NOREEN: Thanks, but no thanks for the endorsements, Crank
For what seemed like forever, we awaited Jeff Crank’s endorsements in Pikes Peak-area school board races.
Finally on Wednesday, after we had all secreted buckets of stomach acid, The-Man-Who-Would-Be-Congressman relieved our collective angst by firing off an e-mail, anointing the Chosen Ones. He endorsed candidates in school districts 11, 2, 49 and 20.
“Over the last week,” Crank explained with all due seriousness, “I have been asked so many times which candidates I support in the local school board races.”
Really? Let’s see a show of hands. How many of you asked him that?
OK, never mind.
Crank, the host of a weekly radio talk show on KVOR who serves as the Colorado director of Americans for Prosperity, acknowledged in his message that he had “not had the opportunity to talk with every candidate, I have spent several hours reviewing the races in four of our largest districts.”
Adding a humble and sincere touch, (see my blog) Crank wrote, “I would never presume that you should consider my personal endorsement.”
Then he proceeded to unburden himself by giving us all the list he never presumed we wanted.
He did this, he said, “because of the unprecedented activism that I have seen by those on the left who have chosen to get engaged in our local school districts. This year social activists, unions, and anti-reform zealots have put forth an effort to take over school boards like never before.”
No kidding. Right here in River City.
Thus, The-Man-Who-Now-Wants-To-Be-Glenn-Beck said, “I felt the need to publish a list of candidates who will have our children and their best interests in mind.”
See, that’s what’s really cool.
We can breathe easier, knowing that a failed politician-turned radio talk show host who also happens to be running a right-wing special interest group is really only doing it for the kids.
Oh, yeah, and the reason we know it’s just for the kids and not for ratings is that at the bottom of his e-mail, Crank added this disclaimer: “These recommendations are mine personally and do not reflect any endorsement by Americans for Prosperity Colorado, KVOR 740 AM or Citadel Communications.”
Sorry, Jeff, but that won’t cut it. You’re a bit like a newspaper columnist. People have either heard of you or they haven’t.
If they’ve heard of you it’s because of your work. You can’t sever your endorsement from your identity.
In his e-mail, Crank acknowledged that he might not have given the races his closest analysis. “There may be good candidates out there beyond those I have listed.”
Gee, that’s good to hear, but it’s also a reason not to publish Crank’s list.
In his message, Crank did not provide details on why his candidates were better and he declined to do so when asked by The Gazette.
That’s OK. No one else was asking.
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