Boise News

An Unexpected Dark Horse Emerges

Idaho GOP Congressional Debate: A Verbal Rodeo

By Jill Kuraitis, 5-19-06

A verbal rodeo featuring the six candidates for the GOP nomination for Congress in Idaho’s 1st Congressional District kicked up plenty of dirt in the arena last night. The studios of Idaho Public TelevisionIDPTV
were the venue for some serious horsemanship between state officeholders Sen. Skip Brandt, Controller Keith Johnson, Rep. Bill Sali, plus water lobbyist Norm Semanko, former senator Sheila Sorensen and Canyon County commissioner Robert Vasquez.

Once the home of Republican Helen "watch out for black helicopters" Chenoweth and before that Democrat Larry LaRocco (who is currently running for the Dem. nod for Lt. Gov.) the seat now held by gubernatorial candidate C.L. "Butch" Otter has an inconsistent history. This time around, it's the race to watch in next Tuesday’s primary.

Widely viewed as the horses leading the parade are Sali, the anti-abortion ideologue, and Sorensen, whose moderate reputation is not entirely accurate. Sali played the arm-jerker to an unexpectedly inept Sorensen, who took a dogfall while Sali fanned his hat to the crowd. Known and respected for her competence and professional style, Sorensen's stumbling performance surprised some debate-watchers and turned the spotlight on Johnson.

Johnson's support for the presidential line-item veto despite it having been declared unconstitutional was questioned by Brandt, who knocked over a barrel when Johnson's explanation for his position was knowledgeable and sincere. Johnson was also the only candidate to support easier, legal immigration and to say Republicans "should own up to the mistakes we have made." In his closing statement, he said one of his goals was to legislate in a way that means "we can remain a compassionate and honorable people." This was in stark contrast to the statements made by the other candidates, who didn’t seem to mention people much.

Sali, whose aggressive insensitivity toward other legislators prompted the best line of the 2006 Statehouse session -- Speaker of the House Bruce Newcomb (R-Burley) said, "That idiot is just a complete idiot. He doesn't have one ounce of compassion in his whole frickin' body. And you can put that in the paper." -- snorted like a headhunting bull while he looked for every possible way to say, "smaller government and lower taxes." He roped Sorensen with the L-word and pleaded with voters not to split the conservative vote and focus on Sali vs. Sorensen.

Vasquez hammered away at Sali's front group, the Club for Growth, with the classic "you’re lying about my record" ploy, and advocated that funding for Planned Parenthood should be "reviewed." Semanko lamented "bad environmental laws" that prevent the construction of more oil refineries on U.S. soil, and Brandt wants us out of the United Nations.

The usual suspects, who last week were predicting Sorensen by a nose, may now view Sali in front, with Johnson the dark horse.

For a super-concise summary of the event with Tom VonAlten's funny twist, trot over to FortBoise
Look up rodeo lingo at Rodeo Lingo
Candidate websites:
Keith Johnson
Sheila Sorensen
Norm Semanko
Robert Vasquez
Bill Sali
Skip Brandt

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