Senator Cory Gardner has a track record of looking out for Coloradans whether or not his position falls in line with his party. Senator Gardner supported President Trump’s tax cuts and deregulation efforts that have unleashed our economy and driven down unemployment. However, Senator Gardner has also forcefully come out against President Trump’s tariffs, which could hurt Colorado workers, consumers and farmers.
Looking out for your constituents first seems to be in short supply these days. Some Republicans seem to follow Trump wherever he leads, and most Democrats have fallen ill with Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS).
TDS causes Democrats to take whatever position is opposite of Trump’s, no matter what the subject, or to find a way to condemn the President for any action; for example, sitting stoically during the State of the Union speech as President Trump pointed out record low unemployment for blacks.
No quarter is given by the left when it comes to Trump. The New York Times was excoriated by the left when they had the temerity to publish a headline that read “Trump Urges Unity Vs. Racism” regarding a speech Trump made in response to the Dayton and El Paso shootings. Within hours, the Times caved to criticism from the left and changed the headline to “Assailing Hate But Not Guns.”
Of course Trump has his faults – in fact an amazing number of faults, but he has also been subjected to unprecedented and unwarranted criticism. For years he was accused of being a puppet of Russia, colluding with them to steal the election form Hillary Clinton. Only after years of investigation, millions of dollars and immeasurable damage to our polity has the left finally realized that it wasn’t true and that the American people have no appetite for an obstruction of justice claim against the President for possibly obstructing the investigation of a non-existent crime.
You’re probably asking: what does all this have to do with Cory Gardner? Here’s the point: We need our Senator to work for the people of Colorado regardless of who wins the White House in 2020. If Trump wins, this means putting aside any personal animosity against Trump and working with him when it would benefit Coloradans and opposing him when it would hurt Coloradans. Cory Gardner has demonstrated this ability.
Conversely, none of the current Democratic candidates for Senator would work with Trump. Take for example, former Governor John Hickenlooper.
Hickenlooper is constantly speaking of bringing people together and cultivates the impression that he is above the political fray. But Hickenlooper has called Trump “the worst president in our nation’s history.” He has said that Trump is an authoritarian and uses the dark forces of racism, xenophobia, misogyny, religious repression, and corruption. He has called Trump a puppet of Putin. Does this sound like someone who would work with Trump or does this sound like just another TDS-stricken leftist who would oppose Trump if he came out in favor of puppies?
None of the people vying for the Democratic nomination for Senate would dare break rank with their party and go along with Trump no matter what the benefit to Coloradans. The Democrats will be anti-Trump first and there will be no secondary consideration. Their party platform is that Trump is a white supremacist, corrupt, and a puppet of Putin; no room is left for bipartisanship.
If Trump wins, Senator Gardner would continue to support Trump when his policies help Coloradans – his TDS inflicted democratic opponents would not. If Trump loses, Senator Gardner would provide a check against Democratic overreach – his Democratic opponents would not.
The last time the Democrats had control of everything, they forced through Obamacare. This time, if Democrat candidates like Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders are to be taken at their word, they will attempt to force through Medicare for all.
Whether Trump wins or loses, Cory Gardner has demonstrated that he will work with the White House when it will benefit Coloradans and work against it when it would harm Coloradans. The same can’t be said for his Democratic opponents.
Karl Dierenbach is an attorney living in Centennial.
