 primary,
Dan Haley: why run again and what’s different about 2008?
Bentley Rayburn: Dan, thanks for putting this on! This is a great way to talk and listen to a lot of folks.
Gus Evens: Who are some of the community leaders supporting your campaign?
Bentley Rayburn: I’m running because we need some real leadership in Washington, D.C. and we must have more miltary and national security experience in Congess for the country and for the 5th District
Aplet: Why are you accepting the support of pro-choice Republicans like Scott McInnis and Mary Ellen McNally?
Bentley Rayburn: We’ve got some great supporters, beyond the Housing and Building Association and the Colorado Contractos Association we have the Mayor of Colorado Springs, Former Congresman Scott McInnis and a number of former state legislators like Senator Ron May.
Dan Haley: Would you have handled Pinon Canyon differently than Congressman Lamborn?
Bentley Rayburn: There are not any two people who agree on everything, and I want to work with people on subjects that we do agree, just like Ronald Reagan did with his three-legged approach to the Party
Carie: You broke an agreement with Jeff Crank that you signed your name to. You backed out on technicalities that didn’t go your way. How do you expect us to trust you in Congress to do the right thing when we know things won’t always go your way in Washington?
Bentley Rayburn: Regarding Pinon Canyon, Congressman Lamborn failed to show any leadership on the issue. When it came up for a vote he could only muster 34 votes out of the entire House. This from a man who ran on the strength of his legislative experience. We need leaders who can engage all parties and listen as
Bentley Rayburn: well as suggest and draw out creative solutions to the problem. This might include offering to lease land from ranchers as well as buy from those who are interested. We don’t need to take any land against someones will for this expansion.
Earl Asbury: Rayburn
Bentley Rayburn: things he can no longer accept. Of course not!
Bentley Rayburn: Hello Earl!
Dave Schmidt: What do you suggest should be done to help alleviate the costs of increasing demand and decreasing supply of crude oil?
Bentley Rayburn: Dave, I have first hand experience in Alaska and in ANWR. We can drill responsibly with regard to the environment and we must be in the ANWR and off our coasts. We need to continue to develop other ways to extract oil from oil shale, the tar sand in Canada and looking at turning coal into liquid.
Bentley Rayburn: fuel.
Dan Haley: What are your thoughts on Interior’s draft shale rules released yesterday?
Aplet: Mr. Rayburn, you didn’t address my question about accepting support from pro-choice Republicans? Why would you do that?
Bentley Rayburn: Dan, I haven’t read the draft yet, but I know we can extract oil from shale in an evironmentally responsible way.
Guest: Negative campaigning works, and I imagine that is why your opponents are engaged in it with each other and against you. I have not seen you throw mud like they are, besides the fact that you haven’t engaged in negative character attacks, what sets you apart from your opponents?
Bentley Rayburn: Guest, you are right, often times it seems like negative campaigning works and I am saddened by the tone of the discourse sometimes. There are too many important issues that need to be discussed, like pulling our party together (not tearing it apart) so we can win in November.
Bentley Rayburn: Not sure why my answer to the pro-life question hasn’t shown up yet, Dan. Do you have it there?
Dan Haley: Aplet, I think he addressed it by saying he wants to work with people he disagrees with and build a big tent like Ronald Reagan. Was that it, Bentley? Funny thing though, I’m not sure Reagan could make it thru a primary today, with all of the litmus tests.
Carie: Bentley I’d appreciate a response to my question about the broke agreement with Jeff as well, thank you.
Bentley Rayburn: Aplet and Dan, that’s essentially right. I will work with folks in areas that we are in agreement, like national security, the economy and the border, but hold solid and true to my pro-life positions.
Bentley Rayburn: Carie, I’m sorry my entry didn’t make it into the blog. I’ll try again.
Dan Haley: Bentley, if you have a long answer to something, like the poll question, and you have an answer on your website, feel free to direct people there as well.
Bentley Rayburn: Carie, the essence of my response about the Crank poll was that I didn’t break my word. I suggested it was much like a bill that a congressman might initially sponsor. But, by the time it goes through many committees it no longer looks like the original bill and has things that are objectionable.
Bentley Rayburn: I don’t expect the congressman to be held to his original agreement to sponsor a bill he no longer recognizes!
Dave Schmidt: What is your position on the border issue? Do you support guest workers or amnesty?
Aplet: Mr. Rayburn, you are starting to sound like a politician.
Bentley Rayburn: Dave, We need to secure our borders. I have first hand experience doing that in the military. We must not grant amnesty to illegal workers who are in the country. We must tighten up our citizenship laws and follow the orginal intent of the Constitution, which was NOT to allow citizenship simply
Dan Haley: Thanks Dave for a question that may/or may not have been submitted from an opposing candidate’s campaign!
Bentley Rayburn: on the basis of geography!
Gus Evens: Do you have any comment on Jeff Crank’s recent attacks on you and Congressman Lamborn? What does this tactic say about his campaign and capacity to lead?
Dave Schmidt: You’re welcome. Thank you for the answer Bentley.
Bentley Rayburn: Gus, again there are many serious issues that we need to debate and discuss. It is unfortunate that some are making personal attacks. Congressman Lamborn, as our representative, has a responsiblity to talk to the people and engage in the debate.
Josh: With five military bases in the region veterans issues require much attention from our congressman. How are you prepared to work to meet the needs of our troops?
Gus Evens: Doug Lamborn has refused to debate in this primary. What do you think this says about his ability as a leader?
Bentley Rayburn: Josh, not only is our local economy heavily dependent on the military and defense spending, but we have one of the highest %s of veterans in the U.S. The veterans here need someone who can REALLY speak for them. It takes a veteran to know a veteran.
Nancy: How many Members of Congress have military experience? With all our uniforms in Colorado Springs, it seems fitting to have a representative who knows something about the military from the inside.
Dan Haley: Any thoughts on what’s been happening with the VA hospital at Fitz?
Bentley Rayburn: Josh, just to finish re: the Vet Cemetery… I, along with a number of vets have worked long and hard to get a national cemetery here. Though Congressman Lamborn has claimed to be responsible for “more progress than ever before,” that’s actually quite misleading.
Bentley Rayburn: Nancy, less than 20%. The lowest number since WWII. The voter understands that’s not good for our country.
Arney: You recently stated that you wanted to eliminate the department of education? Don
Arney: Don’t you think that would hurt funding for education and teacher pay? need medical facilities or contractual agreements with medical providers for our vets in the 5th District. This is something we should be doing NOW!
Bentley Rayburn: I was the first one during the 2006 primary to suggest that we didn’t need the Department of Education. I have been a college president. I know from personal experience that we need to push decision-making and funding down to the lowest possible level. The family if at all
Bentley Rayburn: possible
Bentley Rayburn: Arney, no, I think it would provide the opportunity to increase teacher pay by not spending billions on the bureaucracy.
Dave Schmidt: Speaking of the local economy earlier, how do you plan to bring more high income jobs to the community? Will your military experience help with this?
Bentley Rayburn: Dave, we have lost too many great jobs over the last few years and I don’t see our current congressmen aggressively helping to work this problem. Both my military and leadership experience will be helpful in working with other leaders to bring great jobs to our communities.
Josh: How will your campaign work to restore Party unity and get McCain and Schaffer elected in Nov.?
Brooks: Mr. Rayburn, would you use the franking privilege in Congress like Doug Lamborn?
Bentley Rayburn: Josh, this party is divided. We must be united if Bob Schaffer and Senator McCain are to be victorious in Colorado. We are doing everything we can to pull the party together. We are running a clean campaign focused on the issues and the differences in leadership and policy, but not making
Bentley Rayburn: attacks so that we don’t have deep wounds that can’t heal in time for the November election.
Bentley Rayburn: Brooks, sorry but I just lost my answer to the ether. Give me a moment to reconstruct!
Bentley Rayburn: Brooks, I would not use the franking privilege for my own political advantage. I would only use it to answer consitituent’s questions and normal correspondence. I will use every availible method to communicate routinely with the people. One of the fundamental principles of leadership is that you
Bentley Rayburn: get out with the people and LISTEN. This is one of the serious shortcomings of our present representative.
Dan Haley: If Lamborn wins the primary, will you campaign for him, should he ask?
Nancy: I learned of your campaign from a close friend and neighbor who hosted a coffee at her home and I was able to meet you and your lovely family. Will you continue doing this sort of thing once you are elected.
Bentley Rayburn: Dan, I really don’t need to worry about that as we will all be campaigning for Rayburn!
Dan Haley: Good answer.
Bentley Rayburn: Nancy, we are spending as much time as possible talking to voters and listening to their concerns. If anyone wants to join us at one of the many events we have on the schedule, please call our office at 719-884-7457. Our kids are grown, so we can both be very active in helping our communities.
Dan Haley: We have about 10 minutes left so if you have any questions to ask, do so now.
Bentley Rayburn: Dan, in case you wondered, my first Red Rocks concert was in 1974 or 1975 going to a John Denver concert. There is nothing better than John Denver at Red Rocks.
Dan Haley: Ha! I forgot to ask my favorite question. And that’s a good answer. Very Colorado. Never saw John Denver live, but wish that I had.
Guest: bentley your campaign must b doing some polng on it’s own. whre do yo thinkyou stand int the primary race?
Bentley Rayburn: Dan, we’re going to win this race. Everyday we are picking up supporters and folks from the other campaigns who don’t like the tone and tenor. Plus with the consideration that there is a chance our next commander in chief is a very liberal democrat, we must have folks in Congress who can stand up
Bentley Rayburn: with the credibility that comes from experience to say, Mr. President, what you are suggesting is dangerous for our country.
Nancy: I just want to say thank you, General Rayburn. Thank you for your military service and for being a gentleman. I will be voting for you and have told all my friends to vote for you as well.
Dave Schmidt: Thank you Bentley for answering my questions. I appreciate your candor and will be happy to cast my vote for you on August 12!
Bentley Rayburn: Guest, the polling we have done and our intel from the field tells us we are right on track! People understand the need for real, proven leadership, the need for military experience and the fact that we have enough lawyers and lobbyists in Congress already.
Brooks: i will not be voting for you Bentley because i don’t think you can win.
Bentley Rayburn: Guest, we continue to gain momentum everyday and the energy, especially among our volunteers is white hot!
Gus Evens: Myself and my family will be voting for General Rayburn.
Dan Haley: Thanks to everyone who joined us today, especially Mr. Rayburn. We appreciate your time and willingness to try something new. (It’s new for us anyway.) As we noted yesterday, Congressman Lamborn declined our request for this Q&A so today wraps up the 5th CD. Join us next Monday at noon to chat with Wil Armstrong in the 6th CD.
Josh: Let’s win this Bentley! We need a man like you in Congress!
Bentley Rayburn: Brooks, well that’s too bad, because 1) we are going to win, so if you don’t vote for Rayburn, you’ll be on the losing side and 2) we have what the country and our district needs. That’s why I’m running in the first place.
Dan Haley: Thanks everyone!
