PUEBLO, Colo. — President’s often travel the country to take victory laps for key legislation.
On Wednesday, President Biden made a rescheduled visit to Pueblo to pat himself on the back and take potshots at that area’s Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert.
Boebert represents the Third Congressional District, which goes from Pueblo, south along southern Colorado’s border to the Western Slope.
Biden visited CS Wind, the wind turbine plant in Pueblo. The company, which is based in South Korea, claims that it will hire more than 800 employees as a result of last year’s Inflation Reduction Act, which provides tax incentives to clean energy producers.
The president toured the factory and gave a speech, which included direct, pointed remarks at Boebert.
“The historic investments we’re celebrating today is in Congresswoman Boebert’s district,” Biden said before making the ‘sign of the cross’ across his torso. “She is one of the leaders of this extreme MAGA movement. She, along with every single Republican colleague, voted against the law that made these investments and jobs possible. And that’s not hyperbole, that’s a fact. And then she voted to repeal key parts of this law. And she called this law a massive failure. You all know, you’re part of a massive failure?”
On Tuesday night, Biden stopped in Cherry Hills Village for a campaign fundraiser, where the Colorado Sun reported he was also critical of Boebert.
“I think it's important when you see Republicans around the country attending ribbon cuttings for projects that they voted against, it's important for the President to note that Lauren Boebert has been opposed to the Inflation Reduction Act.” Shad Murib, Colorado Democratic Party chair, said.
Murib, who spoke with Next with Kyle Clark ahead of the president’s visit on Tuesday, would only focus on Biden’s positive comments and not the direct jabs at Boebert.
“I think it's important for a president to be able to go to any community and talk about the successes they have,” Murib said.
“’Disagree better’ doesn't mean don't disagree,” Gov. Jared Polis (D), said.
Also on Tuesday, following his final bill signings from the special session, Polis answered a question about Biden’s visit in relation to Polis’ concept of ‘disagree better.’
Through his work with the National Governors Association, Polis has joined Republican Utah Gov. Spencer Cox in joint events to promote the idea of ‘disagree better.’ So, does a presidential visit to dunk on a congresswoman fit that concept?
“Well, I think if it's a policy conversation. That's what the essence of ‘disagree better’ is, is to say, I support an infrastructure package, you oppose it. If it's to personally attack her for behavior at a theater or something else, that's a that's a personal matter,” Polis said. “There's legitimate reasons Rep. Boebert might have opposed the infrastructure package. There’s reasons President Biden supported it. It's a totally, legitimate conversation to have because it's fundamentally a question of what policies do you believe are better for our state of our country.”
Boebert won reelection last year by defeating Democratic challenger Adam Frisch by 546 votes. The race was widely ignored by national Democrats and Republicans. Now, Boebert faces a primary challenge from Jeff Hurd, an attorney in Grand Junction, as well as Russ Andrews, a financial advisor from Carbondale.
Frisch is seeking to be the Democratic nominee again but faces a primary with Grand Junction Mayor Anna Stout.
Boebert is the only Republican Congressperson who has not taken friendly fire from the Colorado Republican Party, which has called out both Republican Rep. Ken Buck and Rep. Doug Lamborn in the past year.
“So, I've worked with the Congresswoman, but I'm not in a paid position. I'm a supporter of hers,” Christy Fidura said.
Fidura is with the Pueblo County Republicans. She has also questioned election results in the past because she does not trust Dominion voting machines. Dominion voting machines have not resulted in false election results. She also questions the actions of the Colorado Republican Party.
"We should be working together, not fighting with each other, not attacking each other. There's plenty to attack without having to go after each other.” Fidura said.
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