… Yet, unfortunately, he seems to be tone deaf. As I’ve reviewed, on his first day on the job as a state representative, he kicked a photographer from the Rocky Mountain News. Bruce has not, so far as I’ve heard, apologized for the incident. Instead, he has tried to blame the journalist and downplay his behavior.
Now Bruce faces an investigation by the state house:
Joint statement from House on Bruce investigation
By The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 01/15/2008 01:37:37 PM MSTSpeaker of the House Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, and House Republican Leader Mike May, R-Parker, issued the following statement today in response to the formation of a special committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident that occurred between then Rep.-elect Douglas Bruce, R-Colorado Springs, and a member of the press on the floor of the House of Representatives on Jan. 14, 2008.
“We are both deeply troubled by the incident that took place yesterday morning. We are committed to preserving order and decorum in the House of Representatives.
“We have asked the committee to collect evidence and to hear testimony and to report back to the House on or before the 25th of January. …”
Editorials by The Denver Post, the Rocky Mountain News, and The Daily Sentinel, and other papers have condemned Bruce’s behavior. Columnists Mike Littwin and Susan Greene have written humorous and biting criticisms of Bruce.
Bruce has become the Democrats’ new best friend. What better way to promote the stereotype of Republicans as heartless jerks? If Bruce is the “father” of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, then Democrats will reply that the fruit does not fall far from the tree. That’s too bad, because limiting taxes is really about expanding voluntary interaction and reducing the initiation of physical force.
Perhaps that’s why one of the harshest condemnations has come from conservative John Andrews:
State Rep. Douglas Bruce jerking around Speaker Andrew Romanoff before joining the House was one thing: a calculated bid for attention, rude but arguably shrewd. His putting the boot, literally, to a Rocky Mountain News photographer is something else again, however: plug-stupid with no conceivable justification.
Someone needs to tell him the ink-by-the-barrel rule of political life and public relations. Bruce’s foolhardy footwork, bringing down the wrath of Rocky publisher John Temple along with a near-unanimous rebuke from his own Republican caucus, is an utter loser for the man’s legislative aspirations and, worse, for the GOP conservative cause he claims to support.
Deliver us, please, from such friends. My endorsement of Bruce’s candidacy for this House seat, and my congratulations to him upon winning in it, are on extreme probation and rapidly approaching termination.
What a circus!