Bruce’s antics hurting any chance to earn House respect

It’s all about Doug.

Limiting the size of government and preserving the rights of individuals are important to Douglas Bruce, the Republican House District 15 representative. As much as he talks about those ideals, however, his 20-plus years in the public eye have made it clear that the most important thing to him is getting attention.

On Tuesday, House leaders created a committee to investigate Bruce’s latest public relations coup — kicking a Rocky Mountain News photographer in the knee. It was only Bruce’s second day on the job, so having a panel investigating his conduct so quickly is some kind of league record.

Bruce admits kicking the photographer but dismisses it as “a nudge, a prod, a tap.”

He also managed to make a simple swearing-in ceremony controversial by insisting upon a coronation. He wanted a swearing-in ceremony during the House regular business session, an honor never extended to anyone else.

Such special treatment is logical only in an all-about-Doug world.

When House Speaker Andrew Romanoff refused, Bruce declined to be sworn in. Members of the House GOP caucus issued Bruce an ultimatum: Either be sworn in or the House District 15 vacancy committee would be asked to find someone else for the job.

Bruce capitulated, but one must admit he has had a spectacular first week, as long as you keep in mind that it’s all about Doug.

But life for House District 15 residents is about more than Douglas Bruce.

By his own deeds, he is marginalizing himself and robbing his constituents of representation. When Bruce raises a legitimate issue, House members won’t listen because of who the messenger is.

A good example of that occurred Tuesday, when Bruce tried to strip the “emergency clause” from a bill during floor action. Bruce makes a lucid argument that emergency clauses are wrongly used to prevent voters from overturning laws at the polls.

Bruce’s amendment died on a voice vote, with Democrats shouting their “no” votes. If another GOP legislator offered the same argument, it might have had some chance of being considered.

Bruce has complained that he has not been treated with respect, citing comments made by Romanoff and Gov. Bill Ritter, who joked about Bruce’s absence last week.

But you can’t command respect. You have to earn it.

Rep. Paul Weissmann, D-Louisville, knows a bit about that. Before being elected, Weissmann was a bartender — not a background that inspires awe in the Statehouse.

Now the chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, Weissmann said, “Credibility is really all you’ve got down here. The building is more important than any of us.”

If Bruce could take those words to heart and quit trying to be the story every day, he could begin to earn the respect he thinks he deserves.

Don’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen. Because it’s all about Doug.

Contact Noreen at 636-0363 or noreen@gazette.com. He appears every other Friday on kOAA’s Comcast Channel 9 at 4 p.m.